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Mariner-aaron

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Aug 9, 2014
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178
I wish I could by a rosewood neck for my koa7 id gladly pay a 1,000$ depending on figuring of the wood.


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DrKev

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Jul 8, 2006
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I like a rosewood fretboard but I don't like the looks of a rosewood neck.

Speaking on fretboards, why the choice of Indian rosewood? I always thought Brazilian Rosewood was "the" rosewood. I live in Brazil, we call Rosewood by the name Jacarandá down here. I have guitars made by some top notch custom shops from Sao Paulo (N Zaganin and Music Maker) that uses brazilian rosewood fretboards that are absolutely delicious to play. I can't speak for the Indian version, both my MM have ebony fretboards. The eye test just gives me the impression that the color is different, it's lighter. Suhr also uses Indian Rosewood.

Brazilian rosewood is an endangered species due to over-exploitation and can't recover well because so much of its native habitat has been lost and continues to be. It has been all but from banned from international trade since 1992 (and that was arguably too late). Some trade is allowed but only from certified stocks of reclaimed wood. As a result it is very expensive and lots of paperwork is required to import and export or sell it. Besides, it looks prettier than any other rosewood but doesn't sound very different (and of course tone is subjective so it's not objectively better).
 
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