I bought 100 sets from allied lutherie in 95 when I attended the Charles Fox school of Lutherie. Still have 90 sets. Quartered, straight no blems and beautiful black strips. it's been really VERY predictable and beautiful tones. It's a go to because I know I'll get great sound.
Interesting information! My first guitar is indian rosewood and at first I thought it smelled weird, but it kinda grew on me each time I would cut/scrape/sand it. My wife absolutely hates the smell.
Great video, Tom! I have a 000-28 that has Sitka top, EIR back and sides, and it definitely has a spicy floral scent to it. I have a HD-28 with Guatemalan Rosewood back and sides, and it has a different sweeter, floral, smell to it. Both of them sound fantastic. My other three Martin's have Honduran Mahogany back and sides. Each of them smells slightly different. All of them except the 000-28 have Adirondack tops.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Indian Rosewood. It is by far the one of most compliant, easy to work, deliciously wonderful woods, designed for luthiers from seed to harvest. It rings like a bell in its better examples, and it's stable, dependable, so easily workable, and lovely to look upon. I've built lots of Cocobolo, Honduran, Brazilian, and Madagascar rosewood guitars, and they all needed some very delicate handling, but the EIR sets I've built with (maybe fifty in twenty years) have been a happy dream to work with. Love ya, Tommy, you are the best.
I'm building my first musical instrument, A square neck resonator, with Indian rose wood back and sides and Sitka top. Well, I pretty successfully bent the sides on a cheap electric bending iron. That's saying something. If I can get a playable instrument out of this I think I might make a couple more because in my opinion it looks very classy and bends so politely. Now, as to pore filling...
IR - a classic... and smells lovely - [well my IR guitar does] - probably depends on the batch? Looks lovely and some sets are seriously attractive. In fairness it is reasonably consistent in figuration. And the tap-tone is really nice, the glassiness is coming through and the sustain is there too. Of course, not Madi! The most common back and sides for guitar building - perhaps? It really does provide a lovely tone and nice overtones... Some guitars, when topped with Adirondack, can come across too brittle... but in the whole, its awesome!
Das Nice! Gives me yoga vibes :) also for the whole series, would be interesting to see how the tree looks like; a picture of a tree in natural habitat. Maybe?
Made a neck recently from Indian rosewood, and it finished wonderfully - however it was definitely more purplish in color which now I know is more than likely plantation grown. Thanks my friend.
That's simply incorrect. Doesn't mean its plantation grown. Cheaper Plantation grown is greenish Grey. Indian also has many many colors. Some of the oldest I've Seen is super dark purple brown In fact the finest old growth wild stuff is dark purple and extremely rare. Not sure where you're getting your info from. But don't get rid of that neck Plantation grown is almost always lighter in color
The first few good guitars I owned had Indian Rosewood back and sides so it sort of became my comparator. I now have two guitars with it, a Martin 00-28 Standard that's clearly plantation grown, and a Santa Cruz 00 that's old-growth, very tight, straight, and dark. Perhaps the SCGC had been on the dealer floor long enough for the aroma to dissipate because it doesn't give off much smell unfortunately. The Martin is newer and is plenty odorous still. My best-smelling guitar is a plain Collings D1 with Sitka and Mahogany. I am mainly building ukuleles these days so I rarely use IR but it remains a popular choice.
Tom, Indian Rosewood seems to be used frequently with a Cedar top on classical guitars. Do you think this combination would work well on a steel stringed instrument? For a steel string guitar with a Cedar top, what would be your best choice for the B&S tonewood? BTW, I just put my money down on a Tom Sands build slot in 2025 from a US guitar store and I can't wait!!! Thanks, John Gig Harbor, WA USA
i would love to learn how to build guitars im also working on repairing a guitar that my late dad used to own before he passed away id love to find out how learn on how to become a luthier
Same here. Would love to learn. I've hot great hands and have worked with everything but wood unfortunately And my father amd I were going to get into it, before his untimely passing a month ago. So I'd love to do it in his honor
Im allergic to Indian rosewood, the inner part of my wrists become red inflamed and itchy, and quite uncomfortable when I come into contact with the dust.
