Bubinga
Bubinga is premium-tier material — rich reddish-purple color, often spectacularly figured, and a legitimate alternative to restricted rosewoods for guitars, fine furniture, and decorative veneers. Note that Guibourtia spp. are CITES II listed (since 2017), so ask your supplier for documentation. It machines reasonably well with sharp carbide — not beginner-friendly, but rewarding when the figure is there.
- Assuming it is exempt from CITES — Guibourtia spp. require documentation since 2017
- Expecting easy machining — it is dense and will reward sharp, quality carbide
- Overlooking it as a rosewood substitute — beautiful, legal, and worth sourcing
Reddish-brown to purple-red heartwood with darker veining. Very similar in appearance to rosewood. Sapwood is pale and clearly demarcated from the heartwood.
Hard and heavy but generally machines well. Interlocked grain can cause tearout on some surfaces. Natural resins can blunt tools. Finishes well with proper preparation. A popular legal alternative to CITES-restricted rosewoods — though note Guibourtia spp. are themselves CITES II listed.
| Region | Availability |
|---|---|
| North America | Specialty importers only |
| Europe | Specialty importers only |
| South America | Rare / not commonly imported |
| Australia/NZ | Rare / not commonly imported |
| Asia | Specialty importers only |
| Africa | Specialty importers only |