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Not all woods. And well, true cedar is the native thing of Lebanon. Aside from that most of the things we call cedar is actually cedrala. We have some interesting woods for carvings as well. And imported woods are used for concert-type instruments. For the rest, local woods do wonders.

We have a purple wood around here, but I think it's a different kind. Thuja I know it's the species of the thing we call Red Cedar. As I read once in a book about guitarmaking "it's neither red, nor cedar" 🤣

I think it may be purpleheart. I don't know of another wood that is naturally that colour. When cut into it turns a deep purple colour. After enough time where oxidation occurs it goes to a deeper rich brownish colour.

I guess it is. It has a lot of names around here.

Most don't know Thuja. It's not cedar at all, nor is it red as you mentioned, lol. It's actually related to cypress and not to cedar. The leaves can be used for medicine, much the same way that cedar is. Not sure what the wood is like to carve, never done that.

I know it's related to cypress, but the cuts used for instrument show a grain very similar to spruce. That's why it's used for sound boards and it gives a very rich and dark sound to instruments. I think it's similar to spruce in its hardness. A lot of longitudinal strength but not much on the transversal axis.