Using Ebony as back and side?

[mindcrimez]

Hi all, need some advice here.

Has anyone played a Taylor or any guitar with Ebony back and side (Spruce top)? How does it sound? Does it share any tonal similarities with common tonewoods such as Mahogany and Rosewood?

Thanks in advanced everyone!

[sludgefactory]

I never saw ebony used on sides and back. I think big pieces of ebony like that would be hard to come by and very expensive if they existed. Furthermeore, I don't know how stable such large pieces of ebony would be and they might sound awful as tone woods.

ALthough not true ebony this is an interesting wood:
http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsit...d/macassar.htm

[sludgefactory]

Yikes...did I just put an Ed Roman link up....at least it wasn't one of his negative rants

[Blue in VT]

I cannot comment on Ebony B/S on a Taylor but there was a one off Larrivee made with Ebony...it was sold at the 12th fret...

heres a link: http://www.12fret.com/new/larrivee_L-09_Ebony_pg.html

I was recently resold by the original owner over at the Larrivee forum...if you do search in the buy/sell section there you should be able to find the thread.

Sounds like a intersting guitar....I bet it HEAVY though!!!

Cheers,

Blue

[KyCabnetMkr]

From what I've read ebony trees only grow to about 6-7" dia so useable material from that would probably be 4-5." If you're ok with multiple pieces across the back and perhaps having sapwood on the sides it could possibly be done. you may have more success looking for macassar ebony. could be a little larger. dunno tho. sounds interesting. i'd think ebony would sound something like cocobolo due to it's density.

[acousticjazz]

This link is from the Breedlove sight, beautiful guitar...

http://breedloveguitars.com/instrume..._vi/index.html

Here's one wiith better pics:

http://www.imagineguitars.com/invent...716/index.html

[Big Eric]

I tried out a Breedlove once that had ebony b/s. That was quite a few years ago. It had the modern cutaways. Seemed to me the sound was fairly reflective. Almost echo-y.

But it's been a long time and can't totally be sure of that. Didn't sound like either rosewood or mahogany.

Did look really cool, though.

[Mr. Ed]

Here's one (an R. Taylor) at Wildwood Music:http: //www.wildwoodmusic.com/R.TaylorSt.Ebony.html

[sludgefactory]

Those striped ebony guitars are beautiful...but they are not true ebony like the first guitar shown in the thread was. THe same way "rosewood" and "mahogany" has been hijacked into the names for various woods ebony has been also.
But again, the striped ebony is great looking!

http://www.alliedlutherie.com/macassar.htm

[KMHaynes]

I may be wrong, but I don't think "striped ebony" is the same species as the ebony that is usually used for fingerboards, piano keys, etc. But I'm not a zoologist....

[mindcrimez]

Thanks everyone. I was actually referring to striped ebony when I asked the question. It is the first time I've heard it being used on a guitar.