exactly what is responsible for the properties of these tropical woods all we can do is measure their physical characteristics and then try to adjust the domestic wood to match them in terms of their acoustic properties of the shining softness sound sensors measure the vibrations of the wood and replicate them and. the researchers tested thirty different types of wood with unexpected results. as one of the last time we were especially surprised by the. zoltan ashen alderwood and i fortunately because of the fungal disease that causes ash tree die back ashwood is no longer available on a wide scale but just as surprising was the alderwood where we saw a tremendous improvement in acoustic properties and it's also readily available it would for. the treatment didn't just change the sound of the wood it also made the light alderwood noticeably darker. n.t.i.