Official Luthiers Forum!

If the density and hardness fall between mahogany and Indian rosewood, my vote is Narra, AKA New Guinea rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus),

+1 to that. The colour and fine curl is very similar to that of the Narra

+1 to that. The colour and fine curl is very similar to that of the Narra sets I have.


Yell out if you'd like additional photos or a close-up.

If it has a perfume-like smell it's Yellow Narra.

Narra Botanical Name: (Pterocarpus indicus) Narra comes from the Solomon Islands. It is very similar in color to Koa. Beautiful shades of gold to golden brown. The sets have a gorgeous curly figure. Narra is in the same family as Padauk and is sometimes marketed as golden padauk or golden rosewood. Narra is also called New Guinea Rosewood. It is not a rosewood. It is easy to work and has a really nice tap tone...it is an underused wood but one I really like. If you have ever worked with Padauk it is the same in terms of stiffness and it bends on a Fox style bender with no problem. It has an open pore similar to Walnut and not as big a pore as Koa. One thing that will knock you out is that when you sand or cut it, it is as sweet a smell as most rosewoods. No matter how nice the pictures below look, it is much nicer in person. The overall color of the wood is gold tones but there can be streaks of pinks and reds in it as well. It catches the light as well as Koa so no matter what it will make a striking guitar. Narra is not imported as much as Padauk is but in most of its habitat it is not at risk. It is usually separated by distance from the Padauk as being in the same family they will cross pollinate and Paduak is desirable as solid and dark as possible. Hybridized Pterocarpus (the family they are in) will range in color between very light looking more golden and less red to all Padauk which can be very deep red with some subspecies looking more golden brown in between. More builders are looking at alternative woods that are sustainably harvested such as Padauk and Narra. Some sets exhibit a burl figure creating a unique bookmatched pattern. The luxurious Amboyna burl grows on the Narra tree.