1 Topic by Tenement Funster (edited by Tenement Funster 2013-11-21 01:20:47)

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Topic: Article on Ebony

After noticing that Gibson is switching from Ebony to Richlite on most of their guitars, I naturally asked "WHY?" and went digging. I wasn't aware that Ebony was endangered, and the toll that North American and European demand has been taking on this species. If anyone's interested in these things, here's decent article I found:

http://www.wood-database.com/wood-artic … ark-woods/

It would seem that most of the hardest woods on earth are in a similar plight, which is why synthetic fretboards are likely the wave of the future. Other hard woods ( >3000 as measured on the Janka Scale) are typically rare and / or expensive.

Just some FYI that I found interesting.

  • From: Bellevue, WA
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Re: Article on Ebony

That is interesting.  Synthetics are going to have a hard time making inroads, though, I think, especially in acoustic guitars.   It's traditional music on traditional instruments, so change is going to be slow.    There were some carbon fiber acoustics being made a while back, and they were great guitars, but I think the company went broke in the long run.

It might be worth while to push for a "colors other than dark" movement.    More sustainable hardwoods are beautiful, too.

Someday we'll win this thing...

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  • zguitar
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Re: Article on Ebony

Interesting read. There are lots of woods on that site I would love to see a guitar made of.

Keep Rockin!!!!!!!!!!!

4 Reply by Tenement Funster (edited by Tenement Funster 2013-11-22 12:43:10)

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Article on Ebony

There's a local guy who repairs guitars for several stores, who showed me an acoustic he made last Spring. The body and sides are "African Blackwood", which is a dark (almost purple) exotic wood which is absolutely stunning to behold. He also incorporated a lot of abalone inlay work on the headstock, fretboard, sound-hole rosette, and binding. He said there was over $3000 worth of material in it, as well as hundreds of hours. He said if he ever decided to sell t, he would have to ask $8000 just to break even! He let me play it for a few minutes, and it sounds awesome ... true artistry from every point of view.

Jerome ... I think you're spot on about acoustics staying as natural woods. We'll likely see less and less ebony and more rosewood for fingerboards.

  • Tyson7
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Re: Article on Ebony

Taylor Guitars has some good info on Ebony wood. Many of the Ebony trees are cut and left to rot because they don't have the black color many people desire. Taylor is working to help maintain and responsibly harvest and use Ebony. They don't discard anything because it's not black. You may now see Taylors with Ebony fret boards with lighter colored Ebony. They are going to use all of the trees they harvest no matter what the colors are. They have also developed a natural dye they can use to blacken the Ebony to a more desirable color. At this point they haven't used the dye  but they may be in the future.
I agree with the rest of you , Acoustic guitars need to be made of real wood.

  Joe

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6 Reply by Tenement Funster (edited by Tenement Funster 2013-11-22 20:15:04)

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Article on Ebony

I agree that we may have to forgo our affection for dark fretboards in order to preserve rare or endangered species. Ebony has a hardness which measures at 3590 on the Janka Scale. Another South American wood called Verawood or Argentine Lignum Vitae (Bulnesia Arborea) is harder (3710 Janka) and is both plentiful and relatively inexpensive. It has a honey color (like oak) with a slightly olive hue, and a beautiful grain pattern:

http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-ide … /verawood/

I personally think it would make an awesome looking fretboard, especially with some of the more natural "flamed maple" patterns like Paul Reed Smith is doing these days. As a woodworking hobbyist, I find a beautiful piece of wood as appealing as any painting or photograph.

  • Zurf
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Re: Article on Ebony

Tyson7 wrote:

Acoustic guitars need to be made of real wood.

  Joe

I thought that until I played Topdown's carbon fiber acoustic guitar.  That thing is just nuts, it's so good.

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