Cocobolo — Lutherie Encyclopedia

CocoboloType: tonewoodA dense, oily Central American rosewood with vivid orange-to-purple coloring and a powerful, piano-like tone often compared to Brazilian rosewood.## Botanical Description Cocobolo (*Dalbergia retusa*) is a Neotropical rosewood species native to the Pacific coast of Central America, from Mexico through Costa Rica. It is a relatively small tree, rarely exceeding 15 to 20 meters in height, growing in dry tropical forests. The heartwood is among the most visually dramatic of all tonewoods, displaying vivid oranges, reds, purples, and yellows that darken to deep red-orange with age and light exposure. The grain is fine and straight to slightly interlocked, and the wood is extremely dense and heavily laden with natural oils. Freshly cut cocobolo has a pleasant, sweet, spicy scent reminiscent of cinnamon. ## Tonal Properties Cocobolo delivers a powerful, resonant tone that many builders and players compare favorably to Brazilian rosewood. The density and hardness produce strong bass response with excellent depth, bright and projecting trebles, and a scooped midrange characteristic of the Dalbergia genus. Sustain is exceptional, and individual notes ring with piano-like clarity. The overall sound is bold, three-dimensional, and room-filling. Some players detect a slightly warmer midrange in cocobolo compared to Brazilian rosewood, giving it a unique voice that is rich without being harsh. It is one of the most tonally powerful back-and-sides woods available to modern builders. ## Use in Lutherie Cocobolo has gained popularity as a high-end alternative to Brazilian rosewood, offered by boutique builders and some larger manufac…