Vanuatu blackwood

[Colins]

Hi everyone, I am hoping that someone can enlighten me as to a wood that I am thinking of using for B&S on an upcoming build. It goes by the name Vanuatu Blackwood (Acacia Heterophylla) but the information on the internet indicates that it actually comes from Reunion Island. Call me pedantic but how can it go by the name Vanuatu Blackwood (Pacific Ocean east of Oz) if it comes from off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean? Certainly adds a bit of mystery to the wood!

Is anyone on the forum familiar with this wood? I would appreciate any experience you have. I am thinking of it as an alternative to koa in sound, as it is also an acacia that grows in a warm climate.

Thanks,
Col

[Kim]

I am thinking of it as an alternative to koa in sound, as it is also an acacia that grows in a warm climate.

Thanks,
Col

Hello Col and welcome to the ANZLF

Can't help on Vanuatu BW because I've not come across it before..But I will say that there is a hell of a lot of different acacias growing in a warm climates and their properties range anywhere between chalk and cheese so I will just add that if I were after a tonal (some say superior) alternative to koa, then I would look no further than a few nice slices of good Aussie Blackwood. There's lots of it around, its tried and proven...and it looks pretty great as well.

Cheers

Kim

[Colins]

Thanks Kim,
Yep, Aussie BW is definitely on the radar too, although I have read a few commetns on the internet that it has more of a rosewood sound than koa. Nice that we have so many choices!

Col

[charangohabsburg]

Seems that nobody here has built yet with Vanuatu Blackwood. Unless you do so nobody will ever know how it is!