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Greetings,

Just looking a tonewood on eBay. I know prices have skyrocketed, but I saw a few sets of Cocobolo in the $600 - $800 dollar range. Are people actually paying that amount for this wood. And why?

Thanks
Ken Hageman

About five years ago I bought a set from Hibdon for $96 delivered. I guess those days are over. I've also noticed that with the increase in price has come a decrease in quality. I think that's called scarcity. It's unfortunate because I really like cocobolo. I'm a hobby builder, so I can't imagine paying 600-800 dollars for a set.

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sweat the small stuff.

Asking price and selling price are two different things. I seriously doubt if anybody is paying that much. I would say around the 300's for the nicer stuff.

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Pat

I am only passing on second hand and don't know any details, but apparently cocobolo was a sudden fad and was being cut like crazy. It now has some export restrictions. The funny thing is that I was introduced to cocobolo as an abundant and inexpensive rosewood alternative. Now it's become a super luxury wood. I guess the lesson is no wood survives a sudden global fad.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Cocobolo is the most beautiful of the rosewoods IMHO

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Im with Robert. Cocobolo is, in my opinion, the most beautiful of the Rosewoods. I have some wood that I bought in 1993 All quartersawn and a lot of it has what I call "bees wing" figure in it. I guess that stuff would sell for a pretty penny. Not for sale at this time. Robert, you sell a lot of wood. If I croak before I use it, I will leave a note with my wife to get a hold of you!!!

Ken I sure wish I had more of that cocobolo. They were 10" x 10" x 48 to 50" long. Cut them all on the quarter to reveal that beautiful bees wing figure. Those were the good old days.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Premium sets of Cocobolo are selling for around $450. Truly exceptional exhibition grade stuff might sell for a bit more -- and there is a bunch of flatsawn stuff selling in the $150 to $300 range, depending on quality.

Hi Bob, I have some of those bees wing coco sets that I got from you some years ago, very nice. Coco is not only one of the most beautiful rosewoods, it is also really varied in color and figure.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Jerry at Hibdon told me that the drug cartels, gangs, etc in Mexico are causing the problem. Until those issues are resolved, prices are gonna be high. I don't know if that is an oversimplification, or possibly I misunderstood. I have to admit it gave me pause to think I might be aiding that monsterous mess of drugs and death buying the stuff. I hope not. Has anyone heard likewise to back this up?

Mike

Hmmm...
if folks are really getting that sort of cash for good Cocobolo, I should sell some of my sets!
I need new windows for the house!

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

The dealer where I bought my cocobolo 20 some years ago says that one of the big problems is China. They buy the stuff up in squared off cants for more money than he can pay for having the material cut into boards. That is one of the reason the wood is regulated in Mexico and Central American to stop the over cutting (I believe it already has been overcut). My friend said he doesn't blame the sawyers. Why would you want to cut a log into boards when all you have to do is square off the cant and get paid more money. Sad.

Seems like all the problems with everything becoming scarce these days point towards China. But 100 years ago, it was probably the US.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I guess I'm glad I developed an allergy to years back!

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Makes me itch and wheeze just thinking about it.

Now that it is becoming harder to get people will extol it's virtues and forget it's problems.Although it is very pretty when first cut it seems to turn very dark with time. I like cocobolo, but when I work with it I treat it like working with poison ivy - avoid contact with the dust, and shower off soon after.

Don't forget. No Lacy Act in China. They import whatever they want, Pay up front with no hassles.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

In a way this is good news to me and I hope the trend continues for at least another 20 years when my cocobolo trees are mature enough to cut

I bought these a few years ago from Bob C at one of the Swap-a-loozas. I was going to sand using my Performax and see if I have any issues with allergies, etc. If not, these will be used on my next 2 builds. If so, they will be going in the classified section!

Glenn