Indian VS Brazilian Rosewood | Can You Tell The Difference? BLIND Preston Thompson Comparison

[@dennissiler6672]

As a luthier, I can tell you there is another, perhaps more subtile, effect that comes into play with a Brazilian rosewood build. When building an instrument with this exceedingly rare and expensive material, it is almost inevitible that the builder will take more care and pay more attention to detail when crafting an instrument whose raw materials are worth well more than $1000 before the project even begins. Part of that effect is likely due to price point, but there are other factors as well, such as rarity and even the lore of this wood in itself. Some builders will never even have the opportunity to work with Brazilian, and if they due it will likely be a landmark build.

[@tclaffey]

That makes a lot of sense

[@rogerdsmith]

I would be interested to know if Brazilian rosewood from an earlier guitar could be repurposed when fabricating a new instrument? Is that even possible? I say that because there are still a few Japanese guitars from the late 60s early 70s that have Brazilian Rosewood. Sometimes these guitars can be picked up for less than $500 on eBay. My interest is in a smaller bodied guitar that would be suitable for a 24” scale neck. My thought was that getting one of those instruments in a dreadnought size, might allow for a sufficiently large enough piece of Rosewood to be used. I would appreciate your thoughts about this.

[@shutupnplayyerguitar3812]

I picked B as the one I preferred. Turns out that was the Indian Rosewood. I didn’t expect that?

[@MrGuitarist900]

Same. Seemed like it was slightly more bodied. A was slightly, ever-so marginally, more steel sounding.

[@dustinjackson3964]

Same, I felt like B sounded slightly more full sounding .

[@jeraldtackitt6749]

I was surprised. The Indian rosewood sounded crisp/cleaner than the Brazilian on my iPhone. For my taste and budget, I’d go with the Indian rosewood

[@merseybeat1963]

On an iPhone ! All phones are horrible sounding that means less than nothing.

[@dunhamchris]

I own a Brazilian Rosewood Bourgeois OM with an Adirondack top. I LOVE that guitar. Listening through youtube... yes, I hear a difference between the guitars. But I can't tell if it's the rosewood. I'd be much more inclined to think the top is whats making the difference. I believe about 80% of the sound of a guitar comes from the top. And only 20% is from the back and sides. Those tops are two different cuts of wood. It would be a more fair comparison to have tops from the same tree (side by side) on two guitars with different back and sides... Bottom line - if the wood or the guitar or the builder or the bracing or the finish or the sound hole or the neck shape or the color or the... etc. is what does it for you then thats what you need to go for. Whatever makes you want to pick up the guitar and play it- that's what you get!

[@justinray9895]

I do agree there is a difference. Too me, there is way more of a price difference than there is a tone difference. Not sure which one was which, but one was a little warmer and thicker. The other was a little louder brighter. Both sounded FANTASTIC!!

[@el34glo59]

​​@@justinray9895xactly. Btw anyone who owns a Brazilian is going to say that its better. And I don't blame them considering the cost. But the facts are, it's not better. Sometimes its different. Not better. If I'm Indian was rare wood, trust me, it would be Holy grail wood

[@justinray9895]

That's probably the most realistic breakdown and talk about those 2 woods I've heard yet... very good job guys! Time very well spent.

[@scouser2230]

Guitar A is slightly brighter than guitar B. They both sound fabulous.

[@keithgreenaway2690]

I picked A as Brazilian and turned out to be correct. A good Brazilian guitar has a full yet crystal clear sound with what I call glassy reverb tone. I heard it right away in the A guitar particularly in the lower -mid register. Also usually Brazilian has more sustain. Years ago I had a Larrivee D10 EIR, and happened to find a D10 Brazilian for sale. In head to head comparison the Brazilian was clearly superior. I sold the EIR, and still have the Brazilian. I have a EIR Goodall Rosewood Standard that is close in tone to the D10 Brazilian but lacks the glassy reverb effect. Both are fantastic guitars. I definitely appreciate the difference in a good Brazilian guitar, but would never pay the insane upcharge for it in todays world. I actually have another Larrivee D09 Brazilian that sounds identical to the D10. I bought both of them used private party for the about same price as EIR. Thanks for the great demo.

[@77guitarts22]

Visually I favour the Indian Rosewood, those stripes are so appealing. Apart from being a rarity I don't understand the price tag difference. It's such a small tonal difference that it's not really worth it to me.

