Here's a post from the Martin Group that I think might be suitable for general discussion:
What's up with some of these new Martin Artist Series guitars being made with Madagascar Rosewood back and sides? They claim it's close in tone to Brazilian Rosewood. My question then is: if the tone is so good where has this been the last 44 years when East Indian Rosewood was standard? Is East Indian getting harder to obtain? Also, anyone played one of the Madagascar guitars and how does it compare to East Indian and/or Brazilian Rosewood?