Cocobolo - was I wrong about this wood?

[@daveincanada4794]

Michael, this is great stuff. Very insightful. Your videos have been "instrumental" in a number of my recent purchase and modification decisions. I'd love to hear more about design details like acoustic properties of luthiers' instruments, unusual guitar design features and materials, strings, and similar content. By the way, I also love your music samples: they come through with rich detail and clarity. You could just noodle away like that for an entire video and I'd be delighted and inspired.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you very much for your kind words Dave and I’m really glad you’ve found the videos helpful!

[@Iceveign]

I love lamp too. very sneaky Anchorman shout out you slipped in there at 4:46.

[@StringsAtHome]

Recently received a swiss spruce/cocobolo guitar, Where it would normally be glassy, is mellowed by the fact it is a nylon string Absolutely in love with it.

[@paulhamptonthomson4526]

Very bright sounding

[@Andy_Classic]

I was hoping you'd put that better call saul clip in!!

[@MichaelWatts]

Had to!

[@Andy_Classic]

@@MichaelWatts haha yeah I first saw this a few weeks ago and was waiting for someone to bring it up. Side note - that cocobolo desk was 🔥🔥🔥

[@Dicquewolffe]

Thanks for the insight! It's helpful to know that cocobolo is so transparent. I've been looking at cocobolo and mesquite, but I have loud fingers, so might look elsewhere.

[@MichaelWatts]

Loud fingers! Yeah I know the feeling

[@WattWood]

this is a great help , I am planning to make a mandolin ( this will be my first instrument build) for my mother who plays in an guitar and mandolin orchestra and have been stuck on what woods to use for it and have a fairly decent size slab of cocobolo which has been sitting in my store for some time now and had been sitting in someone else's stock for over 40 year prior to me buying it from their estate auction ,looking forward to the build but not the resawing of the slab

[@cris1186]

Once again, sir, you manage to bring the best out of the instrument. I also never cared for the sound of cocobolo; but you are making me rethink my perception of this tone wood. Thanks again for the interesting analysis snd the wonderful playing. Truly inspiring.

[@MichaelWatts]

Well thank you Cris - that means a lot to me!

[@mgammill]

I recently sold my $20,000 coco/bear claw spruce acoustic. It also had coco fb and headstock veneer. I did back was cracked (I bought it used already cracked) but had it repaired. The guitar was very heavy but for me was hard to play. Great on the eyes but ended up letting it go. As an electric builder it is def hard to work with. One of the most beautiful woods on the planet for sure. I prefer Madagasca rosewood and braz. Watch George lowdon discuss all the acoustic tonewoods. Great video here as well!

[@MichaelWatts]

Thanks for watching Mark! yeah the only really workable cocobolo electric I have ever played was Scott Walker's incredible Katana model - two pieces of wood and a peg to hold them together in a Japanese style joint - no controls - just a pickup. Outrageously good!

[@HotZTrain]

Well, American luthier Jose Oribe has been using cocobolo since 1979 with his classical and steel string guitars. He likes it better than Brazilian Rosewood. Dave Schramm of Clovis, California has used it in a number of this classicals.

[@PhilTaylorGuitar]

Very entertaining and amusing video Michael. Once again the sound is excellent and very enviable.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Phil!

[@alastair6356]

This guitar sounds beautiful and looks gorgeous Michael has an amazing knowledge of guitar building and exceptionalism playing. He is a joy to listen to. Many thanks. 👍😊

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Alastair - glad you enjoyed it!

[@dobbsguitar]

I build most of my guitars with Western Red Cedar tops, and walnut back and sides. I do not shift the x-braces. The Walnut is in between mahogany and East Indian Rosewood as far as density. I find the sound to be well balanced, rich and warm with just enough brightness to have a pleasant chime from the treble side. The 12 fret guitars I've built have even more volume and responsiveness.

[@MichaelWatts]

Good stuff Bill, thanks for watching

[@philleatham3670]

Keep the wood videos coming. The biggest problems I have been having recently is with the lacquer coming off the necks (mahogany).

