Custom-Made Cocobolo Wood Body for SHURE V15 Type III Cartridge

A cocobolo wood body for the Shure V15 cartridge delivers a sound that’s rich, bold, dynamic, and tonally complex. Cocobolo is a very dense tropical hardwood from the rosewood family (Dalbergia), prized in high-end audio, instrument making, and even for exotic tonearms and headshells. It's one of the most sonically and aesthetically luxurious choices for a V15 body.

🌳 What Is Cocobolo?

• Native to Central America, cocobolo is heavy, oily, and acoustically vibrant.

• Its density rivals or exceeds that of ebony (~1.1+ g/cm³).

• Highly figured grain, often with striking red-orange/brown tones.

🔊 Sound Characteristics of Cocobolo Body for Shure V15:

🎧 Subjective Listening Impressions:

• Musical and emotionally immersive – cocobolo tends to enhance texture and tone color.

• The V15's smooth and neutral character becomes more expressive and weighty.

• Highs remain airy, but with less sibilance than brighter woods (like zebrano or maple).

• Bass takes on real authority — perfect for listeners wanting a stronger low-end anchor.

• Adds a sense of effortless flow without dulling transients or burying detail.

🪵 Cocobolo vs. Other Woods for Shure V15:

✅ Best Use Case:

Choose cocobolo if:

• You want to enhance the musicality and presence of your Shure V15.

• You enjoy jazz, classical, rock, vocals, and want a more immersive, full-bodied sound.

• Your system could benefit from a richer, more emotional presentation.

• You appreciate exotic materials that add both sonic and visual luxury.

Cocobolo is often considered the "rosewood of cartridge bodies" — it brings out depth, complexity, and beauty, turning the technically excellent Shure V15 into something more alive and soul-stirring.