[@AcousticShoppe]

The main difference in price is due to brazilian rosewood being much more difficult to legally source.

[@jimbrunett5025]

I agree. I think it must be a feeling thing to the player because I did not hear much if any difference

[@MatthewNipper-d7c]

If I had to buy one on the blind, I'd choose B. Definitely no losers here - both incredible!

[@difalkner]

I'm listening on a desktop computer with Altec-Lansing speakers and subwoofer; there was a definite difference between the Brazilian and Indian but both sound great. Good comparison!

[@StanHall007]

I think there is a difference, it’s subtle at best. It would be interesting to do the same comparison in three more years. I listened on three different Bluetooth speakers, good, better, best kind of thing. As the speaker quality increased, there was slight increases in tonality differences. Differences don’t necessarily constitute better, at these price points. At this level, it’s a pretty subjective and more a matter of how much those differences are worth to any given customer. If money weren’t an issue, many of us would upgrade without question. Both are incredible instruments, top of the food chain! An even bigger testimony to the quality of Preston Thompson and his legacy of unquestionable quality. Nice version of AT !

[@colakeith1]

Listening through my set up(PA) I could only notice subtle nuances between the Brazilian and the East Indian. Although strikingly beautiful. I have to say it was not enough to make me pay the difference. This was a fascinating comparison. Thank you.

[@SillyMoustache]

An interesting comparison. I listened to this with my sound into a high quality amp into 1970s large floor standing speakers. frankly gents, I think that the difference in time of build and amount of play makes more difference that the B&S tone woods. FWIW - I wouldn't buy a new guitar with Brazilian or Madagascar for two reasons, -one being moral - BRW is Cites listed for a reason! Madagascar is being looted of its native trees and a lot of bad stuff is involved. Indian Rosewood (Usually called "East" Indian rosewood) is native to: Andaman Islands, Bangladesh, East Himalaya, India, Java, Nepal, West Himalayas, and has been Introduced into Borneo, Kenya, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Queensland, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Tanzania, Uganda I recently purchased two Eastman guitars with beautiful "rosewood" backs and sides, and I'd love to know its origins. It could also be latifilia sissou. I preferred the one with white, black and grey rectangles!

[@mrjonesmusic5770]

In the blind test I really preferred guitar B overall, especially in the treble regsister. Listening on my old studio monitors it was a much tighter sound.

[@michaelgonzalez7304]

When it comes to deciding between these guitars, you got to have one of each.

[@billdedrick1914]

Unfair comparison since both guitar builds are not identical and especially unfair since one is new and the other is 3 years old and most likely has been played significantly. Having said that, very noticeable difference between the two. My ear definitely favored the 3 year old Indian Rosewood. It has a more robust fuller sounding output and volume with more clarity and balance, more roundness and thickness to the notes representing a more open pleasing sound. The Brazillian sounded muted, bright with thinness to the individual notes and almost strident with a tight semi compressed tone representative of a new unplayed guitar.

[@uvp5000]

I thought some of the same things, too. I initially picked correctly that guitar A was the Brazillian, but soon developed doubts about what I was hearing. I found the East Indian Rosewood guitar very pleasing to the ear the more I hear the two of them for much the same reasons that you wrote. If I could afford a boutique builder's instrument, I would afford the Brazillian option if one was available.

[@carole8312]

Thanks for the comparison video. Love it!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching, Carole!

[@williamburroughs2273]

I called that, I knew B was the Indian Rosewood as soon as I heard it. The bass was the giveaway, IR always has a (at least comparatively) boomy and muddy bass compared to Brazilian's low end that is deep but also focused. But this guitar B is a fantastic IR D-28 and I'd love to have it. It's also often the case that the highs can be bright, shrill or chirpy with IR, but not on this guitar. I think Preston Thompson is making the best boutique D-28s out there now.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Nicely done! Thanks for watching. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe for more.

