Indian Rosewood

Indian Rosewood together with the Ebony have been the most widely used Woods for the Archtop guitar fingerboards. This wood yields a warm and bass tone and has become the tone wood of choice for most manufacturers. It is recommended to reduce its thickness. On the other hand, fingerboards made with this wood should be cleaned regularly and oil should be applied to prevent cracks.

In Maderas Barber we have different qualities of Indian Rosewood fingerboards for Archtop guitars. Find out the sweet-sounding of this wood.

BOTANIC NAME: Dalbergia latifolia.

COMMON NAMES: Indian Rosewood, East Indian Rosewood.

ORIGIN: India.

DESCRIPTION: Density 870-900 kg/m3. Heartwood can vary from a golden brown to a deep purplish brown, with darker brown streaks. The wood darkens with age, usually becoming a deep brown. Has a medium texture and fairly small pores. The grain is usually narrowly interlocked.

RECOMMENDATIONS:  It can be difficult to work with tools because of its interlocked grain and density. The wood can sometimes contain chalky deposits that will rapidly dull cutting edges. Glues and finishes well, though colour from the wood’s natural resins can inadvertently bleed onto surrounding surfaces when applying a finish, so care must be taken on the initial seal coats. Can cause skin irritation

DRYING: Dries slowly. There is no risk of deformation but it can crack. The wood colour improves with the drying.

USES: Guitar tops , backs, fingerboards, bridges, headplates and Zanfoña pieces.