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Grenadilla
 
 
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Grenadilla (or other, similar spellings) is a name given to a number of different wood
Wood

Wood is an organic material; in the strict sense wood is produced as secondary xylem in the stems of woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs, etc....
s, all of them strong and dense. A famous wood so named is that of Dalbergia melanoxylon, in English African blackwood
African Blackwood

African Blackwood or Mpingo is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to seasonally dry regions of Africa from Senegal east to Eritrea and south to the Transvaal in South Africa....
 and in East Africa known as mpingo). It is used for making musical instrument
Musical instrument

A musical instrument is an object constructed or used for the purpose of making music. In principle, anything that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument....
s, mainly the oboe
Oboe

The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois", "hoboy", or "French hoboy"....
, the flute
Flute

The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike other woodwind instruments, a flute is a reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air against an edge....
, the piccolo
Piccolo

The piccolo is a small flute. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger component, the flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written....
, the clarinet
Clarinet

The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word clarino meaning a particular type of trumpet, as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet....
, the recorder
Recorder

The recorder is a woodwind instrument musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes — whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle and ocarina....
, and the Great Highland Bagpipe
Great Highland Bagpipe

The Great Highland Bagpipe is probably the best-known variety of bagpipe. Abbreviated GHB, and commonly referred to simply as "the pipes", they have historically taken numerous forms in Scotland....
. Even though the sound and resonance of grenadilla is not as good as other woods, such as rosewood, it is chosen for instrument manufacture because it cracks less easily and machines better.






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Encyclopedia


Grenadilla (or other, similar spellings) is a name given to a number of different wood
Wood

Wood is an organic material; in the strict sense wood is produced as secondary xylem in the stems of woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs, etc....
s, all of them strong and dense. A famous wood so named is that of Dalbergia melanoxylon, in English African blackwood
African Blackwood

African Blackwood or Mpingo is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to seasonally dry regions of Africa from Senegal east to Eritrea and south to the Transvaal in South Africa....
 and in East Africa known as mpingo). It is used for making musical instrument
Musical instrument

A musical instrument is an object constructed or used for the purpose of making music. In principle, anything that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument....
s, mainly the oboe
Oboe

The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois", "hoboy", or "French hoboy"....
, the flute
Flute

The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike other woodwind instruments, a flute is a reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air against an edge....
, the piccolo
Piccolo

The piccolo is a small flute. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger component, the flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written....
, the clarinet
Clarinet

The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word clarino meaning a particular type of trumpet, as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet....
, the recorder
Recorder

The recorder is a woodwind instrument musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes — whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle and ocarina....
, and the Great Highland Bagpipe
Great Highland Bagpipe

The Great Highland Bagpipe is probably the best-known variety of bagpipe. Abbreviated GHB, and commonly referred to simply as "the pipes", they have historically taken numerous forms in Scotland....
. Even though the sound and resonance of grenadilla is not as good as other woods, such as rosewood, it is chosen for instrument manufacture because it cracks less easily and machines better. In the process of manufacturing, 90% of the wood is rejected because of visible flaws that will cause it to function improperly. Even a flaw the size of a pinhead can cause errors. Grenadilla ranges in color from dark brown to jet black. Top quality grenadilla can sell for $18,000 a cubic meter. Grenadilla is very hard, and has a fine, close grain.

Conservation Status


Since grenadilla only grows in special locations, and takes many years to mature, it is a very threatened species. Some clarinet manufacturers, like Buffet Crampon, make models of clarinets with a special materials such as 95% ebony powder and 5% carbon fiber. This has the same tonal and acoustic qualities as grenadilla, but is heavier.