[@el34glo59]

I've never heard Indian have chirpy highs. Especially compared to Brazilian which often seems to have brittle highs

[@RonaldoNoschang]

I live in Brazil, here the farms, the pillars of the old fences are made of Brazilian rosewood, they are everywhere, today cutting is prohibited, but they are everywhere, buildings, floors, roofs, furniture

[@JTSunriseMusic]

Varnish,and density and age of wood matters allot also, Brazilian with a celluloid finish like old Martins between late 60s and later can definitely tell difference in the dark cave-sounding rosewood tone between Brazil wood and Indian wood they switched to later

[@texhaines9957]

Yes there is a difference, liking Brazilian (headphones better bass). Can I choose both? East Indian Rosewood is usually harvested as the shade trees reach maturity in urban neighborhoods. Of course these are Thompson guitars.

[@scottfishkind5335]

Listening with the same headphones i’ve been using for years, so I’m very very used to them… I hear a bit more brightness in the B guitar (I stopped the video before any reveal). Both sound great, really a personal preference thing. I have a Furch Yellow Master’s Choice Gc-CR with Cedar/EI Rosewood and love that combination. The warmth of the cedar and the way it combines with the EI Rosewood for a very rich, warm yet clear and present 3 dimensional sound! Used it on my recent CD and it also recorded so beautifully!!

[@Theguy-y2y]

Great comparison, best I have ever seen or heard on line. I will put it this way- On a scale of 1-5 , The Brazilian is the 5 & East Indian is 4 , or maybe 4 1/2 . Very subtle tonality. The Brazilian is just a little brighter , a little more punch of clarity and that is it. I listened on my headphones and monitor speakers both hooked to my computer. No way is B rosewood that much better for the price. I also agree that the tiny bit more of clarity from the BR would satisfy the purest that has the ear to hear it and does not care about the extra cost.

[@pjiossi]

To me there was a very noticeable difference. A (Braz) sounded more “alive” across the register from low to high and had a very pronounced reverb and sustain comparatively. My personal guitar is an IR OM but if it weren’t for the cost I’d love to own a Braz OM or dreadnaught. My IR sounds great though, don’t get me wrong…

[@ScottLaneMusic]

I think the Braz highs have more cut and sizzle - tighter lows. I get why bluegrass guys might prefer Braz. I did like the overall sound of the IRW a bit better. But for lead and bluegrass - braz.

[@treetopher9342]

Listened on IPhone. A was softer and brighter, shimmery, and more scooped. B sounded better to me though honestly. I feel like B sounded fuller while still sounding crisp and detailed.

[@Haskaza22]

Playing acoustically I prefer the Brazilian. Playing through a microphone or internal preamp a simple scoop of mids on the Indian will achieve basically the same sound for a lot less money. If I were rich I'd own the Brazilian but unfortunately...! I am happy to own a 2013 Martin Custom DC Aura and 2019 Guild F1512e 12 string that both have solid Indian rosewood back and sides which sound awesome. Both for less than the price of any single Brazilian would cost.

[@SlimeyGuitarStrings]

I preferred Brazil Rosewood, but mostly because I liked the highs better and felt like more mids were missing in B.

[@el34glo59]

B usually has more mids. Idk I prefer Indian but both are great

[@zenbuddha3818]

The reason they were so close is they both had Adi tops. Adi sounds waay better with EIR than Sitka Spruce, never understood why people liked Sitka with EIR, or why a company like Martin makes so many models with this wood combo but that's their personal preference. Rosewood is warm and Spruce is warm that's why Spruce was always traditionally used with Mahogany, a very loud tonewood with excellent midrange to tame it down. Adi paired perfectly with Brazillian. I own 6 guitars in various tone woods, including 1992 Collings D2H in Adi Brazillian, I also have a Taylor 814 Builders in Adi EIR and Santa Cruz OM in Euro Spruce EIR, the European is a bit more Adi like in quality. Do yourself a favor when buying your next guitar. If you like Rosewood, audition one with an Adi or Euro top, the difference in overall sound quality of the guitar is major. Also my personal recommendation is to not buy a Brazillian bodied guitar, you'll always be worried, resale value coffee table dings etc and not play to enough, both Mahogany and Maple are fantastic tonewoods on lower priced instruments that will serve you well.

[@jdallison7061]

To me A seemed more tight on highs through low mids but was muddy on low end. And B was more low end geared and not tight throughout the whole low,mid to high spectrum so A would be my pick for sure just for overall tone.

[@AcousticShoppe]

That's fair, thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe for more!

