known as “New Jacaranda” (see Vol. 2), which emerged as a replacement for Jacaranda, are now rare materials themselves.
Amid this trend, a new generation of “Post-Jacaranda” woods has emerged. While many of these have
also become rare,
various manufacturers are utilizing a wide range of rare rosewood species. Many possess excellent
acoustic properties,
and some are even traded on par with Jacaranda…!
In this installment, we’ll introduce a few of them!
Although the species name does not include “rosewood,” this is a genuine rosewood belonging to the same Dalbergia genus as Hacalanda and other rosewood species.
It is counted among the woods referred to as “Central and South American rosewood” and is widely used by major manufacturers such as Martin and Taylor, as well as high-end independent workshops.
Compared to other rosewoods, it has a deeper reddish hue, and its exotic grain—which rivals that of Brazilian rosewood—is exceptionally beautiful.
It is harder than Brazilian rosewood, contains more oil, and produces a rich, juicy sound with a low center of gravity—a sound that feels exceptionally high-quality even when compared to other rosewood species. It is threatened with
extinction and is already traded at high prices as a rare wood.
Martin D-45
The Martin D-45 is the brand’s flagship model.
In recent years, various reissues, custom models, and limited editions have been released.
In the high-end segment, models using Cocobolo have been produced alongside those made from Madagascar rosewood.
This is a 2012 D-45 CTM-D Style 42 Cocobolo.
This D-42-style guitar features a top made of premium Italian Alpine spruce.
It boasts a beautiful, straight, and translucent grain, with a distinct contrast between the bright reddish sections and the deep black areas. Its
rich, solid sound is exceptionally powerful and can be described as superb.
Due to the rarity of the wood, this is a custom model that is not part of the standard production line.
Taylor
Alongside Martin and Gibson, Taylor is currently one of the most popular brands of imported acoustic guitars. Rather than adhering to
traditional styles, Taylor guitars are characterized by modern elements designed to suit contemporary music, such as built-in preamps, cutaways, and bolt-on necks. While the brand continues to innovate—including the adoption of
computer-controlled manufacturing processes—it also has a well-established reputation for its meticulous selection of wood. With a wide range of models available, Taylor continues to enjoy great popularity.
This is a 2002 714ce LTD.
It features the GA shape—a smaller body with a cutaway—which is the most popular style in Japan.
Taylor regularly releases limited-edition models, and the rare Cocobolo wood is frequently used in their high-end models.
It pairs exceptionally well with Taylor’s precision craftsmanship, which results in a guitar that’s easy to play and highly responsive; while it has a bright, lively tone, you can also discern a rich, smooth, and “wet” texture that feels truly premium.
Camatiro, also known as “Mexican Kingwood.” It is generally believed to refer to the Mexican variety of the well-known Brazilian Kingwood, though information on this wood is scarce. Like Cocobolo, it is a genuine rosewood species (genus Dalbergia) characterized by a vivid purple grain pattern. It features an exotic grain similar to
Cocobolo and is exceptionally beautiful compared to other species.It has a high specific
gravity, is hard, and has a dry texture. It is characterized by a spacious, resonant sound.
Yokoyama Guitars
Tadashi Yokoyama, a former Morris craftsman known for developing the Morris S Series, operates a workshop in Nagano where he builds guitars entirely by himself.
His instruments are highly regarded by technically skilled players, particularly fingerstyle guitarists. Crafted with exceptional woodworking skills, each guitar possesses its own unique character and exudes a sense of
warmth. The brand is known for its wide range of guitars featuring rare woods that other manufacturers rarely use.
This is the SJF-WC from the SJF series, one of Yokoyama Guitars’ most popular models.
It’s a beautiful instrument featuring a Small Jumbo body with a Florentine cutaway, crafted from a generous amount of Camatilo wood.
The three-piece back showcases exotic grain patterns flowing in every direction, and the
sapwood patterns are particularly striking.
Currently, aside from Yokoyama Guitars, virtually no other acoustic guitar brand uses Camatilo wood, resulting in a truly unique guitar sound that no other manufacturer can replicate.
Here’s the back of the AR-GC from the same Yokoyama Guitars—the most popular model in the AR series.
Although it features a two-piece back, the wood selection is extremely rare—it’s “almost” entirely made of sapwood. The combination of the fiery grain and the pure white sapwood creates a truly distinctive look.
Because the wood is so rare, it can be difficult to source at Mr. Yokoyama’s workshop; as a result, production and orders for Kamatiro models are periodically suspended, with limited production occurring only when the wood is available. In recent years, three- to five-piece back panels have become more common, reflecting the growing difficulty in obtaining this wood.
The standard Japanese name for this rosewood is “Shitan.” The scientific
name, Dalbergia cochinchinensis, refers to a species found in Thailand and Vietnam as well. It is also known by various other
names—such as Thai Rosewood, Vietnamese Rosewood, Siamese Rosewood, and Paion—depending on its country of origin. Here, we will focus on Cambodian Rosewood, which is native to Cambodia.
Water Road Guitars
Water Road Guitars is a high-end guitar brand known only to connoisseurs, crafted by luthier Akio Masuda.
“Water Road” literally means “waterway” and is said to derive from the fact that Mr. Masuda’s main profession is in the plumbing business.
In addition to original designs and inlays, he crafts guitars that reflect his meticulous attention to detail—such as incorporating carbon fiber reinforcement to ensure the practicality of the thinner neck.
This is the “Libero Arte,” a small jumbo model from Water Road Guitars.
While this workshop uses a variety of rare woods depending on the model, this particular guitar features the extremely rare Cambodian rosewood.
Few manufacturers use this wood in acoustic guitars,
making this a truly special instrument that allows you to experience its unique sound firsthand.
While similar to Indian rosewood, it features a beautiful grain with a distinctive reddish hue and undulating patterns, and sapwood is visible in the book-matched sections.
Thanks to the meticulous craftsmanship typical of handmade instruments, this guitar produces a woody tone with a wide dynamic range, a bottomless density of sound, and a clear, powerful projection. It offers a glimpse into the true potential of
Cambodian rosewood.
Afterword
In this post, I’ve introduced rare rosewood species that have been flying under the radar
alongside “New Jacaranda” woods like Madagascar rosewood and Hon Rosewood!
“New Jacaranda” woods are no longer mere
substitutes—each has its own value and is highly prized!
Despite being exceptionally well-suited for musical instruments, they’re so rare—due to limited
availability and the fact that few manufacturers use them—
that it’s difficult to even gather information about them…
And the influx of these “post-Jacaranda” woods shows no signs of stopping…