Official Luthiers Forum!

Who's a Brazilian Rosewood expert?

Can you tell by looking or do you have to smell it?

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I'm not even touching that. ^^^

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

smell is one of the best ways. You will want a ppq505 form at least when buying .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

There certainly is a lot of visual variety, so it's hard to rule it out of being Brazilian that way, but if it doesn't look like definitely Brazilian, then you'll need more than the word of someone you don't know. If it smells right, that pretty much guarantees it. There's also the fluorescent test to narrow it down. But I don't think there's any definitive method, and I'd pass if not sure, unless it's sold at "normal nice wood" price, rather than "cheap Brazilian" price which is still pretty high.

This thread could go bad in so many ways.........


Must...Bite ....Tongue....

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

COULD go bad?......

I knew the instant I saw Chris and Todd posting exactly where it was headed. {Sigh!}

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Charles
My dad gave me several boards from a buddy of his in Miami, all supposedly Brazilian, I hauled some up to John Arnolds in Newport Tennessee and one, luckily the largest was Brazilian, the smell is distinctive, and the weight (significantly lighter) compared to the other wood which turned out to be Amazon Rosewood.

So what, sand some powder into a glass of water and see if the water glows under a black light?

What about Indian rosewood?
'
Do they sell black lights at Wal-Mart?

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Old growth, shmold growth!

All I said was I knew where it was going. And I do. Have fun!

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Old growth, shmold growth!

If it's pretty, it's South American, if it's not, it's from India.
Sorry for the lame reply, I just miss being in the shop and have nothing better to do.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

I'm just checking in to say I really liked the title of your thread. As for the wood itself, I'll be reading eagerly.

Chris gets Brazilian waxed. There, I said it. I'm not proud but I am giggling.


Posted using letters to form words, sentences and thoughts.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

You mean he seals the ends of all his rosewood sets so they don't crack when the humidity changes? That's a good habit to get into.

Of course. What did you think I meant?


Posted using letters to form words, sentences and thoughts.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Finally!!! Now I know what a Brazillian wax is!

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I dunno. I'm too lazy to do all that, since it doesn't specifically exclude EI. Here's the Ebay Item number: 181042617435

I'm sure it's not cocobolo, just not sure if it smells right for brazilian, I don't have a very good sense of smell.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

No Mr Beaver, I do not believe you do

Oh, I thought it was something about a jungle with wood in it, not wood that was once in a jungle. Glad to know I was mistaken.


Hmm, that is a tough one... it looks more like Indian to me, but certainly could be Brazilian. Check the endgrain too, Indian has more and smaller pores. Here's some more info on identifying, with endgrain pictures of both http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/distinguishing-brazilian-rosewood-from-east-indian-and-other-rosewoods/

Very helpful Dennis, this is in fact EI Rosewood. I'm sending it back (or gearing up for a PayPal battle...).
Thanx!

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Indian smells sort of like a horse barn.

How did you conclude that it's Indian?

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

I compared the smell to a known sample of Indian Rosewood, as I sanded the endgrain for comparison.

Then I looked at the pores on the endgrain. Identical in size and distribution.

Definitely not Brazilian.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Yep, I think it looks like Indian, especially the sides. Nice looking set though. I hope things work out with you and the seller. Good luck.

Beth

You are probably right... so sad but so true

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Don Hamilton is taking the set back and offering a full refund plus shipping.

I'm sure it's not his fault, as he says he bought the set 20 years ago from a reputable dealer.

I sent him the link to the article.

Once you know what to lok for it's pretty clear cut, IMO.

From a smell standpoint and from the endgrain comparison, it's not even close. I have some bridge blanks that I KNOW are Brazilian rosewood, and the endgrain matches identically to the pictures in the article for the bridge blank.

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Old growth, shmold growth!