[@Samana009]

I am Brazilian and I have dealt with Brazilian Rosewood for great part o f my life and I tell you that the difference in negligible. They are from the same family and they sound almost the same.

[@ruybal34]

They are slightly different but both sound spectacular. I’d go for the Indian Rosewood 9/10 unless I just had a hole burning in my pocket for the Brazilian.

[@The_Guitar_Dude]

Listening through a pair of JBL LSR308 monitors I think I actually prefer the Indian. It sounds warmer, but that could be also the age. It seems as though string choice would make more of a tonal difference than the tonewoods themselves. I Prefer Phosphor Bronze or Nickel strings to 80/20 bronze too, so maybe I just like a warmer sounding guitar in general?

[@williamsmith41]

Well, I do know the old growth Brazilian is way better than the farm type pulpy Braz. My Great Uncle Dick Smith-God rest his soul talked me out of getting a new 2001 or 02 Martin CW-Braz. Bone as he said a buddy had one and the eyes in the figure-actually separated and popped out! Tone and overall voice are subjected to the ear of the beholder-I liked A! And age to me is a major factor with any instrument. I'm still kicking myself for not buying a 1934 Bone D-28 for 20K in 2001! The Braz. was better voiced to my ears, more treble-midrange that I personally like reminded me of some old bones from the 40's! Well done gentlemen and may God Bless

[@matthewpotter1933]

Both sound great, and I could not tell the difference listening on my ear buds. Makes me appreciate the EIR Martin HD 12-28 I have and to stop yearning for a BR. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. Love your videos.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Right on! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@carlosreira2189]

Both really good sounding guitars. A is a little brighter and B favors the bass more, subtle though, so I'm going to say A is the Brazilian.

[@Patriot-American]

Of these two listening via iPhone, I liked the IR as it just hit the tonal characteristics that are more pleasing to my ears. Perhaps it might be different live… dunno but appreciate the fine flatpicking displayed here …

[@davegallagher7428]

I broke out my Bluetooth speaker for this one and I would be lying if I said I could hear a noticeable difference. I still think that the best thing you can do is to play the guitars. I recently purchased a Taylor with east Indian rosewood back and sides and a Sinker redwood top. Two minutes into playing it I knew it was perfect for me. I took a beating on trading in a relatively new guitar but I’m so happy that I ended up with the right guitar for me. Great video guys!

[@shawnsnow6413]

To my ear, Guitar B was louder and had more definition in the bass strings. A sounded a little soft and muddy to me. Good to know I won't have to spend up to buy a Brazilian now.

[@AcousticShoppe]

There you go! Thanks for watching 😄

[@DanTrapp]

Funny. I thought B was the BRAZ because it was tighter, but I liked the sound of A better. Figured it was due to opening up with age. Nope. Definitely a difference.

[@jamesberrange3671]

It was a great test and although I listened to it several times - with and without my eyes closed - I could not hear much of a difference between the two. Perhaps a better question is "at this level of quality how much does it really matter?". Depending on what sound a musician is after, maybe a little, but then again maybe not really that much. It also depends on the piece you're playing and who is playing it. Thanks for the test I'll defjnitely be listening to it some more in the next few days.

[@uvp5000]

Did I enjoy the comparison? Yes, thank you for posting this. I agree that feeling would be the deciding factor if budget were not a consideration. I once played a 1969 Martin with an Adirondack top and Brazillian Rosewood (BRW) - I was immediately bored; it had no resonance or responsiveness. Tonewoods matter, but how an instrument feels in the hands as much as how it sounds is what matters most. I've played Sitka and Maple instruments that just floored me. I've played more "premium" instruments (i.e. tonewoods) that did not seem worth the price, and I would be willing to pay such a price. This is an intentionally ridiculous statement: If the instrument was made of cardboard, but was magic, I would purchase that over an instrument that had premium materials but left me disinterested. Yes, I've played instruments with premium materials that were magic. I've also played guitars with more common woods that I've enjoyed greatly. Ultimately, I agree completely - purchase what you want from the outset (be clear about what you want), or you may wonder if you made the best purchasing decision for yourself.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Couldn't have said it better. Thanks for watching!

