Couple of things..........All maple is not suitable and of those that are, several have very different characteristics.

On the Asian rosewood (Dalberdia oliveri)......I haven't heard any of the instruments made with this, but it's said that is better in many ways to Brazilian, but it also has a reputation of being a very tough one to work. Perhaps the finest tonal sounding rosewood is fraught with problems such as toxicity and workability and that is Cocobolo (Dalbergia refusa). I have used it in Hammereds and it is a bitch......beautiful and tonally superb, but the dust is toxic as is the wood giving everything from skin rashes to lung problems (wear a good mask). It is also extremely difficut to bend and gluing it is a supreme pain in the ass!!! Add to that, most finishes won't adhere to it too well either and you have Excedrin Headache #891!!!

I'll be anxious to see if the Asian becomes popular because the price and availability are similar to or less that Indian with a tone that supposedly meets or exceeds Brazilian.......Time will tell.

Spaw