—which emerged as a replacement for Jacaranda—are now rare woods themselves.
Amid this trend, “Post-Jacaranda” woods have begun to appear.
While many of these have also become rare,
various manufacturers are using a wide variety of rare rosewood species.
Many possess excellent acoustic properties,
and some are even traded on par with Jacaranda…!
Here, we’ll introduce just a few of them!
Although the species name doesn’t include “rosewood,” it is a genuine rosewood belonging to the same Dalbergia genus as Brazilian rosewood and other rosewood species.
It is considered one of the “Central and South American rosewoods” and is widely used by major manufacturers such as Martin and Taylor, as well as high-end independent luthiers.
Compared to other rosewoods, it has a deeper reddish hue, and its exotic grain—which rivals that of Jacaranda—is exceptionally beautiful.
It is harder than Jacaranda and has a higher oil content; its rich, juicy sound with a low center of gravity delivers a sound quality that feels exceptionally premium 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
Martin’s flagship model, the D-45.
In recent years, various reissues, custom models, and limited editions have been released.
In addition to Madagascar rosewood, models using cocobolo have also been produced in the high-end category in recent years.
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.
The straight, translucent grain is beautiful, with a clear contrast between the bright reddish sections and the deep black sections.
The rich, solid sound is powerful and truly exceptional.
Due to the rarity of the wood, this is a custom model that is not part of the regular 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—such as built-in preamps, cutaways, and bolt-on necks—designed to suit contemporary music.
While the brand continues to innovate—such as by incorporating computer-controlled manufacturing processes—it also has a well-established reputation for its meticulous selection of wood, and its diverse lineup of models continues to enjoy widespread popularity.
This is a 2002 714ce LTD.
It features the GA shape—a smaller body with a cutaway—which is the most popular model in Japan.
Taylor regularly releases limited-edition models, and the rare Cocobolo wood is frequently used in high-end models.
It pairs exceptionally well with Taylor’s precision craftsmanship, resulting in a guitar that’s easy to play and highly responsive; while it has a bright, lively tone, it also delivers 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 species of rosewood (genus Dalbergia) and is characterized by a vivid purple grain pattern.
It features an exotic grain pattern 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 resonant, crisp sound.
Yokoyama Guitars
Tadashi Yokoyama, a former Morris craftsman known for developing the Morris S Series, runs a workshop in Nagano where he builds guitars entirely by himself.
Highly regarded by technically skilled players—particularly fingerstyle guitarists—his guitars, crafted with exceptional woodworking skills, each possess their own unique character and
exude a sense of warmth. His guitars are distinguished by a wide range of specifications that utilize rare woods seldom used by other manufacturers.
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 Kamatilo wood.
The three-piece back showcases exotic grain patterns flowing in every direction.
The sapwood patterns are also striking.
Currently, aside from Yokoyama Guitars, almost no other acoustic guitar brand uses Kamatilo wood, resulting in a one-of-a-kind guitar sound that other manufacturers simply cannot replicate.
Also from Yokoyama Guitars, here is the back of the AR-GC, the most popular model in the AR series.
Although it’s a two-piece back, it features an extremely rare cut where it’s “almost” entirely made of sapwood. The striking combination of fiery grain and pure white sapwood gives it a very 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 constructions 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, is also found in Thailand and Vietnam.
Alternative names include Thai Rosewood, Vietnamese Rosewood, Siamese Rosewood, and Paion; the name varies depending on the 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 and waterworks industry.
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 rare instrument that allows you to experience the sound of this wood 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 introduced rare rosewood species that have been playing a supporting role in the shadow of “New Jacaranda” varieties such as Madagascar rosewood and Hon Rosewood:
New Jacaranda is no longer merely a substitute for traditional rosewood—
—but each variety has its own unique value and is highly prized!
Despite being exceptionally well-suited for musical instruments,
the limited number of logs available and the small number of manufacturers using them
make them so rare that it’s difficult to even gather information about them...
And the onslaught of these “post-Jacaranda” woods is far from over...