[@dantheman348]

When I was playing d28’s, the guy I got my ‘61 from also had a ‘69 for sale and I got to play both of them side by side in the same room, both with fresh strings. The ‘69 I played was also a dog. It wasn’t in the same league as any of my newer guitars let alone a vintage BRW Martin. ‘69 was the last year for BRW for Martin with regards to regular production models, and I wonder if they were maybe at the end of their stock for ‘good’ Brazilian and those 69’s may have been built with whatever they had left over. The sonic difference in the 61 and 69 were striking. The guy said he knew I’d come to that same conclusion so it wasn’t just me!

[@MatthewPeskay]

I listended with my headphones and made a note which one I thought sounded better each time it switched and every checkmark was for the B guitar. I thought the notes sounded cleaner and brighter. The A guitar sounded like it had a filter on it compared to the B guitar. The B guitar sounded really clean and crisp. The A guitar sounded great too but sounded slightly more muted to me. I'll hang guitar A on the wall (backwards so I can look at it) while playing Guitar B.

[@ObservantHistorian]

I've been around this discussion for YEARS. Most the people who get hung up on tone wood, strings, pick choice, how you hold your pick, et al, often don't seem to play very well, regardless.

[@DesimoneAmps]

I Heard a fair difference.I would choose BR guitar to recording and IR to live performance (in a band)... BR has a more glassy and delicate sound and the IR is more mid focused than the first...

[@CuttingEdgetools]

Right off the git go I easily could tell the guitar that was broken in and opened up from years of playing. The tonal Difference is very subtle, but it’s there.

[@elibryrob]

I think I prefer the East Indian; however, that could be due to that guitar having been played a lot more and the Brazilian being new.

[@uvp5000]

As the comparison continued, I found myself thinking the same thing both for tone and having opened up.

[@aum3.146]

man I knew A was brazillian and I preferred it from the first strum. in some ways they are close but in some ways they are worlds apart.

[@incognito2246]

For me , more sizzle and open sound on the Brazilan 😊 But, is it difference of rosewood ? Or overall guitar sound, and especially the top ? 🤷‍♀️

[@michaelsedgwick7907]

Phew, I wasn’t sure I’d got it but yes could hear definite difference and was correct. With the braz, lows are deeper, highs are “sparklier”, for want of a better word. Both great guitars.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Yeah absolutely! Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe for more.

[@bobpikr4666]

I read through the comments and didn't see much of anything I disagree with. So many insightful, discerning observations! For guitars at this level, there is no right or wrong or better or worse. As was said, it's all in what the player wants and is able to afford. I chose the EIRW. I have to wonder just how much of what I hear is the Indian vs Brazilian or new vs played on? While the Brazilian does have all the bass characteristics and other great attributes discussed, I thought the Indian R/W was just a little more balanced and fuller across the sound spectrum. Your videographer is to be complimented on a great job of getting his guitar beautifully broken in! I wonder if he would be willing to put his guitar under the bed, play the Brazilian R/W guitar for the next three years and come back and let you guys try it again? Anyway, I'd certainly take one of each! Great demo - Thanks to you both!

[@BradTeena]

They both sound great but the Brazilian has a thicker low end that thumps better 😊

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

I was shocked that the difference was so apparent. I was even more shocked that I liked the Indian rosewood much more than the Brazilian. Now, perhaps I'd feel differently if I heard them live, but through the headphones on my laptop, the Indian sounded crisper, clearer and a bit louder.

[@texhaines9957]

Trent sold me my Eastman after John was showing it off and Jeremy called so a good still picture of it was made. Thanks

[@karengayle9331]

I have to listen hard to tell the difference. If you sing and play or are in a band I cannot tell a difference. I hear denser lows but just barely in the Brazilian wood.

[@adambrown7112]

I’ve always felt the difference of Brazilian rather than hearing it, if that makes sense. From behind the guitar I find it easy to feel the difference between the two, at least in all the examples I’ve played.

[@uvp5000]

Would you be willing to describe that difference here?

[@adambrown7112]

@@uvp5000 sure, this is only my personal unscientific experience but I usually feel like Braz hits a little harder on the bass registers. I always play a G chord when I pick up a new guitar and I’ll slide into from the second frets emphasizing the low E, the BRWs I’ve played have always had more of a deeper thump to that lower register while EIR can feel a little muddy with a super fast decay. I owned a PWGC HD Brazilian for a little while and even brand new that guitar has a really pronounced lower end for being brand new and actually “felt” looser than the low end on some EIR guitars I’ve owned that had many years on them.