[@MichaelWatts]

Interesting! Thanks for watching Phil

[@robertnewell5057]

I completely forgot I was going to post again when I finished making a coco/engel 000 copy. It has a wonderful tone, even after my relatively inexperienced build, and a level of projection and sustain which is great for both instrumental work and accompaniment. The downside is that if you want to BUY one, rather than make it, they usually come with a huge upgrade cost attached. If you have the money, it is worth it. The tone is really special.

[@speckmann]

Always informative and increasingly entertaining :-)

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Jakob!

[@andrewdarnley4608]

Another beautifully produced video Michael. I'm looking forward to be able to hear your playing in extended form on CD or Apple Music.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Andrew! You can actually download my album Vetiver on my website and album 2 will be available when I finish it…

[@gustau4764]

I made myself a baritone ukulele with cocobolo and cedar. I confirm that the sawdust is like pepper gas. As for the sound: on the minus side, it does indeed amplify the "squeaky fingers". But that is because it is a VERY resonant instrument I have. The sound is deep and the sustain goes on forever, like playing inside a massive echoey cave. And it''s easy on the eye too!

[@MichaelWatts]

Very cool! But I hope you were wearing a mask!

[@gustau4764]

@@MichaelWatts I should have. I learnt the lesson the hard way...

[@crissmith2911]

I have a custom Furch 12-String on order. Cedar top w/ Cocobolo. It'll be my first 12-string!

[@MichaelWatts]

Congratulations! Thanks for watching Cris

[@s.kekaichock3737]

12/5th/24 Aloha Michael, Mahalo for all you do … I have a Taylor Cocobolo from..a bit more than a decade ago… hardly used it… decided to sell it… original ES pick up battery 2 AAA… end pin area..it was changed to the ES-2 Aug 2020 and re-dreased… at Taylor… Checked it out, put it away… played it at a gig (4 hr.) and Wow! The tone was deep, well defined, nice mids highs … developed I took it off the “for sale” keeping it forever now🙏🏼🤙🏽 I feel the vibrationof the body as I believe great guitars exhibit.. as my Grimes double hole on bouts does…. The warmth and clarity is what I find most useful to my music here in Hawaiʻi… Mahalo for all you do.😁👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙏🏼🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽❤️ Kekai Chock Kaikona Music

[@MichaelWatts]

Aloha Kekai! Mahalo Nui Loa for your kind words! Enjoy your Taylor and especially your Beautiful Grimes! I miss Hawaii, I hope to come back soon!

[@s.kekaichock3737]

@@MichaelWatts : if you do come back to Hawaiʻi… I am on rhe Beautiful Island of Kauaʻi… I used to live on Mauʻi and performed in Kaʻanāpali most of the time…. Stephen Grimes used to bring his beautiful creations to the Shows and allow the muscians to drool… I hoped to one day aquire one of his guitars.. but in the early yrs. $3,000. Was not achievable😅.. After I moved to Kauaʻi.. and was flying to Mauʻi for gigs every week … I visited Stephen… and went for it… never regretted it. So if you come to Kauaʻi, I hopefully can take you to a Lūʻau I perform at🤙🏽 let me know 🤙🏽 Aloha, Kekai

[@andrewbowen6875]

Someone been watching better call Saul😂 Re working with these Woods I’ve known a cabinet maker since I was a kid and I got a real shock the last time I saw him. Non smoker but admittedly worked in a time when using safety gear just wasn’t a thing. As always thanks for the content

[@MichaelWatts]

Oh absolutely and the latest series is incredible! Thank you for watching Andy!

[@sergeanthorvath]

Rich and warm is my aural comfort zone

[@MichaelWatts]

Mine too!

[@terrywright7893]

So which wood combination(s) are your go to for the richness and warmth that you love?