See those dark wide streaks. That's that old growth stuff. I noticed some Martins ship with them still. Regardless of what people say about younger plantation. I can see some of is old stock. Also, plantation doesn't mean young trees. Just means when an old tree falls, that's what you can take. Still old. Still wild The rosewood I have on my new 000-28 1937 is so dark, and a third of back its literally black. I agree completely that it does it a disservice. Indian Rosewood has some of the best tonewood ever in my opinion. As is mahogany. Mahogany's always looked upon as a downgrade it's ridiculous
I have built several Indian Rosewood guitars and for my money I think they have beaten hands down anything I've built with Rio. Probably to do with the fact that the quality is way better in Indian Rosewood than Rio these days. The ethical leaning in me says Indian is much better ecologically speaking than either Madagascan or Rio now..
There is legal Brazilian wood bought before the ban just check it's been properly registered with Cites. If you are a billionaire you can probably buy pretty much anything I am told money works that way LOL
I am not an expert but as I understand it that's largely what is used these days plus some sets are reclaimed from old furniture wood, in general wood, does not go off. I also think or there was some new old-growth being exported where they were getting permission to remove wood from stumps still in the ground but sawn down many years ago. This may have now stopped as I remember reading something that it was a system open to abuse and was creating a black market, with illegal new wood getting mixed in with the so-called old growth. Sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.
No, I am sure, it is not dalbergia sissoo which is a lower grade wood. But this is 💯 percent dalbergia latifolia, One of The best exotic wood in the world. I think the wood in his hand is exported by a company (crown timbers/ Kerala ),situated in my area, Kerala, south india. They are the number one exporters of rosewood guitar back to europe and america.
@@rajeshsng yes it in Tamil Nadu common but the one this man is using for guitar is dalbergia sisoo as dalbergia latifolia have very thick grains and zig zag texture and also it is dark purple in colour
If you search around there are some fancier sets my local supplier in Spain has just done a promo on some nice wild grain sets. But yeah there is also a lot of just basic stuff.
I bought 100 sets from allied lutherie in 95 when I attended the Charles Fox school of Lutherie. Still have 90 sets. Quartered, straight no blems and beautiful black strips. it's been really VERY predictable and beautiful tones. It's a go to because I know I'll get great sound.
Beautiful Grain :)
Interesting information! My first guitar is indian rosewood and at first I thought it smelled weird, but it kinda grew on me each time I would cut/scrape/sand it. My wife absolutely hates the smell.
I had no idea some people have such a negative association with the smell, I love it.
Yep!
Great video, Tom! I have a 000-28 that has Sitka top, EIR back and sides, and it definitely has a spicy floral scent to it. I have a HD-28 with Guatemalan Rosewood back and sides, and it has a different sweeter, floral, smell to it. Both of them sound fantastic. My other three Martin's have Honduran Mahogany back and sides. Each of them smells slightly different. All of them except the 000-28 have Adirondack tops.
spicy and floral! great combo!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Indian Rosewood. It is by far the one of most compliant, easy to work, deliciously wonderful woods, designed for luthiers from seed to harvest. It rings like a bell in its better examples, and it's stable, dependable, so easily workable, and lovely to look upon. I've built lots of Cocobolo, Honduran, Brazilian, and Madagascar rosewood guitars, and they all needed some very delicate handling, but the EIR sets I've built with (maybe fifty in twenty years) have been a happy dream to work with. Love ya, Tommy, you are the best.
I'm building my first musical instrument, A square neck resonator, with Indian rose wood back and sides and Sitka top. Well, I pretty successfully bent the sides on a cheap electric bending iron. That's saying something. If I can get a playable instrument out of this I think I might make a couple more because in my opinion it looks very classy and bends so politely. Now, as to pore filling...
