What is Indian rosewood?

About Indian rosewood

Indian Rosewood ( Dalbergia latifolia )
It is one of the most widely used premium guitar woods in the world.

Made from high-quality rosewood (Fabaceae) native to India,
The heartwood varies from reddish brown to deep purple and is characterized by beautiful dark brown stripes.

This is a standard wood that has been used for many years as the back and side material for vintage Martin and classical guitars.

It is extremely dense, heavy, and hard, and has excellent durability.
When polished, it develops a deep luster and emits a subtle, sweet rose scent.

Material characteristics

• Purple-brown to dark brown

• Black stripes

• High density/high hardness

• Contains oil and is easy to shine

Specific gravity: approx. 0.80-0.85

About scarcity

Indian rosewood is still in circulation today.

• Finest straight grained wood

• Wide bookmatch material

• Old material/long-term dried material

is decreasing year by year.

In addition, rosewood species are sometimes subject to international trade restrictions.
Distribution is not always stable.

Acoustic characteristics

• Deep, rich bass

• Brilliant high notes

• Long sustain

• Rich in overtones

It's called the "Rosewood Sound."
It features a deep and expansive tone.

About drying

Because of its high density,
Rapid drying should be avoided.

Thickness 20-30mm → Approx. 3 months. Thick materials are recommended for long-term stability.

Recommended use

• Acoustic guitar (back and sides)

• classical guitar

• fingerboard material

• Bridge material

• Luxury furniture