[@MichaelWatts]

@@terrywright7893 anything with a German Spruce top tends to get me where I need to go but in particular ABW, The Tree and Maple

[@nigelcook4811]

The sound we hear from your exquisite playing of any guitar is surely also influenced by the microphone and whatever electronic wizardry is used to produce the videos?

[@MichaelWatts]

That’s very kind Nigel but I try and keep things as natural as possible - just a pair of mics into the computer and no effects or EQ

[@frankcousins6479]

Love cocobolo... yet to own one though, so far only used as a drop top on a custom bass, but as always you could a make a strung up bucket sound musical ;-)

[@benclaase8181]

Michael thanks for your videos. Finding the perfect guitar is a personal choice. I have found some fine Canadian made guitars at fair cost. I enjoy a guitar with warmer fuller lows and mids vs some crispy guitars. Again Personnal choices. Cheers , Ben C

[@MichaelWatts]

Thanks for watching Ben!

[@dmillerSG]

I love the stuff. Had a guitar built last summer with coco and sinker Redwood as you mentioned, and mine turned out beyond all expectations! Started out with exceptional wood sets, and a highly skilled luthier, both vitally important of course. Thanks - and have you done a video examining sinker Redwood?

[@MichaelWatts]

Absolutely right Derek! I haven’t done Sinker anything yet… and I stress Yet!

[@kevingreene6893]

Enjoyed that Michael… nice review:) I have been enjoying my Avalon “S” model with rich Cedar over Madagascar Rosewood for a while now. Nice combo for finger style. Alongside that I recently acquired an all mahogany guitar which is warm with a lovely rich base… again a great finger style guitar. I think I have moved away, perhaps slightly, from the stronger glassier tonal projection but must make an effort to play a Cocobolo on my next visit to one of the big guitar shops😊👍

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Kevin! I hope you’re keeping well! Congratulations on your new mahogany guitar

[@robertnewell5057]

Just saw this as I'm doing my FP on a Coco and Engelmann. Have to wait till I finish to report on the tone, as I never get a chance to play these rarities, being a leftie! Sounds good in your hands, mind you. What I'm really interested in is how it will sound for vocal accompaniment. Incidentally, I had no problems with the dust and my lungs are very sensitive. However, I do have a scavenging system.

[@mojoefelix]

What does it mean "doing my FP?" What does FP stand for?

[@robertnewell5057]

@@mojoefelix French Polish - sorry to be so long in replying!

[@paulboden7850]

Have you seen Jewitt's new 000-12? White oak b&s, world class sound. Do we really need rare, expensive tropical tonewoods? Mind you, I am infatuated with Cuban mahogany! lol

[@MichaelWatts]

I haven’t yet but I can’t judge a guitar until it’s in my hands! I do, of course, expect all my viewers to leave my videos having experienced any instrument I they were sitting in the room with me, possibly on my lap.

[@mooseymoose]

My vote goes to zircote, I simultaneously laughed and cringed when I first saw a guitar made of it. But then I am a woodworker since I was young and have some experience with it. Cocobolo is pretty bad though too. As far as gluing goes, you just have to hit it with acetone before glue up.

[@Danofstockport]

Love this video. Thanks for sharing. How do I like a guitar sounding? Depends on what I'm playing. Slow and expressive I tend to like an OM Adirondack spruce over rosewood. Celtic jigs...gotta be another OM or 000 spruce and mahogany. Contemporary standard pieces and I LOVE my grand auditorium spruce top over flamed maple B & SO OOooo matron that's just so sexy!

[@MichaelWatts]

Thanks for watching Dan!

[@kurtisr2339]

Crisp, zingy, cutting. You might just as well be describing a decent Cab Sav, sir. Exaggerated finger squeaks and all! Either way, the cocobolo did full justice to Celandine et al. Lovely stuff as always!

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Kurtis! Cheers!