[@uvp5000]

@@adambrown7112 Thank you so much for that description. Excluding one Martin I played with BRW, I have not had the experience of a duly impressive instrument made with Adirondack Spruce and BRW. If I play such an instrument, your description will figure prominently in my thoughts. Again, thank you very much.

[@JS-nf1sn]

Another great video. Loving the channel.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching! We appreciate you.

[@mojo6778]

I could not hear the difference, however, I have been able to play a couple of Brazilian Rosewood back and side guitars and did notice a slight difference in tone, but much more projection or volume out of the Brazilian guitar.

[@Leonard.J.Mills.]

It amuses me that I use Indian Rosewood each day in my manufacturing.

[@DjBydLo]

Fuck, i was wrong, i thought that the brazilian rosewood was going to be warmer and the indian sharper, but it is inverse here. Thanks for the video.

[@leoscomputerandguitarrevie978]

Im a little bit torn on this comparison, but it may be due to the fact that the Brazilian guitar hasn't opened up yet. The Brazilian guitar sounded great for picking, and the Indian Rosewood guitar sounded better for strumming, however, once the Brazilian Rosewood guitar ages, I know for a fact that guitar will blow out that Indian Rosewood guitar. I've played a few Brazilian Rosewood guitars, even had the opportunity to play a Martin D28 with Brazilian Rosewood, and when I played that Martin, whew, it felt like the guitar was gonna fall apart with how much vibration it had, but it had the loudest and most fullest sound that I have ever heard from a guitar. It sucks that guitar wasn't for sale, but it was a joy to play. I have a Guild 12 string guitar with Indian Rosewood and absolutely love it. I've played 12 strings with Solid Mahogany and Rosewood, and even laminate back and sides, and it seems to me that Rosewood back and side guitars make a 12 string shine. With 6 string guitars, I like both Mahogany and Rosewood, and also have a Yamaha FG840 that I've had for 6 years that sounds great, even with laminate maple back and sides. Great video comparison. Brazilian Rosewood is my favorite, but Indian Rosewood is a close second. I've never played Madagascar Rosewood guitars so I can't Comment on that.

[@acousticaddiction7719]

Immediately could discern the difference in bottom end on the Brazilian.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Nice! Thanks for watching! Be sure to like, share, and subscribe for more!

[@davidgillespie7954]

My wife and I both chose the Indian rosewood as the sound we preferred. I am a guitar hack and she is a professional musician of many years (She'd kill me if I put the actual number on here). After this experience, I would certainly not spring for the additional $$$$ for Brazilian. Understanding that the sound on the laptop is not the greatest, but they were being judged on the same system.

[@Christ-is-King-]

Just subscribed. I thought I already was.

[@panfelix2890]

Great comparison! Brazilian sounds a little bit dryer to me. Very slight difference, Indian rosewood rocks too!

[@exyx]

I thought the A guitar (Brazilian) had more bite than the B (Indian), but I could identify it as such, only that they were different and I had a slight preference of A over B.

[@danamartinmayo9529]

B was my choice. Better focus.

[@btpearce]

I could not tell any difference . I listened with my eyes closed and I thought it was just one guitar ( Didn't know you were playing both in turns in the song) .

[@DustyNonya]

I'll always prefer Indian to Brazilian Rosewood. Brazilian is often a bit brighter and sometimes louder...but, as a fingerstyle player, I try to avoid "twangy". If you're a Bluegrass flat picker I could see a Brazilian being a good choice.

[@dantheman348]

I immediately picked A as Brazilian from the first time you hit those medium to higher registers and the harmonics sustained and bloomed longer. But I own a 61 d28 and often play it along side EIR and HOG guitars so I kind of knew what I was listening for. For the record I really like guitars made of all woods but to say BRW and EIR sound identical, is not accurate

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

I think your comparison was top notch! I had a friend who had a rosewood backed guitar and I'm still interested in finding out all I can about this beautiful wood. Your comparison was just exactly what I needed. Im only slightly more partial twords Brazilian rosewood because it is darker. Any rosewood is prone to splitting or cracking, my opinion only. It is very temperamental wood in that it must be kept humidifier or it will dry out and crack. I don't feel there is any advantage to rosewood other than it is supposed to project well. There are violins that use rosewood for pegs or tailpiece on Stradivari instruments so rosewood must have some advantages sonically. I believe rosewood guitars are fussy and need humidity to avoid cracking. I wouldn't mind being given a rosewood guitar but I might not necessarily run out and buy one. Thank you gentlemen for doing this test. I really appreciate it!😅

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching!

