Fingerboard from Sonowood Spruce
Swiss Wood Solutions was founded 2016 as a spin-off of ETH Zurich and Empa. Our interdisciplinary team of Sonowood scientists and wood technologists have developed novel wood modification technologies to improve domestic woods in their properties, thus meeting contemporary as well as future needs.
In the musical instrument world, we offer the innovative product Sonowood® made from European and North American wood species from sustainably managed forests. Sonowood matches the favorable properties of tropical woods and even outperforms them in terms of hardness, density and sound quality.
Stradivarius (1721) with fingerboard and Sales, product advice and technical information: tailpiece from Sonowood Spruce Swiss Wood Solutions AG c/o Empa Chinrest and tailpiece from Sonowood Maple Überlandstrasse 129 CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland [email protected] www.swisswoodsolutions.ch
EN Sonowood Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) Sonowood tailpieces Sonowood advantages for the luthier: Density [kg/m3] 1'200 – 1'400
• Authentic wood with straightforward workability. Brinell hardnessa) [N/mm2] 90 – 140 • Sonowood can be milled particularly well and Colour Mocha precisely. This makes it ideal for filigree components as well as inlays. Dimensional stability (Diff. swelling Height ~ 0.7 • Although being a very compact material with complete [% per % moisture content change]) Width ~ 0.3 pore closure, Sonowood is easier to plane and shape Sound velocityb) [m/s] > 4'400 than ebony. • Sonowood can be sanded very well. A smooth surface Damping (Log. decrement) ~ 0.053 is already achieved by using low grit sandpaper (240). Elastic modulusc) [N/mm2] > 23'000 • Sonowood consists of natural wood (no wood plastic- composite material, no synthetic colours or resins. Sonowood Spruce (Picea abies) added). • Reliable availability with constant quality. Density [kg/m3] 1‘300 – 1‘400 • No trade restrictions and conservation of value thanks Sonowood® Brinell hardnessa) [N/mm2] 100 – 150 to the avoidance of endangered wood species. In response to the ecological, ethical and legal concerns Colour Caramel associated with the use of tropical woods in string What we offer for strings Dimensional stability (Diff. swelling Height ~ 0.75 instruments making, Swiss Wood Solutions has developed [% per % moisture content change]) Width ~ 0.33 the sustainable product Sonowood. Sonowood is available from spruce, maple and walnut. Sound velocityb) [m/s] > 5‘500 For this purpose, sustainable domestic European and The three species make up for an interesting and wide Damping (Log. Decrement) ~ 0.04 North American woods are treated in an innovative colour spectrum. Spruce is caramel, while maple features c) 2 compression process. The outstanding hardness and a mocha brown appearance. Walnut is dark-brown. Elastic modulus [N/mm ] > 39‘000 density of Sonowood ensure that your string instruments Sonowood offered as square timbers and fittings. deliver highest acoustic performances. Sonowood Walnut (Juglans spp.)
Sonowood advantages for the musician: Violins and viola: fingerboard, tailpiece, chinrest, peg and Density [kg/m3] 1‘200 – 1‘400
end button a) 2 • Oustanding acoustic performance thanks to Brinell hardness [N/mm ] 90 – 140 extraordinarily low damping and high sound velocity Cello: tailpiece and peg Colour Dark-brown • Durability and scratch-resistance thanks to complete Dimensional stability (Diff. swelling Height ~ 0.8 pore closure. Signs of wear and dirt are greatly reduced. Customized dimensions are available, please contact us. [% per % moisture content change]) Width ~ 0.25 • Optimum playability thanks to hard and smooth We look forward to hearing from you: b) surface. [email protected] Sound velocity [m/s] > 4‘400 • Support of sustainable, domestic forestry by use of an Damping (Log. Decrement) ~ 0.053 ecologically friendly material. c) 2 • No travel restrictions thanks to the Elastic modulus [N/mm ] > 23‘000 avoidance of endangered wood Comparison values of ebony species. Density [kg/m3] 1‘100 – 1‘200
Brinell hardness a) [N/mm2] ~ 84
Violin with fingerboard, tailpiece, chinrest and b) Pictures by Wilhelm Geigenbau. Sound velocity [m/s] ~ 4'500 pegs from Sonowood Maple a) perpendicular to grain direction b) in grain direction c) determined via sound velocity