Custom-Made Cocobolo Wood Body for Nagaoka MP Series Cartridge

Custom-Made Cocobolo Wood Body for Nagaoka MP Series Cartridge

A Cocobolo wood body for a Nagaoka cartridge introduces a rich, dense, and musically saturated tone, lending the sound greater body, authority, and warmth. Cocobolo is a tropical hardwood from the rosewood family, prized in audio applications for its exceptional density (~1.1 g/cm³), strong internal damping, and resonant control.

🎵 Sound Characteristics of Cocobolo on Nagaoka (e.g. MP-110, MP-150, MP-200, MP-500):

🪵 Why Cocobolo Sounds Like This:

• Very high density & oil content dampen unwanted resonances and vibrations

• Rosewood tonal character: favors body, smoothness, and depth over sharp articulation

• Enhances musical density — especially good for digital-sounding or overly lean systems

🎧 Overall Effect:

• Adds refinement, richness, and musicality to Nagaoka’s signature sound

• Slightly rounds off transients but increases tonal density and emotional weight

• Makes string instruments, horns, and male vocals feel more tactile and grounded

• Especially beneficial with MP-110 or MP-150, taming their slight edginess

✅ Best For Listeners Who:

• Prefer a warm, analog, organic sound

• Want to smooth out digital glare or bright systems

• Enjoy jazz, classic rock, vocal-heavy recordings, chamber music

• Use neutral or lightweight tonearms, where extra mass helps balance tracking

⚠️ Considerations:

• Higher mass (~10–15g for full body) may affect tonearm resonance — not ideal for ultralight arms

• If your system is already very warm or dark, Cocobolo might make it sound slightly veiled

• Compared to lighter woods like maple or birch, Cocobolo sacrifices some speed for texture and weight

🔚 Summary:

A Cocobolo wood body transforms a Nagaoka cartridge into something bolder and more luxurious in tone. You get greater bass foundation, rich mids, and a smooth treble, making it ideal for listeners who want to push their Nagaoka toward a more analog, romantic sound.