Rosewood Veneer

[jfrancis49]

Hello,

I am curious if anyone has found a good source for replacement of the Rosewood veneer that B & O has used on vintage equipment? I live in the U.S.

Regards,

John

[KolfMAKER]

Me too.

[Glitch]

What do you need it for?

The answer is quite different depending if you are try to fix some small veneer chips or completely re-veneering a Beovox cabinet.

Glitch

 

[jfrancis49]

Hello Glitch,

Thank you for the reply. I am looking to completely redo a Beogram 8000 base.

John

 

[Glitch]

Are you trying to match the other components of a Beosystem 8000?

Finding “rosewood” is pretty straightforward. Rumor has it that B&O used Brazilian Rosewood or Dalbergia nigra  (Rio Palisander for our European friends) on their components. Dalbergia nigra has been a protected species since 1992(?) and has been harder and harder to find. I don’t know where to buy this species. The last time I bought some was in the ’80s. I don’t know for sure that B&O actually used this species since I wasn’t the guy that originally sourced it or have scientifically tested it for myself. IMHO, if anyone tells you that they can identify a piece of wood by looking at the face grain, take it with a (big) grain of salt. There are many other species of wood that look similar and are misleadingly sold as Brazilian Rosewood.

My last couple of veneer orders were from VeneerSupplies.com. I’m not affiliated with them in any way other than being a happy customer. Check out their inventory and find the best match (they have pictures of the veneer that you are ordering). I think that you should be able to find something that is pretty close.

Another option is to switch out the veneer to an entirely different species. I keep thinking about making a Zebrawood (Zebrano) Beosystem 8000.

Still another option is to buy a “cosmetically mint” parts machine. You might be able to swap the wood trim and possibly recover the cost of the parts machine by reselling it. This strategy hasn’t worked for me since every time I buy a “parts machine” I end up fully restoring it. 😉

…and as always, don’t forget to post some pictures…

Glitch

[jfrancis49]

Thanks Glitch, for the post. I had to chuckle at the comment about restoring a “parts” table. It does seem a shame to not get them all working again but some obviously are best used as donors when the cabinets are beyond repair. I am not matching the BG 8000 to anything, I am just not fond of modifying the look if I can help it, so am looking for a close match.

[Glitch]

I fully understand the desire to keep the turntable looking like it came from the factory. Rosewood on anything is hard to beat!

This might be why some people are disappointed with the modern B&O “recreated limited edition” products. Arguably, once you start from the optimum design, anything else is a step in the wrong direction.

Glitch

 

[jfrancis49]

Hello Glitch,

My thoughts on the recreated Beogram 4000c as an example, is that it is manufactured by B & O so that gives legitimacy to the change if Rosewood wasn’t an option now. And honestly if B & O had used solid wood on their older equipment on their products like the newer 4000c, there would be a lot more of that equipment worth restoring. I know it would have added to the cost, but there have always been less expensive equipment alternatives in the if cost were a determining factor. And this is coming from someone who isn’t or wasn’t financially well endowed. My mother always said I had champagne tastes, on a beer budget.

John

 

[Dillen]

The wooden trim strips are to narrow to really make Zebrano look any good on a BG8000, I think.
I did a Beosystem 1700 in Zebrano many years ago.
To this day I am not sure if I really like it – or even if I actually liked it back then. But the original veneer was too far gone,
so something had to be done, and I was keen on trying.

Martin

• This reply was modified 5 days, 5 hours ago by Dillen.

[Glitch]

Martin:  I think your Zebrano BS1700 looks great! Matching the veneer across the top of both pieces was a nice touch. I envision a customized piece of equipment like this in a matching custom built cabinet. In for a penny, in for a pound ;-). The overall result would be quite extraordinary.

I understand your comment about the narrow strips. My thought was to use veneer with a fine, tight grain pattern. For me, part of the challenge and fun of woodworking design is to use the right piece of wood or veneer in the right location to highlight its beauty and personality.

John:  Consider trying to remove the old veneer in reasonably large pieces. These pieces could be used for repairs on other B&O equipment.

Glitch

 

[jfrancis49]

Martin, I do agree with Glitch the cabinet looks striking. Had I not known that it was not an original option, I would think it were.

And I will preserve any larger pieces I can if I remove them from the BG 8000.

John

 

[Dillen]

Glitch wrote:

Matching the veneer across the top of both pieces was a nice touch.

Well spotted. 🙂

Martin

[Author]

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