Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood is the wood the guitar world built a mythology around. Pre-1969 Martin and Gibson guitars made with it are worth thousands partly because of the wood itself. Since 1992 it's been CITES Appendix I, making new trade essentially illegal. If you see it for sale without documentation, something is wrong. If you have pre-ban pieces, they're genuinely valuable. The smell when cutting it is unlike anything else.
- Purchasing without CITES documentation — buying undocumented Brazilian rosewood creates serious legal liability; always demand provenance paperwork
- Gluing without surface prep — natural oils cause complete adhesion failure; use dewaxed shellac barrier coat or solvent wipe before any glue-up
- Confusing it with Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) — Indian rosewood is CITES Appendix II and far more available; similar but not identical appearance or tone
Chocolate to dark violet-brown with irregular black streaks and a distinctive spider-web pattern. Often has a slight violet cast when freshly cut. The most revered guitar tonewood in history.
Good working properties overall but natural oils significantly interfere with gluing and some finishes. Use dewaxed shellac or solvent wipe before any gluing. The smell when cut is famously pleasant — a rose-like floral sweetness. Hard enough to dull tools faster than most domestic hardwoods.
| Region | Availability |
|---|---|
| North America | Rare / not commonly imported |
| Europe | Rare / not commonly imported |
| South America | Rare / not commonly imported |
| Southeast Asia | Rare / not commonly imported |
| Africa / Middle East | Rare / not commonly imported |
| Australia / NZ | Rare / not commonly imported |