Gabon Ebony

Gabon Ebony—the top choice in fingerboards for high-end guitars. Ebony is highly resistant to wear, it polishes to a high luster without a finish, it is stiff and very strong in compression (helps keep the neck from bending) and its uniform black color makes an ideal background for inlay.

Ebony's stiffness and musicality also make for a very good bridge. It's weight, though, is a bit of a hindrance for bridges. Heavy bridges adversely affect the response of the soundboard, and it is a challenge to build a truly light bridge from ebony.