Are these ebony?

**Rvl** · May-10-2012, 10:10pm

Are these bridges ebony?
they seem very light in color

thanks

Robert VanLane

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**Rick Jones** · May-10-2012, 10:26pm

Looks like rosewood to me.

**sunburst** · May-10-2012, 10:26pm

Don't think so. Looks like east indian rosewood.

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-11-2012, 1:30am

They look very much like the original bridge that was on my first Lebeda mandolin.I thought that it was Rosewood & fitted a CA Ebony bridge instead. However,apparently from what i've read,Ebony can be any colour from that shade to black,
Ivan

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**almeriastrings** · May-11-2012, 2:35am

The grain pores are different between ebony and rosewood. The bridges are EIRW.

**Paul Busman** · May-11-2012, 5:18am

There are different species of Ebony, which can have different colors. Your pic is not the "normal" ebony that we usually think of. I'm in with the Rosewood crowd.

**mandroid** · May-11-2012, 3:46pm

I think a lot of ebony gets Dyed to be uniform color.. Y/N ?

**Folkmusician.com** · May-11-2012, 5:27pm

I think a lot of ebony gets Dyed to be uniform color.. Y/N ?

Yes. Pure black ebony is rare, and getting progressively more scarce.

**Rvl** · May-11-2012, 7:33pm

Thanks everyone. I bought a bunch of these for repairs , but the seller still insists they are ebony

thanks

Robert VanLane

**almeriastrings** · May-11-2012, 10:29pm

The weight should be a good indicator too. EIR and ebony have completely different densities.

**Tavy** · May-12-2012, 5:52am

IMO the grain on those is typical of East India Rosewood - Ebony should not have open grain like that no matter what the color.

**G7MOF** · May-12-2012, 6:13am

Doesn't Maccassa (I think that's spelt right) ebony look similar to that?

**almeriastrings** · May-12-2012, 7:19am

In colouration.. it can, though it is still much denser and the pores are different.

**Rvl** · May-12-2012, 8:49am

Where can I get a good price for a dozen ebony bridges with international shipping
Customers(me too) want those fancy and beautiful looking Cumberlands or Webers
But most customers are on beer budgets

Thanks

Robert VanLane

**pefjr** · May-12-2012, 9:42am

no

**Jim** · May-12-2012, 10:19am

Where can I get a good price for a dozen ebony bridges with international shipping
Customers(me too) want those fancy and beautiful looking Cumberlands or Webers
But most customers are on beer budgets

I've purchased them on E-bay for under $10, when I bought 3 it was under $6, Not great but nicer than the bridges that came on my Saga kits.

**Tim2723** · May-12-2012, 4:32pm

According to the data I've found, rosewood has a density of 0.75 while ebony is 1.03, measurably heavier. Rosewood should float in water while ebony would sink, although 1.03 is not that much denser than water and I suppose some ebony samples might float. But if it does sink, it's ebony.

**peter.coombe** · May-12-2012, 5:06pm

I would agree that these bridges are Indian Rosewood, not Ebony. Colour, grain and the especially the pores are a dead giveaway for Indian Rosewood. I have never seen any species of Ebony with open pores like that. Indian Rosewood also has a characteristic smell that will confirm the identification 100%.

**sunburst** · May-12-2012, 7:42pm

Originally Posted by Tim2723

According to the data I've found, rosewood has a density of 0.75 while ebony is 1.03, measurably heavier. Rosewood should float in water while ebony would sink, although 1.03 is not that much denser than water and I suppose some ebony samples might float. But if it does sink, it's ebony.

Those numbers are averages. I've had pieces of Honduran rosewood and Brazilian rosewood that were heavier than water (specific gravity greater then 1, will sink in water). Whether or not it will sink in water does not differentiate ebony from rosewood.
Several experienced people have noted the similarity of the look of the bridges in the pic to east indian rosewood (myself included), and to me, that means it is the most likely possibility.

**dcoventry** · May-12-2012, 10:42pm

If it floats, it's a witch! Monty Python

**garyedelman** · May-12-2012, 10:46pm

I totally disagree with all of the above. The only way to really tell the wood by pores
is to cut a piece on the end, examine it by magnifying glass or other instrument and match
the pore structure. I think from the picture it is very hard to tell. I have pieces of walnut
(both american and black/british) sitting on the work bench that look pretty similar in color,
grain and pores.

**Tim2723** · May-13-2012, 9:24am

Originally Posted by sunburst

Those numbers are averages. I've had pieces of Honduran rosewood and Brazilian rosewood that were heavier than water (specific gravity greater then 1, will sink in water). Whether or not it will sink in water does not differentiate ebony from rosewood.
Several experienced people have noted the similarity of the look of the bridges in the pic to east indian rosewood (myself included), and to me, that means it is the most likely possibility.

I'm sure there are significant variations in specific density for any species and the test is something less than definitive, but I found the info and shared it for whatever it's worth. The test isn't perfect, but it's something you can do in addition to just voting on it. It looks like rosewood to me too, but I know I can't vote a piece of wood into being something else.