Indian rosewood vs American?

BloodRose

Professional Scapegoat
First, Is there such a thing as American Rosewood? Google search seemed to only come up with brazilian and Indian..

If so, what differences would be between Indian vs American when used on a fretboard?
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

IMO, Indian, in general, has the best looking grain and color. But this varies alot.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

There's tons of different rosewood species, but to my knowledge I have never heard of "American Rosewood" or of many species growing much further north than Mexico
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

Can't tell you the difference, but here's some info that might be helpful...


http://www2.gibson.com/Support/FAQ-Tonewoods.aspx

Will Gibson be using more USA wood varieties?
Gibson uses a wide variety of materials and will continue to do so, including maple and rosewood from North America. As we introduce the expanded capability of additional new models, "the Gibson sound" will always remain the sound of quality.
Will Gibson make guitars with ebony fingerboards?
Yes, Gibson is making a number of models with ebony today, such as the new Custom Division's Les Paul Custom Ace Frehley model. Several models from Montana have ebony and our Memphis division is using ebony for some of its legendary guitars. We have the ebony we need for production.
What's the story with North American Rosewood?
Many trees not originally native to the United States have been growing here for many years, including rosewood. We recently found a vendor with a good supply and were pleasantly surprised to find it was a beautiful, viable guitar tonewood. We also verified the chain of custody and sustainability through our legality and compliance review. Plentifully available in Florida and Southern California, and the same species once found only in the Amazon, these trees have met Gibson's sustainability and legality compliance standards.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

^ Okay, so it's American rosewood in that it was grown in America, but that's like calling it an American Elephant because it was born in a zoo.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

^ Okay, so it's American rosewood in that it was grown in America, but that's like calling it an American Elephant because it was born in a zoo.

Yes. It's rosewood of the Indian or Brazilian type grown and harvested on american soil.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

First, Is there such a thing as American Rosewood? Google search seemed to only come up with brazilian and Indian..

If so, what differences would be between Indian vs American when used on a fretboard?

One would be harvested in India & the other would be harvested in America(but as far as I know There is no such species as American Rosewood)

Its like Brazilian vrs. Indian. Tonally (INHO) there is not much difference & if there really is its is minimal. The aesthetics of Brazilian is more desirable due to how rare it has become, From a tonal point of view I can't hear any real difference.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

this is what i thought. not a diff species, just locale. makes me wonder then, why its so "preferential" as far as building goes to use indian or brazilian? Sounds more elusive and worth more of an upcharge I guess.. haha
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

There's tons of different rosewood species, but to my knowledge I have never heard of "American Rosewood" or of many species growing much further north than Mexico

Rosewood (Dalbergia) is a tropical/subtropical genus. There's several species. They're grown as ornamentals in Southern Florida (not very common anymore), and not in commercial quantities for lumber production. Mahogany is one of the more popular Florida ornamentals these days.

The same species can differ depending on where it's grown, due to temp, rainfall, elevation, soil, etc. Like with coffee and tobacco.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

It may not be an "official" designation, but "American rosewood" makes sense to me as a general term to differentiate it from Indian rosewood, which comes from an entirely different continent. Brazil, and whatever other countries in which rosewood grows down there, are in "America," after all. And "India" can be used to refer to the entire general area of the Indian subcontinent, not just to the country. So it makes sense to me to differentiate between Asian and South American rosewood with the terms "Indian" and "American." May not be "official" nomenclature, but it makes perfect sense in an informal way.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

So it makes sense to me to differentiate between Asian and South American rosewood with the terms "Indian" and "American." May not be "official" nomenclature, but it makes perfect sense in an informal way.

Thats a bit of a stretch isnt it?
BTW, "Mexican Rosewood" is slang for "PAu Rosa", not Pau ferro, which , PuaFerro is nothing like Rosewood, but is more bright like maple.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

How is it a stretch? One comes from India and the other comes from America!
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

The American Rosewoods that I have seen advertised are from SOUTH America.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

Indian rosewood grown in America will have different properties (tonal and appearance) due to the climate/seasonal differences. The climate affects the WAY that any species grows: how fast it grows will affect the ring structure/density, the amount of moisture and the duration of that moisture, the heat, etc. all have an affect.

So if it truly only is Indian rosewood species and only grown in America, the two will be different from each other.
 
Re: Indian rosewood vs American?

the Brazilian vs indian debate comes from classical guitars. Most who have experience in that area feel that there is a difference. it's generally more dense and less oily than Indian and as a acoustic guitar back and sides it would act differently.
 
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