Known as California Bay Laurel, Oregon Myrtle, or Pepperwood, it ranges in color from blond-yellow to taupe and makes very nice guitars. No two sets look alike, thus each guitar built is an original!
Tonally it is similar to Maple, clear and bright with nice projection, but it is much easier to bend than Maple. For this reason it is a great wood for beginners. Many steel string makers have touted its merits including Michael Greenfield, who brought an especially beautiful jumbo guitar made from Myrtle to a recent Healdsburg Guitar Festival. Les Stansell uses this wood on his fine classical guitars, and Robert Ruck has commented that it compares favorably to any of the traditional flamenco woods and recommends it on all levels.
