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View Poll Results: Which one do you like the most?
Cocobolo 43 37.07%
Madagascar Rosewood 73 62.93%
Voters: 116. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 05-28-2012, 09:52 PM
mrkpower mrkpower is offline
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Default Cocobolo Vs. Madagascar Rosewood

As tone woods used for the back and sides of guitars, which one do you favor the most? and Why??

Last edited by mrkpower; 05-28-2012 at 10:04 PM.
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  #2  
Old 05-28-2012, 10:49 PM
Matt Mustapick Matt Mustapick is offline
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Both nice woods. The only basis I could come up with for a preference would be related to preservation concerns. I don't know much about it but I've heard there is some concern about Madagascar rosewood.
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Old 05-29-2012, 06:47 AM
Thomas Rein Thomas Rein is offline
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Mad Rose might be beautiful wood but it comes with a very steep price, and I don't mean monetarily. Personally, I won't use it. I don't think any wooden object, whether Chinese furniture or high-end guitars, is justified based on the dire situation in the forests of Madagascar.
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Old 05-29-2012, 06:48 AM
rmyAddison rmyAddison is offline
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I love Madagascar, had three and they all in my opinion were better than their comparable Martin EIR brothers, love the low end clarity.

Martin has some custom shop Cocobolos this year, got to play them all, with that little exposure, admittedly not enough, those particular guitars did not make me want to buy them. Pretty wood, but I'll take Madagascar.
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Old 05-29-2012, 09:23 PM
mrkpower mrkpower is offline
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As a tonewood, Madgasacan Rosewood has been championed as a substitute to Brazilian Rosewood although it’s rarity and over-exploitation may push it towards a similar fate to Rio.
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Old 05-29-2012, 09:35 PM
TimberlineGuy TimberlineGuy is offline
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i've played Coco guitars and i've played MadRose guitars. I like MadRose. I don't like Coco.

both pretty, though!
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Old 05-30-2012, 04:29 AM
mjz mjz is offline
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I favor cocobolo because no matter from which builder you buy a madrose guitar, there is a better chance than not the wood was harvested illegally -- or at the very least, harvested at a time when a bribe opened up the export process just long enough for a poacher to profit while Malagassy and the rest of us lose.

I don't care if it sounds better on a guitar -- which it does to me -- I like madagasscar rosewood better in a tree.

Last edited by mjz; 05-30-2012 at 11:34 AM.
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Old 05-30-2012, 09:24 AM
Tony Burns Tony Burns is offline
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depends on the guitar and who built it . Madagasscar is not the same as Brazilian - it doesnt have the same attack ( at least of the ones ive played ) cocobolo is different -has a bite i like ( some luthiers hate it becasue of its dusts toxicity - some get allergic reactions ). guess it depends on the particular piece of wood and who built it . Their is great Madagasscar and so-so Madi . guess it up to the person and what they think is better .Id play a few guitars of a builder before i decided.
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Old 05-30-2012, 09:29 AM
dylanheeg dylanheeg is offline
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Tonally, I can't tell the difference....although, it woudl be rare to get an accurate comparison, ie, same builder, same top wood, same body size, etc. I have played many a coco and madi guitar and they both sound very similar to me.

I would just pick the one I thought looked better; in my case, Cocobolo would be the choice.
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Old 05-30-2012, 11:27 AM
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min7b5 min7b5 is offline
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I'm a big fan of Coco. I like it more than Brazilian for my preferences, usually a lot more. I can say anecdotally I've not cared for the few Madagascar guitars I've played. It doesn't have the same reverby thing and overtones that I personally like in a rosewood... And of course the exploitation issue would be a deal breaker for me anyway.
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Old 05-30-2012, 04:12 PM
mrkpower mrkpower is offline
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Cocobolo back and sides characteristically have an abundance of low overtones resulting in a complex bottom end and strong upper register. The overall effect is also a bell like tone with clear, slow decaying harmonics.
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Old 06-01-2012, 11:35 AM
mrkpower mrkpower is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TimberlineGuy View Post
i've played Coco guitars and i've played MadRose guitars. I like MadRose. I don't like Coco.

both pretty, though!
Why don't like Cocobolo?
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Old 06-01-2012, 05:07 PM
gary0319 gary0319 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TimberlineGuy View Post
i've played Coco guitars and i've played MadRose guitars. I like MadRose. I don't like Coco.

both pretty, though!
+1......My experience as well.
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Old 06-01-2012, 05:14 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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Honestly, I haven't had enough opportunities to play both to form firm opinions about either, much less one versus the other. So lacking that experience, I didn't vote.

I have played several examples of each, but have never gigged with either.

I do share the same concerns about the rapid deforestation of Madagascar that several other posters have mentioned.


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  #15  
Old 06-02-2012, 03:54 PM
raregroove raregroove is offline
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Cocobolo +1
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