How many types of rosewood are there?

There are at least 20 different true rosewoods with a rich variety of colors and several other woods are called rosewood because of their density and appearance. Several species have become popular landscape trees in the US.

Which type of rosewood is best?

True rosewoods

It is best known as "Brazilian rosewood", but also as "Bahia rosewood". This wood has a strong, sweet smell, which persists for many years, explaining the name rosewood. Another classic rosewood comes from Dalbergia latifolia, known as (East) Indian rosewood or sonokeling (Indonesia).

How do you identify rosewood?

Rosewood — This wood gets its name from the scent it gives off when you cut it, much like the flower. It can look similar to mahogany, but has fine black or white rings and is much heavier lumber.

Where does the best rosewood come from?

rosewood, any of several ornamental timbers, products of various tropical trees native to Brazil, Honduras, Jamaica, Africa, and India. The most important commercially are the Honduras rosewood, Dalbergia stevensoni, and the Brazilian rosewood, principally D.

What is a true rosewood?

Rosewood is the rarest, finest, and most revered wood species worldwide. It gives each piece an individual character that exudes boldness, strength, and unparalleled elegance. We carefully source the best species of rosewood available anywhere in the world.

Types of rosewood

What is the difference between Brazilian rosewood and Indian Rosewood?

To most, Brazilian has better clarity in the bottom and a almost bell like tone in the trebles. Indian rosewood has become the general substitute for Brazilian rosewood. Generally speaking, this wood is not as attractive as Brazilian and It has a noticeably purple color and the grain markings are coarser.

Why is rosewood illegal?

In January of 2017, the CITES convention (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in Geneva, Switzerland passed a ban on the use of rosewood and Bubinga as tonewoods, making it more difficult to ship or travel with musical instruments made with any amount of these endangered ...

Is it illegal to own rosewood?

No, it is not illegal to buy or ship rosewood across international borders. However, specific regulations and laws must be followed to purchase or ship rosewood. To successfully import rosewood into the U.S., you will need an export certificate from the exporting country's CITES management authority.

How do I know if my rosewood is a Brazilian?

Brazilian is mostly dark brown with some black grain lines, occasionally being close to black on wider areas, and with some with tan areas. Some very old sets can be a lighter brown. Indian has again a dark brown base color, but not as dark as Brazilian, and with a lot of purple overtones.

How much is a rosewood tree worth?

This high demand for the wood, coupled with its growing rarity has resulted in prices soaring, with them exceeding $17,000 per ton a few years ago, which is ten times the cost of other tropical hardwood species. Thai rosewood, in particular, can reach values exceeding $50,000 per cubic meter.

What is Caribbean rosewood?

Caribbean Rosewood or Chechen as it is not really a true rosewood, but is called so because of its density, color and luster. The wood comes from Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Belize and some parts of Mexico. It has a varying heartwood color with red, orange and blackish brown.

What does raw rosewood look like?

Color/Appearance: Brazilian rosewood can vary in color from a darker chocolate brown to a lighter purplish or reddish brown, with darker contrasting streaks. The black streaks can sometimes form a unique grain pattern that is sometimes referred to as “spider-webbing” or “landscape,” very similar to ziricote.

How can you tell Indian rosewood?

Color/Appearance: Heartwood of East Indian Rosewood can vary from a golden brown to a deep purplish brown, with darker brown streaks. The wood darkens with age, usually becoming a deep brown. Grain/Texture: Has a medium texture and fairly small pores. The grain is usually narrowly interlocked.

What is cocobolo rosewood?

Cocobolo is a true Rosewood, similar in color & tap tone to Brazilian Rosewood and considered to be a good substitute. It is denser than most Rosewoods and oilier. For best results in gluing, epoxy is recommended. Cocobolo has great working properties & turns to a naturally glass-like polish.

Is mahogany A rosewood?

Mahogany is usually strong in the middle, rosewood touches a wider tone palette. In your hands, a guitar with a rosewood body often feels a little different when you play. Due to the higher density, rosewood is usually a bit heavier and subtly reacts to your playing. Mahogany is often lighter and very direct.

Is Sheesham A rosewood?

It is considered as a solid hard wood and is the second most cultivated tree after teak. So Sheesham wood or Shisham wood is essentially known as North Indian Rosewood or Dalbergia sissoo. Sheesham/Shisham is for those wondering is the Hindi word for Indian Rosewood.

Why is Brazilian rosewood illegal?

Why is Brazilian rosewood so heavily regulated? In 1967, Brazilian rosewood had become so popular for instruments and other wood products that the Brazilian government became concerned that this precious hardwood could be wiped out, so the government outlawed the export of rosewood logs.

What kind of rosewood does Gibson use?

North American rosewood is also used by Gibson — it's a trustworthy source and sustainable. Madagascan and Amazonian Rosewood is also widely used. * Brazilian Rosewood is unusual these days, because of rarity and exorbitant cost.

Is Brazilian rosewood expensive?

The prestige of Brazilian rosewood, an expensive material to begin with, rocketed once production was halted. Rarity, coupled with the cachet of authentic Danish modern designs (and the names attached to them), has made mid-century Brazilian rosewood furniture one of today's most coveted grails.

What type of rosewood is banned?

In 2013, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listed all types of Madagascar rosewood as Appendix II, prohibiting their trade except in the rare cases in which a local CITES authority has issued sustainability permits.

Why do Chinese want rosewood?

Rosewood has long been used to make musical instruments and furniture but, partly because of its association with the revered Ming dynasty (1368-1644), it has become a status symbol for China's growing, increasingly affluent middle class.

How long does rosewood take to grow?

It grows at a slow pace and attains a height of 20 metres and a moderate girth of 200 centimetres over three to four decades.

What tree is rosewood from?

Rosewood tree (a species of Dalbergia): branch with flowers and pods and separate sections of flowers, pod and seeds.

Is rosewood a softwood or hardwood?

Soft-wood: Fir, Pine, Spruce, Chir, Silver Fir. Hard-wood: Teak, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Shisham, Sal.

What Colour is rosewood?

Rosewood makes a whole palette of colors characteristic for the exotic wood. This name might refer to brown with a reddish tint, as well as to golden brown.