Fingerboards influence the playability of guitars!! It’s arguably the most important part of manufacturing a guitar!! The right choice of fretboard will improve the tonal quality and overall appearance of the guitar.
The fretboard surface needs to be durable since the strings are involved in constant pressing!! Sticky fretboards are complicated, creating difficulties in playing. Quality fretboards support playability and complement the perfect tone.
Most guitar manufacturers choose between three fretboard options: Ebony, Rosewood and Maple. Ebony is the best choice for the fingerboard!!
Ebony Origin
Ebony has a variety of species!! Most of the species grow in the intermediate zones of Malaysia, Southern India, Indonesia, Western Africa, and Sri Lanka!! In ancient days, wood was only available to master craftsmen due to its unique nature and great expense. Ebony has a long history in the making of decorative items, cabinet works, crucifixes, and a huge array of musical instruments!! Due to unsustainable harvesting, most of the Ebony species are endangered!! The beauty of the wood and its high durability are the major reasons for the high demand for ebonies!!
Ebony types
Ebony has two major types, including Macassar ebony and African ebony! Macassar ebony is found in Southeast Asia and is listed as a vulnerable species. The Macassar population has reduced by around 20% compared to the past three generations!!
Gaboon ebony, or African ebony, is highly endangered due to a 50% reduction in the past three generations.
Both the ebonies have a similar appearance, but the grain pattern tends to be different!! Due to low availability, guitars with ebony fretboards are increasingly rare and expensive these days!!
Why do experts choose ebony for fingerboards?
Ebony is the perfect wood for master craftsmen!! Ebony is often the wood of myths and legends. The extra-ordinary durability and deep black color make it a popular fretboard choice among guitar manufacturers. The wood doesn’t float on water but sinks to the bottom. Heavy and dense features, accompanied by superior bond strength, mark the use of ebony as a popular fretboard! It’s the only fretboard that takes decades of wear and tear in guitars and other instruments.
Responsiveness is essential for great toning, but it needs to be controlled in the guitar necks! Ebony fretboard makes the neck stiffer by adding a laminated structure to the length of the neck!
The ebony fretboard is well-known for its brighter sounding quality compared to rosewood. Ebony feels smooth under the fingers, with plenty of brightness in terms of tone and feel. Ebony varies in color, but mostly it’s available in jet black. So, Ebony fretboards exhibit a classy look with excellent playability! The ebony fingerboard is a good choice for heavier music! It’s fast to play on and sounds great with plenty of attacks! The fingerboard looks great with the darker aesthetic of metal guitars.
Is it the right choice?
Yes, an ebony fretboard is a fantastic choice for a slightly brighter guitar tone! The wood is slightly sensitive to humidity; using appropriate fretboard conditioners will prevent the guitar from experiencing extreme temperature changes! So, focus on wood maintenance for long-lasting fretboards!
