Here is a list of the signature codes that we use, for example, on the labels in our instruments. Please note that earlier instruments used a different set of codes or single letters. In any case, all the woods and materials used are listed in the respective instrument passport, including the sources (if known). If in doubt, you can also look at the instrument descriptions given here at muttcrew.net.
One tag that you will find on almost every instrument is HSO, which stands for: hide glue, shellac and oil. The oil is generally boiled linseed oil, which we use on the fretboard and bridge, but can also include other oils such as walnut or sesame oil. (We also use baby oil for the french polish, but since it is spirited off afterwards it’s not really part of the finished instrument.) Occasionally, we have also used epoxy glue for the carbon fiber neck support rod and/or to attach the fretboard to the neck, and we did use epoxy on the Daphne because we were told that hide glue would not work on teak wood. Since then, however, we have experimented with teak + hide glue and found that they can indeed be used together.
Ald | Alder |
AldB | Black Alder |
AldR | Red Alder |
Ama | Amarillo |
Apl | Apple tree |
Box | Boxwood |
Brn | Pear tree (Birne) |
Bub | Bubinga |
Ccb | Cocobolo |
Cd | Cedar |
CdL | Lebanon Cedar |
CdR | Red Cedar |
CdS | Spanish Cedar |
Ch | Cherry |
ChB | Black Cherry |
ChE | European Cherry |
Ebn | Ebony |
Gnz | Gonzalo Alves |
Mah | Mahogani |
Mp | (European) Maple |
Ov | Ovangkol |
Pad | (African) Padauk |
PEs | Palo Escrito |
PFe | Pau Ferro / Santos Palisander |
Plm | Plum tree |
Pph | Purpleheart |
Rdw | Redwood |
Rdw-s | Sinker Redwood |
Rw | Rosewood |
RwA | Amazonas Rosewood |
RwI | Indian Rosewood |
RwM | Madagascar Rosewood |
Sap | Sapele |
Sip | Sipo |
Sp | (European) Spruce |
SpAd | Adirondack (red) Spruce |
SpEng | Engelmann Spruce |
SpStk | Sitka Spruce |
Tk | Teak |
Wg | Wenge |
Wn | Walnut |
WnB | Black Walnut |
WnC | Claro Walnut |
WnE | European Walnut |