Sonowood. Innovative wood for string instruments.

sonowood: tailor made local wood for bowed string instruments

Sonowood for string instruments.

String instrument making is emotional. Many instruments are one-of-a-kind, carefully handcrafted. This is exactly how it is at Sonowood. We make each piece individually; no blank resembles the next. The aesthetics and the exceptional hardness and density guarantee top performance in a noble guise.

Sonowood is available in Maple, Flamed Maple, Spruce, and Beech. Soon, we will also provide  fully black Beech (Sonowood BLACK).

The wood species make up for an interesting and wide colour spectrum between light caramel (spruce), mocha brown (maple), darker brown (beech) and black (Sonowood BLACK).

Sonowood advantages

For the musician

  • Outstanding acoustic performance thanks to extraordinarily low damping and high sound velocity
  • Durability and scratch-resistance thanks to complete pore closure. Signs of wear and dirt are greatly reduced.
  • Optimal playability thanks to a hard and smooth surface that nevertheless remains open to absorb hand perspiration.
  • Support of sustainable, domestic forestry by use of an ecologically friendly material.
  • No travel restrictions thanks to the avoidance of endangered wood species.

For the luthier

  • Authentic wood without any no synthetic colours, resins or polymers added.
  • Straightforward workability: Sonowood can be milled, particularly well and precisely. This makes it ideal for filigree components as well as inlays.
  • Although being a very compact material with complete pore closure, Sonowood is easier to plane and shape than ebony.
  • Sonowood can be sanded and polished very well.
  • Reliable availability with constant quality.
  • No trade restrictions and conservation of value thanks to the avoidance of endangered wood species.
  • Leveraging your sales&marketing, as Sonowood is associated with the promotion of sustainable, domestic forestry and the protection of tropical resources.
Contact us >

Sonowood: Fingerboard and tailpiece

Griffbrett und Saitenhalter an einer Bratsche

NEW: Sonowood Black

We are proud to present our latest innovation in the Sonowood product line: SONOWOOD BLACK, soon to be available in dark brown to completely black appearance and a true alternative to ebony - not only in terms of physical properties, but also visually.

Sonowood Black

    • Wood type: Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
    • Colour: very dark brown to true black
    • Density: 1'200 – 1'400 kg/m³
    • Brinell hardness: >80 N/mm²
    • Dimensional stability: height ~ 0.7%, width ~ 0.37% per % moisture content change
    • Sound velocity: 4'200 – 5'400 m/s
    • Damping (log. decrement): -
    • Dynamic elastic modulus: > 21'000 N/mm²

Maple

Sonowood Maple

    • Wood type: Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)
    • Colour: Mocha
    • Density: 1'200 – 1'400 kg/m³
    • Brinell hardness: 90 - 140 N/mm²
    • Dimensional stability: height ~ 0.7%, width ~ 0.3% per % moisture content change
    • Sound velocity: > 4'400 m/s
    • Damping (log. decrement): ~ 0.053
    • Dynamic elastic modulus: > 23'000 N/mm²

Spruce

Sonowood Spruce

    • Wood type: Spruce (Picea abies)
    • Colour: Caramel
    • Density: 1'300 – 1'400 kg/m³
    • Brinell hardness: 100 - 150 N/mm²
    • Dimensional stability: height ~ 0.75,
      width ~0.33 % per % moisture content change
    • Sound velocity: > 5'500 m/s
    • Damping (log. decrement): ~ 0.04
    • Dynamic elastic modulus: > 39'000 N/mm²

Beech

Sonowood beech for bowed string instruments - brown side view

Sonowood Beech

    • Wood type: Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
    • Colour: Brown
    • Density: 1'200 – 1'400 kg/m³
    • Brinell hardness: > 80 N/mm²
    • Dimensional stability: height ~ 0.7%, width ~ 0.37% per % moisture content change
    • Sound velocity: 4'200 – 5'400 m/s
    • Damping (log. decrement): -
    • Dynamic elastic modulus: > 21'000 N/mm²

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Sonowood Partners

Our distribution partners for Sonowood fittings for
String instruments (violin, viola and cello) in Europe:

Wilhelm Geigenbau with W-Fittings

Sonowood tailpieces for violin, viola and violoncello

Wilhelm Geigenbau with W-Fittings

Wilhelm Geigenbau has been researching the possible applications of Sonowood in violin making as an exclusive development partner since 2016.

 

 

 

Wilhelm Geigenbau and W-Fittings: Discover more >

Order Sonowood

Discover the variety of Sonowood and order scantlings in standard dimensions for your violin, viola or cello today.

For customized dimensions please contact us. info@swisswoodsolutions.ch

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Sonowood for plucked instruments

Sonowood for plucked instruments

For the sustainable product Sonowood, sustainable native woods are treated in an innovative pressing process. The outstanding hardness and density of Sonowood
ensures that your acoustic and electric guitars deliver the highest acoustic performance.

Discover Sonowood for plucked instruments >
sonowood: sustainable wood for guitars

Contact Swiss Wood Solutions

Contact Swiss Wood Solutions

Dr. Christian Lehringer
Chief Product Officer
T +41 44 244 38 10

Email >
Dr. Christian Lehringer