Morado, commonly referred to as Brazilian Rosewood. In many case it is sold as a substitute for Brazilian Rosewood. Be aware it
is not a Dalbergia and does not have the same sound properties. I guess because
it comes from Bolivia & Bolivia is close to Brazil.
Don't be fooled.
Pau Ferro, Morado or Bolivian Rosewood is not
expensive, The piece pictured on this page is a beautiful example.
Most of it is a dull Greyish Taupe Color. It does not usually
compliment the inlays and it is being sold by several boutique makers as
"The Holy Grail"
BS To That.
Pau Ferro
(Morado, Rosewood; Bolivian)
Also known as Bolivian Rosewood or Morado. It is heavy, brownish-orange
wood with dark black stripes.
Most of the material that begot the perception of quality in the rose
wood family is now long gone old growth trees,
so perhaps it's time to
re-evaluate our preferences. By the way, the publics desire for rose woods
has also motivated manufactures to fib from time to time. Pau Ferro is not a
rose wood, but is easily passed off as one. Bubinga is passed off as Chinese
Rose wood even though it is not of the rose wood genus
Primarily available as fingerboards. Medium brown color, very smooth
fine grain, warmer tone than ebony.
Maple neck with Pau Ferro fingerboard:] Quarter sawn Pau Ferro has the
good properties of ebony but seems to be more reliable and stable. Pau Ferro
is a tight grained hard wood with excellent clarity on the "chunk" tones
when using gain, especially when teamed up with an alder body. In overdrive
mode it has a fatter low end and more pronounced sparkle when compared to
maple. It adds excellent definition to the notes especially when using
overdriven tones. Strong in the lower mids and bass, scooped mids.
From Africa; Congo, Ivory Coast, Zaire, Gabon, Angola, Cameroon,
Equatorial Guine, and Nigeria.
The heartwood is pink, yellow, or dark brown in color and is often striped
with red-brown bands. The grain is usually wavy or interlocked. The wood is
rather coarse-textured. Polishing characteristics are rated as good.
Common uses include carvings, musical instruments, decorative veneer, fine
furniture, and sounding boards.
Specific Gravity is .82 (very dense). Responds well to turning.
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