A Decade of Australian Tonewood Innovation
At Fenech Guitars, our mission has always been simple: to craft handmade acoustic guitars that push the boundaries of tone, resonance, and artistic expression while honouring tradition and innovation.
Over a decade ago, long before Camphor Laurel became a sought-after tonewood in mainstream acoustic guitar making, our founder and Master Luthier Aaron Fenech began experimenting with it in pursuit of something unique, a sound and feel defined by creativity, experience, and rigorous R&D.
Fenech Guitars was the first mainstream guitar maker to introduce Camphor Laurel into high-end acoustic guitars, pioneering its use in Australia and shaping a new voice for Australian made guitars. Today, our decade-long expertise with this timber sets our instruments apart, both tonally and visually.
Camphor Laurel: From Pest Tree to Premium Tonewood
Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) was brought to Australia from Asia in the 1800s as a garden ornamental. Over time, it spread widely and is now considered a destructive species in many regions, outcompeting native vegetation.
Rather than overlook this local resource, Fenech Guitars saw an opportunity: to explore its acoustic potential and use it in ways that celebrate its strengths while providing ecological value.
By selecting Camphor Laurel for guitar backs, sides, and occasionally tops, we have transformed a “problem tree” into a sustainable, high-quality tonewood. In doing so, we broaden the palette of guitar voices while reducing reliance on imported timber.
A Decade of R&D and Craftsmanship
What began as curiosity evolved into a structured research and development process. Over ten years, we have carefully studied:
-
Density and stiffness profiles of Camphor Laurel
-
How grain patterns influence resonance
-
The interaction of bracing techniques with this wood
-
The impact of colour, figure, and mass on tone and feel
Our long-term R&D ensures every Camphor Laurel guitar we build is optimised for maximum tonal clarity, balance, and expressive responsiveness. This depth of knowledge far exceeds that of makers who are only now beginning to experiment with this wood.
The Tonal Character of Camphor Laurel Guitars
Camphor Laurel delivers a tonal signature that is both distinct and deeply musical. Players often describe it as:
-
Warm, rich midrange
-
Clear, balanced articulation
-
Responsive dynamics that suit fingerstyle or strummed playing
Each piece of Camphor Laurel features bold, unique grain patterns, making every guitar visually striking as well as sonically compelling — a true boutique acoustic guitar with personality.
Documenting the Journey: Fenech Tech Talk Series
We’ve captured our exploration of Camphor Laurel on our Tech Talk video series, offering players and builders insight into the wood’s tonal behaviour and the R&D process behind it.
These videos provide a transparent look at how we work, helping players understand why Fenech Camphor guitars sound and feel so distinctive.
Why Fenech’s Experience Matters
Other makers may now experiment with Camphor Laurel, but Fenech Guitars has over a decade of development, testing, and refinement — more than any other mainstream Australian maker.
This isn’t novelty. It’s well-tested expertise. It’s tonewood science applied with musical purpose. It’s craftsmanship that honours both the wood’s natural character and the player’s expressive needs.
We continue to refine how Camphor Laurel responds to string tension, bracing patterns, and long-term tonal maturation, ensuring each guitar is a refined, expressive instrument.
Camphor Laurel and Australian Timber Identity
Camphor Laurel isn’t just another tonewood — it represents sustainable use of local timber, a distinct Australian voice in guitar tonewoods, decades of R&D behind its application, and handmade boutique guitars with character you can hear and feel.
We’re proud to be among the first to champion this timber, and our commitment shows in every Camphor Laurel guitar we build.
Explore Australian Made Guitars with Unique Tone
For players passionate about Australian made guitars, boutique tonewoods, and craftsmanship that honours both tradition and experimentation, explore our Camphor Laurel guitars and learn more about our luthier-led process.
Series that include Camphor: VTH Camphor Series, VTP Camphor, VT Camphor including our Masterbuilt & The Makers Choice.
