Cocobolo (CITES)

There is no doubt that Cocobolo is a tonewood which surprises everyone who knows it both for its wide range of colors and for its figures. However, we can’t forget its excellent acoustic qualities, since it is a wood similar to Koa, but with better resonance in low tones.

Discover this hard and resistant wood perfect for classic guitar headplates that you can find in Maderas Barber.

BOTANIC NAME: Dalbergia retusa.

COMMON NAMES: Cocobolo, Granadilla, Cocobola.

ORIGIN: Nicaragua.

DESCRIPTION: Density 990-1250 Kg/m3. Cocobolo can have different colours, ranging from yellow, orange, red, and shades of brown with streaks of black or purple. Sapwood is typically a very pale yellow. Colours are lighter when freshly sanded/cut, and darken with age. Grain is straight to interlocked, with a fine even texture. Good natural luster.

Notoriously allergenic.

RECOMMENDATIONS:  Due to the high oil content found in this wood, it can occasionally cause problems with gluing. Also, the wood’s colour can bleed into surrounding wood when applying a finish, so care must be taken on the initial seal coats not to smear the wood’s colour/oils into surrounding areas. Tear out can occur during planning if interlocked grain is present; the wood also has a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges/tools due to its high density. Cocobolo has excellent turning properties.

DRYING: Slow drying wood. Risk of deformation or cracks.

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