Limba Wood for Guitars: Korina Tone, White vs Black Limba and Buying Tips

Some woods earn a place in guitar history. Limba wood for guitars, often sold under the name korina, is one of them. It became famous in the late 1950s on a handful of futuristic electric guitar designs and has had a loyal following ever since. Players describe its tone as warm, open and resonant, somewhere close to mahogany but with a little more sparkle.

In this guide we explain what limba is, how white and black limba differ, why builders like it, what to watch for when buying blanks and how to order. We supply limba, known in Central Africa as frake, from Cameroon and the Congo Basin at Global Timber Trade Hub.

What is limba?

Limba comes from Terminalia superba, a tall, fast-growing tree of West and Central Africa. In different markets it is called limba, frake, afara, korina or ofram. The trees grow straight with long, clear trunks, producing light timber that is easy to work.

The wood is pale yellow to light brown. Some logs develop dark grey to black streaks in the heartwood. These streaked boards are sold as black limba; plain boards as white limba.

Limba properties for guitar builders

The tone of limba

Builders and players describe limba as warm, balanced and resonant. Compared with mahogany, it often sounds a little more open, with clear highs and a pleasant midrange. It responds well in both solid-body electrics and semi-hollow designs. Like any tonewood, the final sound depends on the whole instrument, but limba has a reputation for lively, resonant guitars.

White limba vs black limba

• White limba: pale, even colour with little or no streaking. It takes stains and transparent finishes beautifully and gives the classic korina look.
• Black limba: dark streaks running through the heartwood, sometimes very dramatic. It is used for striking natural-finish bodies and tops.

Both come from the same species. The streaks form in the heartwood of some trees. Black limba with strong, even figure is rarer and costs more.

Body blanks, neck blanks and tops

For guitar building, limba is used in several ways:

• One-piece and two-piece body blanks, typically 45–55 mm thick;
• Neck blanks, preferably quartersawn, straight-grained and well dried;
• Tops and laminates for decorative contrast;
• Through-neck centre sections.

For necks, quartersawn limba is the most stable. Many builders use limba bodies with limba or mahogany necks and ebony or rosewood-alternative fingerboards. Our African ebony wood price guide covers fingerboard options.

What to look for in limba guitar blanks

• Moisture content: 6–8% for instrument work is ideal; ask for measured readings.
• Grain orientation: quartersawn for necks; flat or rift for bodies is fine.
• Weight: select blanks by weight if you build light guitars.
• Defects: check for pin holes, mineral stains, shakes and brittle heart.
• Colour: decide white or black limba and how much streaking you want.

Drying: why it matters so much

Limba dries quickly and fairly easily, but it can develop blue stain if left wet, and it can check if rushed. For instrument work, it must be dried evenly and then allowed to stabilise. We kiln dry limba for guitar blanks and can supply stock that has rested longer for necks. On arrival, let blanks acclimatise in your workshop for a few weeks before final shaping.

Working with limba

• Machining: cuts easily and cleanly with sharp tools.
• Carving: ideal for carved tops, contours and arm bevels.
• Gluing: excellent for neck and body joints.
• Finishing: the open grain needs filling for a gloss finish. It takes stains very evenly.
• Iron staining: limba can react with iron in damp conditions; avoid steel wool on bare wood.

Limba vs other African tonewoods

Read our wider guide to African tonewood for guitars.

Price of limba for guitars

Our frake lumber starts from about $480 per m³, FOB Central Africa, which makes it one of the most affordable tonewoods. Selected, kiln-dried instrument blanks cost more and are usually priced per piece. Black limba with strong figure carries a premium. See our African hardwood prices guide for comparisons.

Sustainability and legality

Limba is a fast-growing pioneer species and is relatively common in African forests. It is not CITES listed. We buy only from concessions with valid harvesting permits and supply legality and chain-of-custody documents with every shipment. That makes it a responsible choice for builders who want a classic tonewood without paperwork headaches. Read more on our sustainability page.

