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Last Updated on January 19, 2024 by Teemu Suomala
Beautiful black looks, dense enough to sink to water, and sometimes hard to find(it’s protected in some countries)…of course I’m talking about ebony, an exotic wood.
Ebony makes an excellent fretboard, it both looks and feels good, it’s durable and many people also prefer it because of its tonal qualities.
But I’ll say this upfront, with electric guitars, tonewoods don’t matter. Especially fretboard woods. Pickups pick up the vibration of the strings directly from the strings and that’s it. With acoustic guitars, fretboard material can have more impact, but it’s still minimal.
But I can’t deny it, some guitars are a perfect fit for ebony fretboard, it just looks so good. That’s why I was happy to put together this article that lists cream-of-the-crop guitars with ebony fretboards, both acoustic and electric. I also reveal my favorite 3 guitars with ebony fretboards. If you have any questions, check the FAQ section or just leave a comment.
Let’s get started!
Learn how to clean guitar fretboard here.
Author: Teemu Suomala
Benefits of An Ebony Fretboard
Let’s tackle the pros and cons. If you think I missed something, just leave a comment.
Pros
- Most people love how dark ebony fretboard looks
- Usually feels super smooth
- Wear-resistant and durable
- Easy to take care of
Cons
- Some don’t like the dark color
- A bit more expensive than most other fretboard woods
24 Acoustic Guitars with Ebony Fretboards
To me, Ibanez AEG550 is the best cheap acoustic guitar with an ebony fretboard. It offers smooth Ibanez playability, solid spruce top, and overall great bang for the buck.
Price Range Icon Meanings:
$= $220-399
$$= $400-899
$$$= $900-1299
$$$$= $1300-1899
$$$$$= $1900-
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Model | Top Material | Price Range | Check Current Price (affiliate links) |
---|---|---|---|
Washburn Bella Tono Novo S9 | Select Spruce (laminated) | $ | Sweetwater* |
Ibanez AEG550 – Best Budget | Spruce (solid) | $ | Sweetwater |
Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2 | Tropical American Mahogany (solid) | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
PRS SE Parlor P20 – Find More Great Parlor Guitars Here | Mahogany (solid) | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany – Find More Great Taylors Here | Tropical Mahogany (solid) | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Taylor Academy 12 | Sitka spruce (solid) | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Breedlove Organic Artista Concert CE | Torrefied European Spruce | $$ | Sweetwater |
Ibanez ACFS300CE | Solid Engelmann Spruce | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Yamaha LL16M ARE Original Jumbo – Find More Great Yamaha’s Here | Solid Engelmann Spruce with A.R.E. treatment | $$ | Sweetwater |
Yamaha A3M ARE Dreadnought Cutaway | Solid Sitka Spruce | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Yamaha GC12C Classical | Solid American Cedar | $$ | Sweetwater |
Yamaha AC3R ARE Concert Cutaway | Solid Sitka Spruce | $$$ | Sweetwater |
Ovation Timeless Balladeer Deep Contour | Solid Sitka Spruce | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Yamaha LL-TA TransAcoustic | Solid Engelmann Spruce | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Yamaha AC5R ARE Concert – Best Overall | Solid Sitka Spruce with A.R.E. treatment | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Taylor 214ce Deluxe | Solid Sitka Spruce | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Martin SC-13E – Find More Great Martins Here | Solid Sitka Spruce | $$$$ | Sweetwater |
Taylor 317e Grand Pacific V-Class | Solid Sitka Spruce | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster | Solid Sitka Spruce | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Takamine TSP-158C – Find More Great Takamines Here | Solid Spruce | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Martin D-18 | Solid Spruce | $$$$$ | Sweetwater |
Martin D-28 | Solid Sitka Spruce with Aging Toner | $$$$$ | Sweetwater |
Taylor 324ce Builder’s Edition | Solid Mahogany | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Taylor 814ce – Best Premium | Solid Spruce | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
35 Electric Guitars with Ebony Fretboards
Epiphone SG Modern Figured is one of the best mid-range electric guitars with an ebony fretboard. It’s equipped with 2 thick-sounding ProBucker humbuckers, GraphTech NuBone nut, and offers comfortable playability.
