Comments on: Distinguishing Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian and Other Rosewoods

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 02:14:02 +0000

In reply to Adam.. possibly goncalo alves or curupay

By: Adam.

Adam. — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:33:54 +0000

P.S.
more pics of the cutting board..

By: Adam.

Adam. — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:27:57 +0000

Bought this cutting board (in local market/gas station/restaurant complex in southern Brazil 2023) cheap but I couldn’t resist the reddish color.. As I’m using it as cutting board I’m not putting oil to recover the look. I was always wondering what tree it came from. Now after I’ve read this article..the reddish color.. I’m wondering if anybody has clue what it could be? I doubt its Brazilian Rosewood.. so I don’t even think that fluorescence test is necessary.. But I’d love to hear your opinion..
Cheers!

By: joe c

joe c — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 04:23:04 +0000

In reply to J Bell. appears to be Brazilian

By: Jeanette

Jeanette — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:37:12 +0000

Hi, is there a way to test Brazilian Rosewood without taking a wood sample?
I have a guitar that Melbourne University hands on viewed for a report . In this report it states by the most senior specialist that he was “loath to take a sample from such a fine instrument.”
He stated he couldn’t 100 verify it as Brazilian Rosewood without a sample from it.
Is it at all possible to test in another manner that you would be aware of please?
This guitar is made, by the very famous Hascal B Halie , Dated, July-20-1973.
A am situated in Australia .

By: J Bell

J Bell — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:30:08 +0000

May I please get help identifying this rosewood species?

By: Brian Bond

Brian Bond — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:03:42 +0000

Hello, I’m wondering if you could give an opinion about this rosewood. Brazilian or Indian?

By: Marc Mertens

Marc Mertens — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:47:18 +0000

I thought to have identified this as Macacauba. There is one question though. In the index about this wood; it says no characteristic odor. But this wood has a very distinct smell. almost spice like. Would you say this is Macacauba?

Thankyou

Marc

By: steve b

steve b — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:18:35 +0000

In reply to Javier Díaz Santana Medrano. In the vernacular of many, if not most, guitar builders, Jacaranda is a term used to differentiate Brazilian rosewood from all others.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 15 May 2025 15:44:56 +0000

In reply to Don. I think given the age, the label itself, in combination with the "spider-webbing" pattern on the wood itself, I think this is probably the genuine article.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 14 May 2025 15:54:05 +0000

I can’t figure out how to post more than one pic? Here is the label he had on it

By: Don

Don — Wed, 14 May 2025 15:52:03 +0000

Another pic of it

By: Don

Don — Wed, 14 May 2025 15:49:49 +0000

Hi. I picked up 22 sheets of veneer that belonged to a 90 year old man that passed away. It had a sticker on the plastic sheath he had it in that said “Brizl Rosewood 1′-6″ x 8′-0”. It definitely smells like roses and is not florescent in water. What do you think?

By: Jordi

Jordi — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:29:47 +0000

In reply to Paul. This wood is not a Brazilian Rosewood.

By: Jordi

Jordi — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:28:51 +0000

In reply to Bob St. Cyr. Agree.

By: Jordi

Jordi — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:28:01 +0000

In reply to Eric. That is incorrect Eric. I have two flamenco guitars with a true Brazilian Rosewoods back and sides and they both smell like sweet chocolate. However, I have a flamenco guitar with Pau Ferro back &sides and that guitar has no smell.

By: Pedro

Pedro — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:04:52 +0000

Hi,

Can anyone identify the wood in the guitar below?
Thank you.

By: Curtis Oliver

Curtis Oliver — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 21:46:46 +0000

In reply to Curtis Oliver. I've self-determined that this is not a Dalbergia species. After more inspection and narrowing down using filters. The only wood matching is a quarter-sawn sample of Burma Padauk. If anyone has their own suspicions, then let me know. Attached is a clearer end grain. I have though got good news but from unfortunate circumstances, I have recently come into possession of various exotic timber from a deceased lathe worker. It's looking incredibly promising I do have a couple of pieces at least that are from the Dalbergia genus. It's actually for that reason I was able to dismiss this sample by scent alone.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:50:58 +0000

Guitar from 1981. Brazilian?

By: Curtis Oliver

Curtis Oliver — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 21:15:47 +0000

I have these wood samples that I cut from a random piece at work. Any ideas if a) it definitely is a Dalbergia species. And b) what species it could be.

Vessels sizes are variable. Some large, some appear to be extra large. However my setup with a vernier callipers and macro mode on my phone is crude. I’m awaiting a microscope ruler calibration guide to help with that a bit more.
Vessel quantity in places are very few with only 3-4 per mm2. But again my method isn’t conclusive due to setup.
I have observed banding, confluent, lozenge, winged and vasicentric parenchyma over the two samples.
Rays appear to be narrow and normal spacing.

I have included two sets of images. One rough milled. And one sanded and danish oiled.
Three samples are in my possession.

Visually it has a lot to compare with Cuban Mahogany, but when side by side you can see obvious differences. Ripples and chatoyance appears present. But the end grain very much does not match any mahogany.

Density has been calculated at 842.46, 845.98, 845.30 (Mean: 844.58 kg/m3) or 52.73lb/ft3

Unworked these samples have a faint sweet floral like scent. I cannot remember what it smelt like when I machine worked them.

Any help would be appreciated.