[@rgrtnyjjc]

Ever since seeing Jimmy Mcgill and his cocobolo desk I’ve wondered what a cocobolo guitar might be like 😆

[@MichaelWatts]

Highly illegal

[@InPursuitOfLiberty]

Hey Michael ultimately what we hear and feel is subjective(?). For my build I've been considering Africa Blackwood or Ziricote for back and sides, and Tunnel 14 or Sitka Spruce for the top. I've even considered a cedar top maybe because it looks and sounds different than my current Martin D28-Authentic 1937 in IRW and Spruce. I just want that rich, lush sound with overtones, depth and sustain. I've been watching endless videos of Michael Greenfield, Beneteau, Wilborn and of course Casimi guitars. You are hard pressed to find these great instruments here at your local music store so I'm relying on KZbin and your videos.

[@davidcarambula4545]

HI I had a mini jumbo built by John Dartlen (American Canyon, CA) Cocobolo sides and back (figured) and Adi top; the wood is beautiful, the the guitars can be extremely dynamic ;with bell-like low tones and harmonics that hang on forever…it seems.I it’s a cutaWAY, WITH A SOUND PORT IN THE UPPER BOUT AND an L.R.Baggs Anthem pickup. Wonderfully balanced and easy player, 1/34” nut. Beautifully made and detailed. Recommend you check him out.

[@MichaelWatts]

Very cool! Thank you!

[@BlackwingDan]

BEST BRICK TAMLAND REFERENCE EVER!!!! Also, I clipped my nails before writing this.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Dan! You’re the only one who has caught it so far!

[@BlackwingDan]

@@MichaelWattsUncultured swine! I was referring to us. 😁

[@crissmith2911]

I also love lamp

[@MichaelWatts]

@@crissmith2911 we all do Cris

[@nigelcook4811]

I’d like to hear a comparison between your rendition and that of a non professional using the same equipment good or bad idea?

[@MichaelWatts]

Hmmm… that’s an interesting thought!

[@mojoefelix]

I am keeping my nails at 4mm. How long are yours?

[@MichaelWatts]

Much shorter, closer to 1mm

[@johngriswold2213]

Wondering what your take is on Myrtle guitars?

[@MichaelWatts]

Oh now that is a good question, and doubtless the subject of another video once I get my hands on a myrtle instrument that I really like…

[@johngriswold2213]

@@MichaelWatts Cool, I have a couple of sets acclimating in my shop;)

[@MichaelWatts]

@@johngriswold2213 very nice!

[@kenpark7427]

hi, Michael. what brand of Capo do you use? Brand and mode name. I am looking for nice capo now.

[@MichaelWatts]

It's an Elliott Elite - I'm sure you'll love it!

[@kenpark7427]

@@MichaelWatts thank you.

[@a.m.phaneuf6164]

What brand-name is that capo ?, thnx.

[@MichaelWatts]

It’s the Elite model by Elliott capos

[@telee19]

How does it compare to EIRW as far as bass response?

[@MichaelWatts]

That’s not really how this works… more depends on the guitar maker and the way they treat the material in most cases.

[@rabokarabekian409]

See the cardboard guitars by Torres and O'Brien. There's a reason excellent luthiers gte excellent money.

[@MichaelWatts]

Papier-mâché is not quite the same as cardboard but yes - a skilled luthier can get a usable sound out of just about anything - thanks for watching Rabo!

[@cyandkate773]

Just putting my two cents in here. I eagerly await your new posts, but must say I enjoyed them more without the video inserts. But keep up the good work!

[@kevinwagner8697]

sounds like Maple and mahoghany had a baby

[@ChrisCardenDrums]

I'm a luthier, and I cant work with the stuff, if someone wants a guitar with cocobolo, I'm more than happy to refer them elsewhere. Makes me horribly ill

[@MichaelWatts]

You look after yourself Chris! I’ve heard some real horror stories about several woods but Cocobolo seems to be the one that really makes people suffer

[@CalJennings]

I prefer rich and warm myself.

[@davidlewis2055]

Very informative thanks

[@MichaelWatts]

Glad you enjoyed it David!