IR - a classic... and smells lovely - [well my IR guitar does] - probably depends on the batch? Looks lovely and some sets are seriously attractive. In fairness it is reasonably consistent in figuration. And the tap-tone is really nice, the glassiness is coming through and the sustain is there too. Of course, not Madi! The most common back and sides for guitar building - perhaps? It really does provide a lovely tone and nice overtones... Some guitars, when topped with Adirondack, can come across too brittle... but in the whole, its awesome!
Having a solid indian rosewood neck for my telecaster deluxe
Das Nice! Gives me yoga vibes :) also for the whole series, would be interesting to see how the tree looks like; a picture of a tree in natural habitat. Maybe?
I keep forgetting to add these, I will do in future. Thanks Lena 💋
Yeah...Indian Rose wood is very gud to guitar back and side and finger boards..
We supply the Indian Rosewoods to guitar manufactures and traders ..
I had a Tele made with an East Indian Rosewood neck, Katalox Fretboard and Sapele body.
Made a neck recently from Indian rosewood, and it finished wonderfully - however it was definitely more purplish in color which now I know is more than likely plantation grown. Thanks my friend.
No ,these are diffrent types of wood that gives diffrent colour
That's simply incorrect. Doesn't mean its plantation grown. Cheaper Plantation grown is greenish Grey. Indian also has many many colors. Some of the oldest I've Seen is super dark purple brown
In fact the finest old growth wild stuff is dark purple and extremely rare. Not sure where you're getting your info from. But don't get rid of that neck
Plantation grown is almost always lighter in color
I wonder if it would work well on a ukulele.
The first few good guitars I owned had Indian Rosewood back and sides so it sort of became my comparator. I now have two guitars with it, a Martin 00-28 Standard that's clearly plantation grown, and a Santa Cruz 00 that's old-growth, very tight, straight, and dark. Perhaps the SCGC had been on the dealer floor long enough for the aroma to dissipate because it doesn't give off much smell unfortunately. The Martin is newer and is plenty odorous still. My best-smelling guitar is a plain Collings D1 with Sitka and Mahogany. I am mainly building ukuleles these days so I rarely use IR but it remains a popular choice.
Brad, you can get the floral smell back on an EIR guitar if you just properly hydrate it. EIR can lose it's floral smell if it get's too dried out.
@@ericecklund676 🤷It's been sitting pretty in its case at 45-55% RH since I got it. Still somewhat subdued but I don't mind.
A good round up on a classic and probably underrated wood but there are so many fancy Dalbergia's available these days saying look at me.
Show offs eh!?
Are there videos of your 00 and OM builds?
There are, if you go to the archive segment on my website 🙏
I like rose wood smell when it cutting time...
Tom, Indian Rosewood seems to be used frequently with a Cedar top on classical guitars. Do you think this combination would work well on a steel stringed instrument? For a steel string guitar with a Cedar top, what would be your best choice for the B&S tonewood?
BTW, I just put my money down on a Tom Sands build slot in 2025 from a US guitar store and I can't wait!!!
Thanks, John
Gig Harbor, WA USA
Hi
I think IR woods are one of the top grade tone woods.
Ys
i would love to learn how to build guitars im also working on repairing a guitar that my late dad used to own before he passed away id love to find out how learn on how to become a luthier
keep watching!
Same here. Would love to learn. I've hot great hands and have worked with everything but wood unfortunately
And my father amd I were going to get into it, before his untimely passing a month ago. So I'd love to do it in his honor
Im allergic to Indian rosewood, the inner part of my wrists become red inflamed and itchy, and quite uncomfortable when I come into contact with the dust.
🎉
How old is they have to be considered old growth?
Hello bro. Can I buy the wood to make a guitar
See those dark wide streaks. That's that old growth stuff. I noticed some Martins ship with them still. Regardless of what people say about younger plantation. I can see some of is old stock. Also, plantation doesn't mean young trees. Just means when an old tree falls, that's what you can take. Still old. Still wild
The rosewood I have on my new 000-28 1937 is so dark, and a third of back its literally black.
