Like Bob said, ash is not ash is not ash. White ash is the best bow wood IMO, especially the Biltmore ash subspecies that grows here. Others, such as green, black, and pumpkin ash seem to be more light and brittle. What design were they? 60" should be fine for a D-bow that bends through the handle, but would be quite short for a full-draw stiff handled bow. My favorite designs for ash are stiff handled flatbows about 66"-68" long, 1 3/4" -2" wide at the fades to midlimb tapering to 3/8" tips, or pyramid type @'-2 1/4" at the fades. Ash also makes a good eastern Woodlands style flat-bellied D-bow. Mid 60's length, about 1 1/4" wide at the handle. Your log could also have had some decay or disease that wasn't immediately noticible. Ash can be pretty variable from tree to tree.
