Our Story

The founder, Samuel Lopes, has been involved in various activities within music for decades. He had the dream of creating his own guitar brand—Lágrima Guitarras—and began searching for and collecting the finest tonewoods available. Over time, he realized that he had acquired far more wood than he would ever use to build guitars, which led him to start selling some of it. Through this process, he came to appreciate the true value of a rare and precious collection and decided to establish Lágrima Tonewood to supply discerning luthiers with exceptional materials.

Wood has been part of his life since childhood. He built his first guitars in his father’s furniture shop, continuing a tradition of woodworking that spans generations—his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all master woodworkers. On his mother’s side, his great-great-grandfather was also a skilled craftsman, creating royal carriages in the 19th century. Through the generations, the family's passion for fine timber and woodworking has only grown stronger.

For centuries, Portugal has been one of the world’s largest wood importers, primarily sourcing timber from Brazil, Africa, and Asia. Over 500 years ago, Portuguese ships sailed these trade routes, bringing exquisite woods and other valuable resources to Europe—marking what could be considered the early days of globalization.

Many of these fine woods crossed oceans aboard Portuguese caravels, carrying with them a rich history that still resonates today. During this time, Portuguese Kings and Queens had their own distinct furniture styles, crafted exclusively from the most valuable and noble woods. The pieces we have today are salvaged from this original furniture, always keeping in mind that inferior replicas were produced until the mid-20th century using different materials and veneers.

Our expertise lies in rare, old-growth woods, including:

• Rosewoods – Brazilian rosewood, Kingwood, Camatillo, Amazon rosewood, and Tulipwood.
• Mahoganies of the Americas – Including the exceptional Brazilwood (Pernambuco).
• Other exotic species – Such as Santos rosewood, Macacaúba, and many more.
• African and Madagascan tonewoods – Including African Blackwood, Madagascar rosewoods, Ebonies, and others.
• Exceptional locally grown tonewoods – Such as our renowned Spanish Cypress, highly appreciated worldwide.

We import very little ourselves—mainly soundboard tops from trusted suppliers who practice sustainable and responsible sourcing. Many of our woods come from naturally fallen trees.

At Lágrima, we believe that the world’s finest tonewoods are key to producing master, world-class musical instruments.

Sustainability & Our Woods

At Lágrima Tonewood, we recognize that many of the woods we work with are becoming increasingly rare. Some species are now protected or even endangered, which is why we are deeply committed to sustainability and ethical sourcing.

We do not cut down trees. Instead, we primarily use:
✅ Aged timber recovered from centuries-old furniture
✅ Salvaged materials from wine barrels and olive oil mills
✅ Wood from small, historic woodworking shops that closed long ago

Each piece of wood carries a story, and by repurposing these incredible materials, we ensure their beauty and resonance live on in new instruments.

For younger woods that cannot be sourced locally, we work exclusively with trusted partners who adhere to strict sustainability practices, harvesting only from naturally fallen trees. Our goal is to preserve these invaluable resources for future generations of luthiers and musicians.

While much of our focus is on reclaimed and imported tonewoods, we are also proud to offer exceptional local woods, which we are certain will be highly appreciated by luthiers worldwide.

Welcome to Lágrima Tonewood

We are passionate about fine woods, sustainability, and the art of lutherie. Whether you are crafting a guitar or simply appreciating the beauty of rare materials, we hope you enjoy working with such precious wood as much as we do.