A violin maker knows how important it is to choose the right wood to ensure the functional and tonal quality of an instrument. Traditionally, ebony is used for fingerboards and fittings such as tailpieces, chin rests or pegs. However, ebony of sufficient quality has become scarce – especially for larger instrument components.
Just get on board: domestic wood from Swiss forestry instead of tropical wood from overexploitation
Overexploitation of tropical rainforests has made high-quality ebony rare. To protect the remaining forests, international import and trade restrictions (like CITES) and regulations (Lacey Act, EUDR) are increasing.
That is why Swiss Wood Solutions AG, with its Sonowood brand, has joined the ‘Just get on board’ campaign, which calls for the protection of the last remaining tropical forests and raises awareness among musicians and luthiers for tropical wood alternatives from sustainable, local sources.
Sonowood – the better alternative
Sonowood has been available for several years as an ebony alternative made from domestic wood of consistently high quality. Selected spruce, beech or maple woods are densified in a specially developed and patent-pending thermohydromechanical process through the finely tuned interaction of pressure, heat, wood moisture and time.
This gives the wood the properties of ebony – and in some cases even surpasses it in density, sound velocity and hardness. At the same time, Sonowood is not a composite: it consists of 100 per cent wood. No adhesives, resins or other plastic components are used.
Renowned violin makers such as Boris Haug from Zurich, Stefano Gibertoni and Valerio Nalin from Milan, and Mira Gruszow and Gideon Baumblatt from Berlin therefore use Sonowood for their instruments and regularly win prizes with their instruments equipped with Sonowood fittings: Most recently in autumn 2024, both Boris Haug and the Gibertoni/Nalin duo received an award from the Violin Society of America.
As Boris Haug puts it: ‘No one can justify the clearance of tropical rainforests. We believed in Sonowood right from the outset and were happy to support the pioneering work involved. It is now used in our workshop on a daily basis. Sonowood’s material qualities allow me more leeway when it comes to shaping the sound.’
Now new in the web shop: Accessories made from Sonowood
Following the takeover of the fittings business from our previous partner Wilhelm Geigenbau in May, the new Sonowood web shop has been offering a wide range of accessories for violins, violas, cellos and double basses made from Sonowood for a few weeks now.
The range includes fingerboards, tailpieces in various models, lengths and designs, and chin rests. Other products such as pegs and end buttons are currently in development. Those who value the classic look of ebony will also find what they are looking for: Sonowood Black – made from impregnated beech wood – has the characteristic black colour of ebony and has recently become available also for cello fingerboards.
Explore our web shop here: https://shop.sonowood.swisswoodsolutions.ch