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Curious what those that worked with African Blackwood so far think about it.
It is regularly hyped as a "super-rosewood" and Brazilian-killer, but at least in terms of taptones it has not impressed me at all so far. I have used a large panel in a 3-piece back together with Madagascar rw wings and sides, and the guitar is very nice, but the blackwood accounts for less than 1/4 of the B+S. I also have a few other panels, a couple FBs, a couple headplates. I admit my experience is limited, but all these pieces I handled so far sound dull, pretty much like ebony. Perhaps the smell too reminds me of ebony rather than other rosewoods. Looks like the shared African origin provided both species, even if from different genera, with similar properties: extremely high density, extremely dark color, similar smell. Similar damping too?

Thanks.

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Build log

That is not my experience of African blackwood. It is a very musical, resonant wood. Not high damping like ebony.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

What Howard said and the set that I have rings fantastic, very glassy. I made a bridge out of it several years ago and working with it it does dull tools fairly fast, probably the toughest wood on chisels that I have experienced... yet.

Alexandru-

Do you have any detailed pictures of the wood you are using?

African blackwood will smell like a rosewood, not like ebony. The wood can be almost black but mostly it is just a very dark brown and can have lighter streaks. It does look black under finish. Every piece I've handled has been very resonant with lots of sustain.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Here are a couple samples. It is ABW without doubt. It maybe sounds 10% better than ebony, but really nothing like a glassy mad/braz/amazon piece.

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Build log

Hmmm... the second pic looks kinda light in colour for balckwood to me.

Me like its clear glassy ring, and its smell

yes me likes African blackwood lots...use it lots for...heals, head stocks, nuts and tailpieces.

Got a set from Randy and one day me gonna do something with it. Is true!


blessings
the
Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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Alexandru,

I agree with you. I have 4 sets and a bunch of boards all from different trees and none of them have that real glass type ring that the other rosewoods you mentioned do. They do sound "musical" but not in the same way those others do. I haven't worked with it yet but I am excited to do so. On another note, I have a bunch of pernambuco too, also from may different trees and it gets hyped right up there with Blackwood and Brazilian and it is the same. A very musical ring but not what I would call glassy.

Your guitar looks really great.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

I have built several guitars with African Blackwood. All the sets I have used have tapped very similar to Brazilian Rosewood. The tap tone is extremely glassy and sustaining - like the very best Brazilian Rosewood. I know that African Blackwood can take an awfully long time to reach a dry state. Is it possible that the wood was not fully dry? Although, I am not sure if that would dampen the set but it does seem likely. Other than that - you just have to rack it up to differences within the species. However, I wouldn't give up on it as most everyone's experience with African Blackwood is incredibly positive.

African blackwood is a rosewood. It was preferred in the old days for ornamental turning lathe work over ebony because it does not dull the tools as fast as ebony.

I buy african blackwood turning blanks and carve brides and slice bridge plates from them. I haven't used it a lot, but the pieces I have handeled haven't been anything like ebony (other than the color, that is). It is a lovely tonewood, for sure. I wish I could afford more...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Funny how our experiences can vary. For example to me it looks nothing like ebony. When finished or polished it becomes more lightened, open and warm and you can see the grain. It looks a lot like chocolate Brazilian RW with a black ink infusion. Ebony is just black or grey and very cold looking. I also found that ABW dulls steel faster than ebony. All I had was incredibly tough. But taptones...dull. And no, it is not wet. But oh well. I have Indian rosewood that taps from horrible to very good, and Madagascar rw that taps from just OK/good to incredibly fabulous. I might have been unlucky with my ABW so far.


@ Burton: Thanks! Made this one for myself. Overall I'm very satisfied with it sounds, even if I think I under-built the top. Too much bass too soon I think, but at 6 months of age now, the trebles are very loud however. Normally you would lose treble when building too much bass, right? That ABW chunk is really heavy and like an armor. Perhaps it helps the projection and helps the guitar not sounding muddy. It is slightly nasal even with the very flexible top.

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Build log