When shopping around for guitar back and sides, you will undoubtedly come across Santos Rosewood and East Indian Rosewood, a dilemma that has been faced by many luthiers as well as DIY enthusiasts who take guitar making seriously. Both are heavy, attractive exotic wood options that are both sonically competent enough to be included in guitar construction. However, they are different in terms of their origin, legal aspects regarding trade, pricing, tone profile, and working with them, to name a few. This article covers everything about these two wood types so you can decide which tonewood you should use for your next build.
Understanding the Two Woods: Origins and Basics
Macherium scleroxylon (Santos Rosewood) isn’t technically a true Rosewood by botany; it belongs to the Macherium genus not the Dalbergia genus. Still, visually and tonally it possesses many of the same qualities that people love in Rosewoods for making guitars. Grown in Bolivia and parts of Brazil, Santos Rosewood has a nice reddish brown color with some nice, sometimes spiraled or cross-grained patterns. The looks of Santos can easily compete with the looks of Brazilian Rosewood; however, the price of Santos is less than that of Brazilian Rosewood.
In contrast, East Indian Rosewood, scientific name Dalbergia latifolia, is a true rosewood and has historically been the tonewood of choice for acoustic guitars backs and side sets since southern India is the primary source for this species. With the introduction of CITES regulations there was a void created as Brazilian Rosewood was no longer readily available; therefore, East Indian has become the standard choice for the entire manufacturing range from mass-production factories to custom-built high-end guitars due to its reliably proven tonal characteristics and visually appealing dark purple and brown straight to slightly wavy grain.
How Do They Sound? Is There a Real Tonal Difference?
Tone is where luthiers pay closest attention, and both of these guitar woods deliver in different ways.
A common feature associated with Indian rosewood is its broad tonal spectrum; its ability to create rich bass tones, clear and defined treble tones, and complex midrange tones are all magnificent assets of this wood's tonal properties when producing guitars. Guitars built from Indian rosewood typically feature outstanding sustain and harmonic richness which makes this wood an excellent choice for creating acoustic guitars and a popular choice among fingerstyle guitarists due to these characteristics.
Santos Rosewood leans toward a slightly warmer, more focused midrange with strong fundamental tones. It does not quite match the tonal complexity of East Indian Rosewood at the upper harmonic levels, but it offers a solid, resonant sound that translates extremely well in strumming and flatpicking contexts. Many builders working with Santos Rosewood guitar back and side sets report that the resulting instrument sounds punchy, present, and full-bodied without the extended harmonic bloom you get from Dalbergia species.
For most players and builders, East Indian Rosewood remains the benchmark. But Santos Rosewood is a genuine performer, not a consolation choice.
Workability: What to Expect at the Bench
It is not easy to work with East Indian Rosewood because of its density and oily nature. It requires sharp tools and good glue selection. Moreover, it must be prepared well before finishing. It is easy to bend to make the side parts without any problems if one is careful enough to avoid tearing.
The Santos Rosewood is considered easier to work with compared to the rest of rosewoods. One can machine it well and glue it. Besides, it is easier to finish this type of wood. After drying, it is quite stable. What is more important, it always bends well. A genuine advantage for builders working on tighter timelines or less seasoned in handling dense exotic woods.
Santos Rosewood is a good choice for the beginner woodworker/DIY person who wishes to build a guitar for the first time and doesn’t want to get intimidated with building guitars from dense tonewoods.
Which One Is Better for CITES Compliance and Sourcing?
This is a practical issue that all builders need to comprehend before making a purchase. East Indian rosewood is included in CITES Appendix II because of being part of the genus Dalbergia, indicating that there may be restrictions on its trade and that documentation may be needed during shipment across national boundaries. While trading within the US is relatively simple, shipment overseas will require permits.
Santos Rosewood is not a Dalbergia species and is not subject to CITES restrictions as of current regulations, making it a legally simpler option for international builds and shipping. This is one of the main reasons many professional luthiers and guitar manufacturers have adopted it as a primary alternative to traditional rosewoods in their work with exotic woods.
Price and Availability
Cost becomes a major factor if you are dealing with guitar backs and sides in bulk or have a limited budget for your project.
The East Indian Rosewood will be costlier, considering the wood is endangered and has a good demand from guitar makers all around the world. Premium AA and AAA grade sets carry a significant premium, though the quality is well established.
Santos Rosewood offers very competitive pricing. You can often source beautifully figured guitar back and side sets in Santos Rosewood at a considerably lower cost than East Indian Rosewood without giving up structural quality or visual impact. At Exotic Wood Zone, both species are available in multiple grades, letting you match quality to your build goals and your budget.
Browse Santos Rosewood and East Indian Rosewood guitar back and side sets at Exotic Wood Zone each set is hand-selected and graded for luthier-ready quality.
Santos Rosewood vs East Indian Rosewood: Quick Decision Guide
Choose East Indian Rosewood if you:
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Want the traditional rosewood tonal profile with full bass, complex overtones, and long sustain
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Are building a professional or high-end instrument where tonal nuance matters most
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Are sourcing domestically and comfortable with CITES documentation where needed
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Have experience working with oily, dense tonewoods
Choose Santos Rosewood if you:
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Want rosewood character at a more accessible price point
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Need CITES-free sourcing for international builds or shipping
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Prefer a tonewood that is slightly more forgiving at the bench
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Are building for strumming or flatpicking styles where midrange warmth matters
These are two equally viable exotic wood choices to use for building a guitar. The choice comes down to the purpose of your build and not how fancy the name may sound.
Ready to choose your set? Explore the full range of guitar woods, guitar back and side sets, and guitar parts at Exotic Wood Zone, your trusted source for ethically sourced exotic woods, shipped with care from the USA.