[@zixednatz]

At first i couldn't find any difference. Then I focused on the bass and then I was able to guess the right BRW, but it was very very close.

[@marcusvaldes]

I guessed Guitar A as the Brazilian. It felt "fuller" from my computer speakers. I'm typing this comment before finding out which one is which.

[@dalesearcy5734]

I would be interested in a lying blind test sometime. By this, I mean use the same for both A and B. As I listened to this blind test, it was very hard for me to hear a difference between the 2 guitars. You could have played only one and I would not have known. Also it would be fun to see John do the blindfold test with the two guitars and see which one he picks as the Brazilian.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Now that might be a tough test - we'll have to try that sometime!

[@edunderwood2597]

Interesting. Just can't tell a big difference, at least with my computer. This is why a return policy is needed. I'm not paying 2000+ for a guitar I can't touch and hear in person. I'm going to be in your area between Christmas and New Year, will the TAS be open?

[@AcousticShoppe]

We're planning on it! We also do have a great return policy. Hope you're able to make it in to the shoppe!

[@Chance-ry1hq]

Sound wise I preferred B. That probably is because it has opened up. Visually I’d take A, the Brazilian Rosewood. Between these two guitars I’d take the Brazilian. Once it opens up it will sound every bit as good as the other, or better.

[@merseybeat1963]

Around 8:00 during strumming I wonder if you guys mixed up the guitar labelings. Guitar A starts out sounding more open and B more muffled then a couple in it reverses B is open and A more muffled..Better look into it.

[@jameslifetimelearner]

One guitar had more overall presence and low end but both were setup with light strings and buzzed incessantly

[@PotPoet]

The Brazilian rosewood produced a clearer and more resonant sound across the board with better note separation. The East Indian rosewood was slightly muted by comparison. If you cannot hear the difference, and many people cannot, I pity you. There is a reason Brazilian rosewood got used up - it is a superior tone wood as well as more beautiful. Due to its increased density, it is a fact that sound can move significantly faster through Brazilian rosewood rather than through East Indian rosewood. This is the physical reason for the sound difference. I could hear the difference on the recording even through my computer speakers. I own thirty high end hand made acoustic guitars made from an assortment of rare tone woods. The choice of wood can make a huge difference - but not as much of a difference as the choice of bracing style and build design. The only rare woods that compete with or exceed Brazilian rosewood as a tone wood are Carpathian Elm, Belize Mahogany ("The Tree"), Honduran Mahogany, and African Blackwood in that order.

[@japaneserequired6314]

To be honest, the obsession with rosewood in general I have never understood. Every single mahogany guitar I pickup sounds better than rosewood to me. Even laminated back and sides sounds better than rosewood to me. To each his own but I'm always cautious when everybody wants the same thing. Is it really the best or is it just what everybody wants because they think it is the best (or because it isn't really legal anymore)

[@TravisHam]

To me, BR sounded much rounder and seems like it might be the better tool if playing solo and trying to fill up as much space as possible. EIR sounded tighter, more precise, and seems like it would sit so much more naturally in a mix such that it would be the better tool if performing/recording with other instruments. For personal/private use, I'd take the BR. For professional use, I'd take EIR. For the massive price difference though, I'd put my money on the EIR every time.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Very well said, thanks for watching and sharing!

[@Tyler_Wilson]

I think Brazilian just has an extra little bit of high end sparkle that I can hear immediately lacking from the Indian. I have owned and loved both. Will 99% of people be able to hear a difference? Absolutely not.

[@boxbymartin]

How about a similar test with guitars the same age - preferably several years?

[@edwardfletchertheoneandonly]

The Indian sounds like it has more bass on my iPad… but then when I watched you play the without the blind, the brazilian sounded as if it was pitched lower in the mids

[@rogersova9843]

I JUST BOUGHT A 816CE. NICE.

