The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #114423   Message #2441663
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
15-Sep-08 - 10:33 PM
Thread Name: rosewood by any other Name (guitars)
Subject: RE: rosewood by any other Name
The Caribbean mahogany (S. mahogani) of the 19th c. and earlier is rare, having been used almost to extinction in some areas. The same is true of Pacific Coast mahogany (S. humilis).
The remaining type, the bigleaf (S. macrophylla) of Central and northern S. Am., is listed as endangered, (CITES Appendix II) although some is still in commercial trade, the listing is meant to ensure that harvestings are sustainable.
Some has been raised in plantations in southeast Asia, but true mahogany is New World.

Some other woods have been called mahogany in trade, but are not related- Shorea or 'Philippine,' which is not a hardwood, Santos (Myroxylon) of S. Am. and C. Am., and West African (Khaya). I haven't seen any of these being used in musical instruments.

www.fws.gov/citestimber/mahogany/mahoganyoverview.html

True Brazilial rosewood (Dahlbergia), much used in furniture in the 18th-early 19th c., is extinct in trade. The rosewood of Asia, also Dahlbergia, I know nothing about, but I am sure someone here does. So-called rosewoods of Africa are unrelated, I know anything about them. Cocobolo belongs to the same genus, but its properties are somewhat different.

Cocobolo (Dahlbergia retusa) is used in some fairly expensive instruments (Gibson jumbo acoustic, above $3500). It is part of the rosewood group of species.
Outside of plantations, reserves, and parks, cocobolo is in danger of extinction. Most is harvested from private fincas or 'plantations.'

Some of the Dahlbergia species of Asia are poor in quality, I understand.

Granadillo (Platymiscum), a fine hardwood from Mexico and Central America, sometimes marketed as 'rosewood,' also is becoming uncommon, but it also is used in musical instruments.

Koa, from Hawai'i, is extremely variable. 'ukuleles and some guitars, the latter not of top quality.

I have used these woods in crafts, but as to their relative qualities in musical instruments, I am next to ignorant.