Shipping country
Grenadill, African Blackwood Woodwind Blanks – newly arrived from old stock!
20.08.2025
About a year and a half ago, we were able to purchase a batch of tonewood scantlings from an old stock of grenadill, African blackwood wood and were therefore very happy to be able to offer our customers some beautiful scantlings cut from this rare wood, which has since become very difficult to obtain due to an export ban. After a large part of these scantlings were quickly sold, only remnants remained in our shop, so we went on the hunt and were successful once again.
This wood has been on the CITES list since 2017 and can only be traded with certificates of origin that serve to protect this valuable wood. As this wood only grows endemically in northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania, there are no alternative areas with these trees. In addition, violent clashes between the army and armed fighters have been taking place in this region for years, making legal export even more problematic. Export ports have been temporarily occupied by jihadists, all of which makes it almost impossible to source good tonewood scantlings from Mozambique, forcing instrument makers to resort to substitute woods, which many musicians and instrument makers consider inferior. After lengthy preparations and negotiations, we have now been able to purchase this small batch of old tonewood blanks. CITES permits have been obtained, and our customers can now purchase that was imported years ago.
This wood has been on the CITES list since 2017 and can only be traded with certificates of origin that serve to protect this valuable wood. As this wood only grows endemically in northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania, there are no alternative areas with these trees. In addition, violent clashes between the army and armed fighters have been taking place in this region for years, making legal export even more problematic. Export ports have been temporarily occupied by jihadists, all of which makes it almost impossible to source good tonewood scantlings from Mozambique, forcing instrument makers to resort to substitute woods, which many musicians and instrument makers consider inferior. After lengthy preparations and negotiations, we have now been able to purchase this small batch of old tonewood blanks. CITES permits have been obtained, and our customers can now purchase that was imported years ago.