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I was in Woodcraft today and saw some sweet turning blanks of White and Black Ebony. Has anyone used it for pieces in luthiery? It says its ebony, but I noticed some pretty heavy checking and cracking. I would imagine this is indicative of an unstable wood?

-j.Brown

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Checking and cracking would seem more indicative of badly dried wood. One of the saddest sights, for me, is a board of some kind of rosewood (possibly mac ebony, but it looks too brown for that) that my local lumber yard has. It's a good 1.5" thick, 10-12" wide, 8 feet long, and checked all over, so that you'd be lucky to get pieces large enough for bridges out of it.

j. take a look here. Mattia is right. The wood is not dried properly. It is a true ebony from Maylasia.

http://www.rctonewoods.rcefaluguitars.com/temp_pics2.htm

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Wow, those are amazing back and side sets.
Has anyone ever used B&W Ebony for a fingerboard?

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Yes I've used it as a fingerboard, it has a really nice feel sort of between Ebony and Rosewood.

Not too bad to work will tear if planned the wrong way, don't ask me how I know

Gee Bob that wood looks familar?!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"