I agree completely that it does it a disservice. Indian Rosewood has some of the best tonewood ever in my opinion. As is mahogany. Mahogany's always looked upon as a downgrade it's ridiculous
I have some Honduran Mahogany sets that ring better than most rosewoods, including the few sets of Brazilian I have handled.
Do you know about dalbergia sisso?
Sure do!
@@TomSandsGuitars I think you can get that cheap from Florida
In Indonesia . Rosewood is sonokeling. Macassar ebony best wood
I believe so!
The Japanese used to make concrete forms out of Indian Rosewood.
5:36 Digest?
I was being silly. very base level, i know.
I have built several Indian Rosewood guitars and for my money I think they have beaten hands down anything I've built with Rio. Probably to do with the fact that the quality is way better in Indian Rosewood than Rio these days. The ethical leaning in me says Indian is much better ecologically speaking than either Madagascan or Rio now..
Am an Indian rosewood dealer
I'd rather have Indian than Madagascar honestly. I'm not a big Madagascar sound fan
🤣🤣🤣🤣 🚽 I love it
the acoustic guitar i bought from headway which was atb handmade aska series smelled like shit everytime i start playing it.
Haha, yep
Its too common, i feel
Word of the day: Pungent.
Bro your is dalbergia sisoo not dalbergia latifolia as grains are not straight on Latifolia
Bro, you’re mistaken. 😘
@@TomSandsGuitars bro I am from India only and wood specialist give your WhatsApp I will show you original one so your doubts are cleared
@@tablamasters6262 BRO. Send me an email - info@tomsandsguitars.co.uk
Is Brazilian Redwood no longer available, even for a billionaire?
There is legal Brazilian wood bought before the ban just check it's been properly registered with Cites. If you are a billionaire you can probably buy pretty much anything I am told money works that way LOL
@@jez6345789 - so you'd be buying 50 year old wood? Could you work wood that old?
I am not an expert but as I understand it that's largely what is used these days plus some sets are reclaimed from old furniture wood, in general wood, does not go off. I also think or there was some new old-growth being exported where they were getting permission to remove wood from stumps still in the ground but sawn down many years ago. This may have now stopped as I remember reading something that it was a system open to abuse and was creating a black market, with illegal new wood getting mixed in with the so-called old growth. Sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.
@@nedludd3641 yep certainly can. Older the better
@@nedludd3641 Yes but the relevant question is could I afford wood that old LOL.
What you have there is dalbergia sissoo and not dalbergia latifolia. D your homework. There are 2 types of rosewood in India.
Thanks for your comment, I’d be interested to know what makes you so sure it’s sissoo, I think you may be mistaken.
No, I am sure, it is not dalbergia sissoo which is a lower grade wood. But this is 💯 percent dalbergia latifolia, One of The best exotic wood in the world. I think the wood in his hand is exported by a company (crown timbers/ Kerala ),situated in my area, Kerala, south india. They are the number one exporters of rosewood guitar back to europe and america.
@@rajeshsng you are mistaken man
@@tablamasters6262 I have this tree in my land. India is a big country. Dalbergia latifolia is common in South Indian rain forests.
@@rajeshsng yes it in Tamil Nadu common but the one this man is using for guitar is dalbergia sisoo as dalbergia latifolia have very thick grains and zig zag texture and also it is dark purple in colour
It smells more like cat piss to me 😄
Any remember what I said it smelled like but cat piss is a good shout 🤣
Rosewood may make super-dooper sounding guitars, but you gotta admit it looks kinda meh.
If you search around there are some fancier sets my local supplier in Spain has just done a promo on some nice wild grain sets. But yeah there is also a lot of just basic stuff.
That set in the video looked absolutely beautiful imo
Disagree. I think its gorgeous. Give me quarter sewn stray grain over any of that other fkst sewnynonsense any day if the week
Great wood. Can smell like pee.