This looks very promising as a flute wood. Terry McGee was the first to make a flute from it and has a nice description and photo on his web site here. I bought some pieces and finally got them seasoned and made into an instrument. I found the material very pleasant to work - uniform, with straight, close grain, and stable under changing humidity. The appearance is a dark chocolate brown and is darkening more with time and linseed oil. I liked the way it played, but obviously a lot more peoples’ opinions are needed to make a judgement.
This particular flute is in the Los Angeles area at the moment, so if anyone there wants to give it a blow, please email or PM me and I’ll try to make arrangements. After that I’ll send it on a tour, so you can contact me to get on the schedule.
It makes a handsome flute, if Terry’s example is the result. And the Salomons, Ohio, and LA are three very different climates. If it’s made the transitions unharmed, it can probably make more.
Googling tells me that members of the Myrtaceae family are noted for having essential oils. I wonder if this particular wood would itself also be oily (a good thing for flutes, to be sure), and if so, what allergenic potentialities it would have…
Signed,
A Dalbergia-sensitised fluteplayer
Oops. Re-read the link info. Not oily, then, if it requires a soaking. Duh on me.
My idea was to get some feedback on the keyless one first and possibly make one with a fully lined head and barrel joint next. I agree that a fully keyed one would be interesting, particularly with block mounted keys. With any luck, Jon will get too impatient and make one himself. Seriously, the best thing that could happen is for some other makers to work with this material and share their experiences.
The wood soaked up rather less oil than a cocus or mopane instrument, but a lot more than African blackwood, which seems to absorb little or no oil. I’m not sure that tells us anything about whether it will induce allergies, as it seems that all of the tropical hardwoods can produce a reaction in some people.
For those interested in Solomon blackwood, it is now available in North America!!
I am a Solomon Islander who recently imported a container of mixed tropical wood, including Tubi (queen ebony) to Victoria, BC, Canada. If you would like further information or to see some photos, please send me a note: akelianga@shaw.ca.
