The same applies to bouzoukis, citterns and octave mandolins. I make fingerboards and bridges out of ebony. Ebony fingerboards are strong and wear resistant and have a lovely feel, and ebony bridges give an instrument a more focussed tone. Over the years I've become increasingly aware that only the best wood makes the best instruments. In these times when good quality timbers are so scarce, I spend time and energy tracking down and buying the best from all over Europe to add to my stock.
Indian rosewood is readily available, but the quality on offer now varies greatly.
I buy European spruce in Southern Germany. Every few years I visit the main suppliers and some of the smaller ones, and from the vast quantities on offer I select what I consider to be the best. This is also stacked and stored for years before use.