Cocobolo | TNAG Tonewood Review with Lindsay Straw

With a lush complexity often compared to Brazilian rosewood, and a bright, bell-like attack sometimes compared to koa, cocobolo is an increasingly popular tonewood we're seeing more and more, from small shop luthiers to the well-known brands. Learn a little bit about this tropical hardwood in the rosewood family, here in our latest tonewood feature video!

Scripted and performed by @LindsayStraw. Filmed and edited by Thien Phan.

Learn more about the guitars played in this video:
Gerber RL15, Cocobolo & Swiss Moon Spruce

Brondel A-2, Cocobolo & Carpathian Spruce

Jewitt OM-C, Cocobolo & Cedar

Lowden F-35, Cocobolo & Sitka Spruce

Martin Custom Shop OM Cutaway, Cocobolo & Sitka Spruce

Also featured:
Goodall Grand Concert, Cocobolo & German Spruce

Dion No. 4 Cutaway, Cocobolo & Italian Spruce

Blind Guitars B-30, Cocobolo & Sinker Red Cedar

#acousticguitar #cocobologuitar

[chrisstanford]

Bought a small 12 fret Breedlove “Concertina” with Cocobolo, wonderful sound, great projection 🤗🤗🌹

[zeebw]

thx for posting, cocobolo is perfect, sounds amazing, looks beautiful, smells fantastic. i’m so blessed to own a few cocobolo models from Taylor and Lowden, all in grand concert (Lowden S) sizes with a 12 fret body. just adds that extra sustain that makes hearts melt. the 12 fret paired with cocobolo adds an incredible warmth, like a loved one holding you in a candlelit room. perfecto!

[roscoe]

The sound of the guitar and your playing at 4:42 - 5:23 made me forget I was even watching a video, just kind of transported me to somewhere better for a while, thank you

[peachmelba]

I love this channel. The presenters and the playing are just excellent, and the guitars are also drool-worthy.

[puppydoc]

So, I have been on the TNAG mailing list for a while but never really spent much time watching the videos... my wife wishes I hadn't discovered the videos... After recently buying the Martin Custom Shop O and now hearing these guitars... well, I just need to become independently wealthy so I can afford to buy more of these guitars!!! Thanks for another great video Lindsay! I finally managed to spend some time with the "O" and love it!! Plays well, sounds awesome (if only I could play as well as you... not quite enough of your skills infused into the guitar or my hands are just to stubborn...) and looks incredible!! Thanks for all your help with buying the "O" !! Bob

[kevingreene]

Nice review Lindsey, thanks for bringing this one to us… the cocobolo certainly has a bite to it 😊👏

[DennyBob]

Amazing playing, Amazing tone. I really love the Cedar one.

[jt]

Some truly beautiful guitars and great sensitive playing too! Would love to see this type of video with other body woods, including sinker mahogany.

[ErnstKochArkanumSolution]

Lindsay, thank you so much for this very informative video. Although I have been playing acoustic guitar for many decades (nowhere near as well as you), I was not aware of the vast differences in tonewoods until recently. They are all gorgeous guitars whose sound is really brought out by your playing.

[signedbit]

I see it a lot in the classical world. That cedar top was maybe my favorite. Great playing!

[fabianmadrigal]

Hey! Great review. I'm from one of the lands of Cocobolo, Costa Rica. Though the review was awesome, I think there's no "healthy supply" of our precious Cocobolo. Sadly, the species is very scarce now, and most of it is harvested and exported by wood mafias.

It is extremely rare to have a legit CITES approved batch, and even then, the authorities often are just bought off. I wish more people would worry about planting the tree, and not just using the wood. It has beautiful white flowers that look silver in the sun, and I'd hate to see them become history.

[Em_Dee_Aitch]

You just helped me finalize my decision for my Martin Custom Shop 0000. THANK YOU!!!

[RohitSguitar]

I really need to compliment TNAG and Lindsay for these exceptional videos - I particularly liked the slow pan across the various guitars, switching between the front and back 🙂May I ask how much preparation goes into these videos ahead of shooting? For example, are there scripts written for each? These videos always seem to be so well laid out and polished!

[truchastrish]

What is the tune you are playing here? The guitar is absolutely lovely. I love how it rings.

[acobrasilacimadetudomaisde]

Não tem como escolher um, todos são muito bons! além de bonitos claro!

[Albatros]

Can you help me?
What is the make and model of the guitar that appears from 0:47 to 01:06

[callmeic]

Would cocobolo and cedar work for a smaller parlor sized guitar?

[marcelchaloupka]

Love my Gibson Luthiers Choice AJ Coco Adi Custom Shop. just awsome.

[bobpeticolas]

The knock on cocobolo has been its stability. It seems fairly prone to cracking. Since I value wood stability, I prefer East Indian Rosewood, which works well for me because of its plentiful availability. Indian Rosewood is a great tone wood as well.

[dividedbytimestudios]

Cocobola or Ziricote both look great, especially with the banana stripe….. I’d love to have an LG-2 with Ziricote and the banana stripe. First song would be “it’s bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A, It’s bananas” 😂