How to order limba guitar wood

1. Say whether you need body blanks, neck blanks, tops or sawn lumber.
2. Give exact blank sizes and tolerances.
3. Choose white or black limba and describe the figure you want.
4. State the moisture content you need.
5. Give quantity and destination.

Factories often order limba as sawn lumber in a container with African mahogany and Sapele. Smaller workshops order selected blanks. Our export process page explains how both work.

Finishing limba guitars

For a classic natural korina finish, fill the grain with a tinted filler, then apply a clear or slightly amber lacquer. For coloured finishes, white limba takes dye and stain evenly. Black limba usually looks best under a clear finish that shows the streaks. Test your full finishing system on an offcut from the same blank.

Common mistakes with limba

• Using wet stock: always check moisture before building.
• Flatsawn necks: choose quartersawn for stability.
• Ignoring weight: weigh blanks if body weight matters to your design.
• Steel wool on bare limba: it can cause grey or black stains.

Limba beyond guitars

Outside the guitar world, limba is used for furniture, interior joinery, mouldings, plywood and veneer. Its light weight and easy working make it popular for drawer parts, frames and decorative panels. Black limba veneer is used in furniture and interiors for its bold streaks. If you run a furniture or instrument business, you can combine both uses in one shipment.

A short history of korina guitars

In 1958, a major American guitar maker launched a small series of radical, angular electric guitars built from a then-unusual African wood it marketed as korina. The models sold poorly at first and were soon discontinued. Decades later, the few originals became some of the most valuable vintage guitars in the world, and the wood earned legendary status among players. Since then, many builders, from large factories to one-person workshops, have offered limba guitars in both classic and modern shapes.

Selecting limba by weight and tap tone

Limba density varies from tree to tree, and even within one log. For builders who care about weight and resonance, selection makes a real difference. Many weigh each body blank and sort them into light, medium and heavy groups. Others tap blanks and listen for a clear, ringing tone. If you need blanks in a specific weight range, tell us the target and the tolerance. We can weigh and sort blanks before packing, so you receive stock that fits your build.

Moisture, stability and neck building

For necks, stability is everything. We recommend quartersawn limba, kiln dried to 6–8% moisture content and rested for several weeks after drying. On arrival, store neck blanks flat and stickered in your workshop and let them settle before rough cutting. Rough-cut necks oversize, let them rest again for a few days, then bring them to final size. This two-step process helps catch any movement before the fretboard goes on.

Ordering limba as a small workshop

You do not need to buy a full container to get good limba. We supply small consignments of selected guitar blanks by air or sea freight, packed and labelled by type and grade. For workshops that build regularly, we can set up repeat orders with the same specification, so every batch matches the last. Contact us with your annual volume and we will suggest the most economical way to ship.

Black limba: what affects the price

Not all black limba is equal. The most valuable boards show bold, dark streaks spread evenly across the whole face, with no grey or muddy areas. Boards with fewer or weaker streaks cost less and can still look great on smaller parts or under coloured finishes. If you want matching two-piece bodies, we select pairs from the same board so the figure continues across the joint.

Sources

• Terminalia superba on Wikipedia
• The Wood Database for limba properties.

Related guides

• African tonewood for guitars
• African ebony wood price
• Obeche wood
• Plywood and lightweight timber
• Sapele vs mahogany

Frequently asked questions about limba wood for guitars

Is limba the same as korina?

Yes. Korina is a trade name for limba, Terminalia superba, used mainly in the guitar world.

What does limba sound like?

Warm, open and resonant, often compared with mahogany but slightly livelier.

What is the difference between white and black limba?

Same species. Black limba has dark streaks in the heartwood; white limba is plain and pale.

Is limba good for necks?

Yes, especially quartersawn and well-dried stock.

Get a quote for limba

Send blank sizes, colour and quantity through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price, photos of available stock and shipping options.