[@barryhambly7711]

Nuts you switch to quickly between guitars to let the ear start hearing the different sound. True Brazilian wood guitar has a much deeper sound with more body to it classical guitars are noted for the difference from Indian wood

[@ericinms]

I picked B! less shrill. both sound killer

[@CenterThePendulum]

I’ve always preferred East Indian Rosewood over Brazilian, Madagascar, Guatemalan, Honduran. Don’t let marketing and scarcity override your ears.

[@slbolfing56]

Nice comparison! When you first started, I was sure A was Brazilian. But B sounded incredibly rich, and then I wasn't sure. It would be cool to do this again with a Brazilian that's been played a few years!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Yeah absolutely! Hopefully we get the opportunity to revisit this comparison. Thanks for watching.

[@lefty5string]

B. saves me from going down that rabbit hole and spending thousands. thanks

[@timothymallon]

I gotta laugh. You talk about diminishing returns, the higher you pay for an acoustic guitar, and yet, I looked up Preston Thompson guitars and they range around 14k to 30k for a guitar. And honestly, I didn't hear enough of a difference to make me buy something other than my 1k guitar.

[@uvp5000]

Price does have an influence despite some of us trying to set that aside for the sake of making a choice that's right for us. I'm not willing to pay that much (upward of $12,000.00) for an instrument with my current budget. If I had a level of disposable income to afford it, I'd purchase the same guitar type, the same builder with many different combinations of tonewoods. That said, I have not been blown away by BRW to this point. Perhaps I need to play a high-quality instrument with it. I played a 1960s Martin with BRW and was bored after three strums.

[@AcousticShoppe]

That's fair, it all comes down to preference at the end of the day! Also, Preston Thompson guitars start our around $5,500. Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe for more!

[@martind-1876]

I could tell small difference but not enough for the extra unless you have lots of money. Both great!

[@rogerd9150]

Well I picked the Indian Rosewood guitar as my favorite. Looks like a few more folks here did as well. Guess I don’t need to pay $$$ extra for a Brazilian rosewood guitar.

[@AcousticShoppe]

There you go! It all comes down to preference at the end of the day. Thanks for watching!

[@noonster55]

Such a slight difference. Exactly what you noticed. So very little difference. All I know is they both sound awesome...

[@thomasgathings1480]

To me, I was pretty sure A was the Brazilian even before I heard B. Then B confirmed it. Brazilian was so lush, big, complex, satisfying. B was flatter, almost less lively. Listening through my home stereo/Klipsch speakers. At least this was my experience

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for sharing!

[@scottbaxendale323]

The difference between Brazilian and East Indian is more noticeable to the player than the listener. Brazilian rosewood is stiffer and taps at a higher pitch. When playing it sounds like the Brazilian rosewood slaps the note on the butt to make it jump out of the guitar faster than East Indian. It has a quicker response on the front end of the attack when you pick the note.

[@peteralicea1968]

I was prepared to vote for the Brazilian but my ears voted for the Indian. The Indian sounded like a well aged old Martin D-18 with the crispness :)

[@blessedwithchallenges9917]

I have numerous Indian and Brazilian Martins. I'm consistently disappointed the Brazilian doesn't sound any better than the Indian. It can look better. It definitely costs more. In the industry (like diamonds) it's made to be high demand/low supply. I have a 66 D28 (Brazillian) and a 70 D28 (Indian). Both sound wonderful. I never play the 66. I always play the 70. It just gets more comments and my ear likes it slightly better too. Once people know what they're looking at they suddenly love the 66, but when they don't the 70 wins every time. Influence of thought has definitely effected this market. I stayed away from a 70 D28 Martin for decades before I bought this one. I believed 70s Martins were built like tanks and generally crap compared to 60's - that's what I was told over and over. Well, it's not my experience. I have 40-50 guitars. Here's my top 3: 1970 D28, 1962 00-18, 2001 OM28V. I've had D45's, Customs etc etc... these 3 are hands down the winners.

[@BigCarmine]

Great comparison. However, when it comes to sound and sound only, what wood is used to build the instrument is not as important as to the sound that is produced and if that sound is what you are trying to get from your instrument.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Well spoken.

[@kft590]

You can find East Indian Rosewood that sounds like Brazilian Rosewood, and you can find some Brazilian Rosewood that sounds like East Indian Rosewood. The Brazilian Rosewood on average is tighter grained and slightly denser.