Is there a difference in sound of the less figured snakewood vs a more figured one or is the appearance the only difference?
I have a couple that have very little to no figure and I can't tell a difference.
Figure is for looks, nothing more.
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Call makers (and striker makers) just pay more $$$ for highly figured pieces of lumber because they're not as common... so those pieces cost more. Generally, all lumber of the same species has the same hardness factor and therefore same sound.
The figure does not make a difference in sound. There is also no noticeable difference to me between the beautiful sapwood and the bland dark heartwood. Snakewood is around 3500 in hardness, try an ipe or lignum vitae striker and save yourself a ton of money.
Snakewood makes a great striker but don't let your eyes deceive you. Especially if it is too embellished with humps and bumps. There are other great woods way less costly. Today I found a piece of rare exotic wood 50 years old. That is more dense and harder than snakewood or the ironwood strikers I turn and it's not oily like lignum. My bet is it is going to be better than dymondwood but still on the expensive end as far as woods cost.