Bedell Rio Dreadnought- Brazilian Rosewood and Bear Claw Sitka Spruce Guitar

Bedell Rio Dreadnought with Brazilian Rosewood back/sides and Bear Claw Sitka Spruce guitar top

We can only speculate on the story of the one-of-a-kind Esperanza Brazilian rosewood tree. Its age, unique coloration, and magical tonal qualities suggest it grew in NE Brazil during the colonial period – sometime during the 16th – 18th centuries. The slight orange accents in the very dark, almost black grain suggest the Esperanza tree grew on a ranch, owned by the fazendeiros and was left buried.  With its rich mineral content, it was most likely by or in a river. In the late 1950s, along with several other Brazilian rosewood logs, the Esperanza log was shipped to a church ornament company just outside of Madrid, Spain. There it was stored and left to air dry. It was not until two decades later, when the company began processing and marketing tonewood for stringed instruments, that the true music magic of this Esperanza tree was uncovered. 

Brazilian rosewood has long been heralded as the pinnacle of guitar body tonewoods. Many of the tonewoods in the rosewood family grow in the tropics, but none has ever matched the magical Dalbergia nigra of Brazil. Its life, the decades of being buried in a wet environment, and the slow natural aging of the Esperanza tree somehow have resulted in the finest music wood of all. You can hold a tonewood set between your fingers and feel it vibrate. It has a bright glass-like ring that sustains. And it has that unique Brazilian rosewood aroma. 

With this prodigy of Brazilian rosewoods, Bedwell has created the Rio Dreadnought, the Rio Orchestra, and the Rio Parlor. They are extraordinary Brazilian instruments. Due to Esperanza’s denseness, a thinner more responsive back can be used. Hand-selected extra stiff salvaged Bearclaw Sitka Spruce soundboard and tone bars are hand carved for 100% tuned tops. The one-piece Honduran Mahogany neck is dovetailed into the body with a compound taper similar to how vintage guitars were made in the 1930s. And a stunning Rio Burst was applied to compliment the magic of the music these instruments produce.  

All of Bedell Guitar’s Brazilian rosewood is legally documented for world travel and future conveyance. A concierge service is available to assist musicians with required travel permits or international sales. Doing the right thing never sounded better.