Vanuatu Blackwood tonewood Profile
guitarbench
For your viewing pleasure, I have just published a profile on the
acacia also known as Vanuatu Blackwood as part of my ongoing tonewood
database. As always, improvements, corrections and additional
information/ your own experiences are much appreciated- I'll update
the profile citing you and linking back to you! If you have an
experiences or data to share, I would be very grateful.
I can't link pics directly to here so do pop by to
http://guitarbench.com/index.php/2009/12/02/vanuatu-blackwood-tonewood-profile/
for the full Visual presentation. As always, I present the text
portion of the interview for your consideration- although I do highly
recommend popping by to see the pics!
Warmest regards,
Terence
http://www.guitarbench.com
Acacia Heterophylla | Tonewood Profile | ”Vanuatu Blackwood”
Tonewoods Database
All pictures - Click to enlarge!
Please email with any corrections/ additional info
We aim to keep each profile as complete as possible & your help is
appreciated!
Quick Facts
Scientific name: Acacia Heterophylla
Trade names: Vanuatu Blackwood, Highland Tamarid
Janka: 1200 approx
Uses: Tops, Veneer, Back and sides
RIYL: Walnut, Mahogany
Bling factor: Curl and colour variation is not uncommon
Availability: Uncommon
CITES status: Not listed. No restrictions
Note: (RIYL) Recommended If You Like
Natural History
Vanuatu Blackwood is endemic to Reunion Island thriving in humid
forests between 1000 to 2000 metres altitude. It has relatively quick
growth of about 1 meter per annum and is often planted as an
ornamental along roads, the flowers also provide nectar for honey
bees.
Status
The wood is valued for construction, joinery and handicrafts. In
particular it was a key component in building small boats until
recently. Important stands still remain in Reunion, covering around
7500 ha of natural and secondary growth forest.
Physical properties
The wood is fine-grained with heartwood of pink-yellow to orange-brown
tones and often display fiddleback figure. The janka of Vanuatu
Blackwood is around 1200 and it has a specific gravity of 0.55.
As a tonewood…
Unlike the more plentiful Koa, Vanutau Blackwood guitars are rare,
although I recall playing a few in the UK. Richard Cross of
Shapelywood guitars had this to say:”As far as my memory of working
with the blackwood, well it is a long time ago, and it is the only
time I have worked it. Having said that, I have just found a blank for
a soprano ukulele that I jointed (at 15 degrees) for use some time, on
the principle of never throwing any wood away if it could be useful.
It is a very hard wood, but machines well, and can be made very thin.
Routing makes a very clean edge with no tearing. Finishing takes a lot
of fine sanding and virtually no filling is needed if the sanding is
taken down to about 1000 grit or better. The whole panel will shine
and have wonderful tactile features long before any finish is applied.
The grain and the rays at right angles glisten as for good koa or
curly maple.”.
Subjective tone…
I would broadly characterise the tone of Vanuatu Blackwood as being
similar to Australian Blackwood & Koa, with a woody, open tone
somewhere between mahogany and rosewood
Availability
As a rare semi-managed species, Vanuatu Blackwood stocks are still
available although in very limited quantities. Alternatives exist,
namely close cousins Australian and Koa. Read more about Australian
Blackwood here and Koa here.
©2008 Terence Tan.
References: Wikipedia
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Shapelywood guitar courtesy of Richard Cross.
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