Anyone ever played a "F" with Indian Rosewood Back and Sides?

[Fstpicker]

My friend is having a custom mandolin built right now by Mr. Elmo in Canada. For the back and sides, Mr. Elmo is making it with Indian Rosewood. He said he made one for someone in Ireland, and it turned out incredibly well. More volume, better sounding than the maple ones he's made before, and it is easier to work with apparently. The only Elmo mandolin I heard was one at a jam session in Cassia, Florida, played by a Canadian, and it blew me out of the water with its rich tone and volume, and it was maple back & sides I believe.

I wouldn't have thought IR B&S would be a great sounding wood for an F model, but I may be wrong. My friend will get the mandolin sometime in May when it is finished. I will do a follow up report on it then.


Anyone else heard of this?

Jeff

[helichuck]

My friend Glen Dean Cecil has made two mandolins with Brazilian rosewood sides and back. They sound and look beautiful.
He has enough, I think, to make a couple more.

[Paul Hostetter]

I have a Stan Miller F in BRW in my shop right now, a breathtaking mandolin. Indian should be fine as well.

[Fretbear]

I would love to play one, they are reported to sound great; an F-style would likely have a little mellower tone (although a lot of that is in the player's hands) and maybe a little less pop or penetration than a maple back would.

[Paul Hostetter]

You can think whatever you want, and try and be logical, but really won't know until you make or play some. I have to keep saying it: it's mostly about the top—whatever it might be made of—and it's also about the design and the maker's skill.

[Greg H.]

Michael Lewis had one at IBMA (in 2004...the last one in Louisville) that was an absolute killer.

[Spencer]

I played a Flatbush rosewood F-5 that I really fell in love with, but my budget said no. An outstanding instrument.

Spencer

[devonmandoman]

I finished this Rio b&s rosewood "A" style a year or so back. Now its played in it has a really warm tone with well defind top and bottom notes and a load of punch when driven. Cuts through the squeeze box and fiddle in Irish music, and has infinitely more presence than previous maple b&s mandolins.
I wouldn't agree about it being as easy to work, I spent as much time sharpening as carving!
So go for it, it will sound great and be a real head-turner

[crazymandolinist]

While you're at it, try a rosewood neck to go with and see what happens. Ebony fretboard of course...