Obsidian ebony
Obsidian Ebony: A Sustainable Alternative for the Music Industry
For decades, the music industry has relied on ebony for crafting fine instruments. However, as the tropical black wood is now classified as an endangered species, musicians and manufacturers have faced increasing supply challenges. Recognizing this issue, ThermalWood Canada has developed Obsidian Ebony—an innovative, sustainable alternative. This real wood solution not only addresses the scarcity of ebony but also offers exceptional durability and a striking, glass-like finish. Through collaboration with local scientists in New Brunswick and major industry players such as Fender and Martin, Obsidian Ebony has been validated as a superior, sustainable choice, ushering in a new era of responsible instrument manufacturing.
ThermalWood Canada’s Journey to Innovation
Located in Bathurst, New Brunswick—affectionately referred to by co-owner Bob Lennon as “God’s Country”—ThermalWood Canada was founded in 2008 as one of only twelve thermal modification companies in North America. Despite launching during what Lennon calls “the worst time to start a business,” the company has thrived by using thermal modification to enhance the value and durability of locally sourced wood. This green process, which involves applying heat and steam in a controlled environment, produces rot-resistant wood ideal for decking, cladding, and musical instruments.
Lennon’s introduction to the ebony crisis came through the company’s work producing highly stable maple guitar necks. The increasing scarcity and ethical concerns surrounding ebony led to a search for an alternative that could meet the demanding requirements of professional musicians and luthiers.
The Challenges of Traditional Ebony
Black ebony (Diospyros ebenum) is native to regions like India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and parts of Africa. This dense, nearly black heartwood has long been prized for its beauty, hardness, and resistance to moisture, making it the preferred material for high-end furniture, inlays, and musical instruments. Parisian cabinetmakers in the 16th century were even called “ébénistes” due to their use of this sought-after wood.
In musical instruments, ebony has been the go-to material for fingerboards and tailpieces, offering the perfect balance of hardness and stability. However, due to overharvesting and ecological devastation, harvesting and exporting ebony is now heavily restricted, making legal sourcing prohibitively expensive and complex.
The Birth of Obsidian Ebony
ThermalWood Canada’s journey to creating Obsidian Ebony began serendipitously. While working with a team of scientists in Fredericton, they provided wood samples for experimental treatments. When the samples returned, they had undergone a surprising transformation. Lennon recalls, “We looked at each other and went ‘whoa!’ and then asked, ‘can we do this in black?’”
That moment launched a five-year journey to refine the process while maintaining ThermalWood Canada’s core business. Partnering with industry leaders like Fender, Martin, and a global network of luthiers, the company gathered invaluable feedback. The results were overwhelmingly positive—some musicians even reported that Obsidian Ebony improved their playing experience, allowing for greater control and precision.
Why Obsidian Ebony Works for Musicians
The fretboard is critical to a string instrument’s tone and playability. Musicians rely on it to control pitch by pressing strings against the wood surface. If the fretboard material lacks the necessary hardness and stability, it can lead to unwanted noise, wear, and tonal inconsistencies.
Ebony has long been prized for its high density, smooth surface, and resistance to wear. To be a true alternative, Obsidian Ebony needed to match or exceed these properties. The material had to withstand continuous finger pressure, resist grooves and pits, and maintain structural integrity over time. Testing confirmed that Obsidian Ebony not only met but in some cases surpassed the performance of traditional ebony, providing excellent wear resistance, hardness, and stiffness while retaining necessary flexibility.
Scaling Up for the Industry
As word spread, demand for Obsidian Ebony skyrocketed. However, the company faced a significant challenge: production capacity. “We had a little test lab that might make a hundred a day, not thousands or hundreds of thousands,” Lennon explains. “The equipment to do this didn’t exist.”
To bridge this gap, ThermalWood Canada partnered with the New Brunswick Community College’s Innovation Group (CCNB INNOV). The team at CCNB designed and built the specialized equipment needed to scale production, ensuring that Obsidian Ebony could be manufactured in the quantities the music industry demanded.
Today, Obsidian Ebony stands as a testament to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration. By transforming locally sourced wood into a high-performance ebony alternative, ThermalWood Canada is not only meeting the needs of musicians but also helping to preserve the world’s remaining ebony forests. With its unmatched durability and striking aesthetics, Obsidian Ebony is setting a new standard for sustainable craftsmanship in the music industry.
Hear what the experts have to say!
In an effort to learn more about our product through the eyes of instrument and furniture builders, ThermalWood Canada sent Obsidian samples all over the world. None of these videos are paid promotions, these were all made with the understanding that if they did not like our product, the video was still going to be shared.
Feeling confident in the product that we created, we did it anyway. Here are some of the responses we received from luthiers like Ted Woodford, Robbie O’Brien and even Greene & Greene furniture maker, Darrell Peart.
testimonials
We’re always thankful for the feedback that we receive. Good or bad, it’s essential for us to know from seasoned and young woodworkers exactly what it is like to work with the Obsidian Ebony.
We’ve collected a few of the detailed testimonials that we’ve received since launching this product. As we mentioned, we can’t grow as your sustainable alternative supplier, if we don’t receive feedback. This is our way of thanking those who’ve spent the time working with the product, and creating thoughtful testimonials.
we’ve been featured in guitar world
Read about our sustainable mission here
elevate your project with thermalwood
We want to know all about your project. Big or small, it doesn’t matter. ThermalWood Canada is here to bring your project to life. But in order to do that, we’re going to need some information from you so we can give you the most accurate feedback we can. So, click below, explain what you have in mind, and let us tell you how our products will elevate your project to the next level.
