Santos Rosewood

Santos Rosewood or Pau Ferro is very much appreciated by the luthiers and has been used as a substitute of the different Rosewoods and Bubinga. One of the most important characteristic is its hardness and aesthetic that’s why Santos Rosewood is one of the best options for your instrument. Excellent quality-ratio price.

Enjoy the beauty of the Santos Rosewood headplates for Archtop guitars that we have in Maderas Barber. Always premium quality.

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.