Santos Rosewood

Santos rosewood is a very dense, tough, compact and, most of all, long lasting wood. But it is also soft to the touch. Its appearance has a great beauty, because of its big variety of colors which goes from a light and golden brown to a very dark brown, with yellow and purple touches. All this variety gives outstanding contrasts to this wood.

Regarding to the sound, it is very similar to Indian Rosewood, although it is warmer and more brilliant than Ebony. Some say that Santos Rosewood is the perfect combination between Ebony and Indian Rosewood.

In short, Santos Rosewood is a tough and resistant wood, which doesn’t need any additional finishing. So, Santos Rosewood sides from Maderas Barber are a great option to wrap up the sounding board.

BOTANIC NAME: Machaerium scleroxylon.

COMMON NAMES: Pau Ferro, Morado, Bolivian Rosewood, Santos Rosewood.

ORIGIN: Brazil.

DESCRIPTION: Density 940 kg/m3. Colour can be highly varied, ranging from reddish/orange to a dark violet/brown, usually with contrasting darker black streaks. Narrow sapwood is a pale yellow and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Grain is typically straight, though sometimes slightly irregular or interlocked. Fine, even texture and a naturally high luster.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Pau Ferro is considered overall to be of fair workability, as it can blunt the cutting edges of tools, and any irregular grain has a tendency to tear out during machining operations. Also, many of the same challenges in gluing rosewoods are common to Pau Ferro as well. Pau Ferro turns and finishes well. Can cause eye and skin irritation.

DRYING: Dries slowly. No risk of deformation but it can crack.

USES: Guitar tops, backs, fingerboards , headplates and bridges. Wind instruments.