{"id":5896,"date":"2011-09-12T19:50:19","date_gmt":"2011-09-13T01:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wood-database.com\/?page_id=5896"},"modified":"2019-12-20T00:16:10","modified_gmt":"2019-12-20T05:16:10","slug":"distinguishing-brazilian-rosewood-from-east-indian-and-other-rosewoods","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wood-database.com\/wood-articles\/distinguishing-brazilian-rosewood-from-east-indian-and-other-rosewoods\/","title":{"rendered":"Distinguishing Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian and Other Rosewoods"},"content":{"rendered":"

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by Eric Meier<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the world of\u00a0acoustic\u00a0guitars, perhaps no other tonewood holds the same respect and downright mystique as Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra). Yet paradoxically, the wood has been virtually loved to death: since 1992, it’s been on the\u00a0CITES Appendix I<\/a>, the most\u00a0restrictive\u00a0category of endangered species, (even finished products may not cross international borders). Because of these\u00a0protective measures, several\u00a0substitutes\u00a0have been used in recent years, primarily East Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia). Hence, for a multitude of reasons, differentiating between true Brazilian Rosewood and many of its close cousins can be very useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Brazilian Rosewood<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

vs<\/td>\n\n

East Indian Rosewood<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"Brazilian<\/a>
Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
<\/td>\n
\"\"<\/a>
East Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Color:<\/strong> Tends to be more variegated, and more on the reddish side. (Can also\u00a0exhibit\u00a0a figure in the grain similar to Ziricote<\/a> that is known as “spider-webbing.”<\/td>\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/td>\n

Color:<\/strong> Tends to be a dark chocolate or purplish brown.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Average Weight: <\/strong>52 lbs\/ft3<\/sup> (835 kg\/m3<\/sup>) The two weights are so close, for all intents and purposes, density is identical.<\/td>\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/td>\n

Average Weight:<\/strong> 52 lbs\/ft3<\/sup> (830 kg\/m3<\/sup>)\u00a0The two weights are so close, for all intents and purposes, density is identical.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scent: <\/strong>Has a distinct, rose-like scent when being worked.<\/td>\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/td>\n

Scent:\u00a0<\/strong>Has a distinct, rose-like scent when being worked; some find its scent less pleasant than other\u00a0Dalbergia <\/em>rosewoods.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Brazilian<\/a>
Brazilian Rosewood (endgrain 10x)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
<\/td>\n
\"East<\/a>
East Indian Rosewood (endgrain 10x)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Endgrain: <\/strong>Pay close attention to the endgrain, as it’s one of the best ways to separate the two woods. Each sample above represents approximately a 3\/8″ square section of endgrain. The key is in the pore density: East Indian Rosewood has about twice as many pores per square inch as Brazilian Rosewood.<\/strong><\/em> This can be difficult to gauge if you don’t have any known samples to compare, but Brazilian Rosewood should have fairly sparsely spaced pores, while\u00a0East Indian Rosewood should be almost riddled with pores.<\/p>\n

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