Bocote

A dense, oily central American hardwood with bold black and gold striping, sometimes marketed as Mexican rosewood.

Its density and natural oils mean it polishes to a smooth, hard surface without any finish, which makes it a striking choice for fingerboards and small decorative parts, and the striped figure is why it also appears as a thin top laminate. It is heavy, and the dust from some pieces is a known irritant, so it is worked with proper extraction. Availability is limited compared with the common substitutes.

Example: a bocote fingerboard under a set of light strings gives a hard, bright surface that wears slowly and shows its stripes between the frets.

typical use: Fretboards, knobs and decorative tops.

Bocote

See also