Brazilian Rosewood has many beautiful looks, from Red, Brown, Purples and Oranges. This is supposedly the "Holy Grail" of Acoustic Flat top back and side woods. Tonally it is considered by many as the best wood out there, it has a glass-like tap tone. Brazilian is no longer legally exported from Brazil (protected similar to Ivory and Tortoise shell) so it is very rare and very expensive.

Contrary to popular belief  this wood does not come from the inland rain forest, but is a coastal wood. Brazilian is also sometimes prone to cracking if not kept in proper humidity.  

I happen to believe that Brazilian Rosewood is overly priced and that the Corrupt Brazilian Government has decided to capitalize on the Stupid Gringo Americans once again.  They have falsely driven the price up by saying it is destroying the rainforests to cut it down. Typical large corporate tactics...  Make something a little hard to get. The Moronic, Rich, American, German & Japanese consumers will line up in an orderly fashion because then, and only then will they have to have it. Of course they will pay ridiculous prices for it.

I call this a Scamwood !!!!

Prices vary from $300.00 to $3500.00 per set,  as a rule the price difference reflects cosmetics and not acoustic properties. Brazilian will often have worm holes, this is  not necessarily a negative quality. Worm hole are easily filled and can add a dramatic effect to the wood. The best  Brazilian is wood that died and was left to rot somewhat, this gives it much of the sweet smell and dramatic colors.

CF Martin, Taylor, Collings and some other high profile guitar builders sell Brazilian Rosewood guitars for as much as $6,000.00 more than the regular base price of the guitar, On limited editions Gibson has charged over $30,000.00 more.  Currently the absolute best price deal I have found on an Acoustic Flat Top guitar with Brazilian Rosewood is the Tacoma "Amazon."   (Pretty Awesome) Collings or Taylor would charge three to four times as much and I liked the Amazon far better.

By the way, I suggest Macassar Ebony which in my opinion sounds excellent and tends to also be a little overpriced but not as badly as the Brazilian Rosewood.

On electric guitars Paul Reed Smith has used Brazilian Rosewood to make solid necks from it, I have experimented with this wood and I feel that that is absolutely overkill. I didn't think that there was any better tone, In fact I liked the Maple Neck with Brazilian fingerboard combination far better. Of course this is completely subjective to personal taste. But the Maple/Rosewood combination had twice the response and liveliness that the solid Rosewood neck had.  (I favor Ebony fingerboards over all Rosewood fingerboards).

I am planning on introducing some Quicksilver Guitars with Solid Brazilian Rosewood Tops in 2002.  

Ed Roman