Price Range Icon Meanings:
$= $220-399
$$= $400-899
$$$= $900-1299
$$$$= $1300-1899
$$$$$= $1900-
Model | Pickups | Price Range | Check Current Price (affiliate links) |
---|---|---|---|
Harley Benton DC-Junior FAT | 2 x Roswell P90D Stack STK4P Alnico-5 Dog Ear humbucker | $ | Thomann* |
Kramer Assault 220 – Best Budget | 2 x Alnico V Humbucker | $ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Kramer Nite-V Floyd Rose | 2 x Alnico V Humbucker | $ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Epiphone Nancy Wilson Fanatic | ProBucker FB720 Humbucker & ProBucker 3 Slant Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Epiphone SG Modern Figured | ProBucker-2 Humbucker & ProBucker-3 Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Sire Larry Carlton L7 | 2 x Larry Carlton Modern Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Epiphone Les Paul Modern | ProBucker-2 Humbucker & ProBucker-3 Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Charvel Joe Duplantier San Dimas Style 2 | 2 x Duncan HB-103 Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Epiphone Les Paul Custom Koa | ProBucker-2 Humbucker & ProBucker-3 Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Ibanez Artcore Expressionist AG8 | 2 x Magic Touch-mini Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater |
Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder PT FR | 2 x EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater |
Epiphone Jared James Nichols Gold Glory Les Paul Custom | Seymour Duncan P-90 Single-coil | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Schecter Reaper-6 | 2 x Diamond Decimator Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Ibanez Nita Strauss Signature JIVAJR | Quantum Ceramic Humbucker & Quantum Alnico Single-coil & Quantum Ceramic Humbucker | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Schecter Nick Johnston Traditional | 3 x Schecter Diamond Nick Johnston Single-coil | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Line 6 Variax Standard | 3 x Vintage Alnico V Single-coil | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Jackson Pro Series King V | Duncan ’59 Humbucker& Duncan JB Humbucker | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Schecter Solo-II Custom | Schecter USA Pasadena Humbucker & Schecter USA Pasadena Plus Humbucker | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
PRS SE Mark Holcomb | Seymour Duncan Alpha Humbucker & Seymour Duncan Omega Humbucker | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
ESP LTD EC-1000S – Best Overall | Active Fishman Fluence Modern AlNiCo (neck) & Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (bridge) humbuckers | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mick Thomson Soloist SL2 | 2 x Mick Thomson Seymour Duncan Blackout AHB-3S Humbucker | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
EVH Wolfgang Special | 2 x Wolfgang Alnico 2 Humbucker | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
PRS SE Hollowbody Standard | 2 x PRS 58/15 “S” Humbucker | $$$ | Swetwater |
Ibanez George Benson Signature LGB30 | 2 x Super 58 Custom Humbucker | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 FR-S | Sustainiac Pickup & EMG 57 brushed black chrome Humbucker | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
ESP LTD James Hetfield Signature Snakebyte | 2 x EMG JH-B Active Humbucker | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Fender Jim Root Telecaster HH | EMG 60 Humbucker & EMG 81 Humbucker | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Ibanez Premium RGT1220PB – Best Premium | DiMarzio Air Norton Humbucker & DiMarzio Tone Zone Humbucker | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
D’Angelico Excel 59 Hollowbody | 2 x Seymour Duncan D’Angelico Great Dane P-90 Single-coil | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
ESP E-II Eclipse DB | EMG 60 Humbucker & EMG 81 Humbucker | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Gibson Les Paul Modern | Burstbucker Pro Rhythm Humbucker & Burstbucker Pro + Lead Humbucker | $$$$$ | Sweetwater |
Gretsch G6228TG-PE Players Edition Jet | 2x Broad’Tron BT-65 Humbucker | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Jackson USA Select King V KV2 | Seymour Duncan JB TB4 Humbucker & Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 Humbucker | $$$$$ | Sweetwater |
Fender Custom Shop Artisan Stratocaster | 3 x Hand-wound Fat ’60s Single-coil | $$$$$ | Sweetwater |
Gibson Custom Les Paul Axcess Custom | 490R Humbucker & 498T Humbucker | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
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3 Best Guitars with Ebony Fretboards – My Favorites
Best Acoustic Guitar With Ebony Fretboard – Yamaha AC5R ARE Concert
What We like
- Immersive and natural effects without any external gear
- True-and-tested dreadnought design
- Classic, warm tones from the spruce-mahogany combo
- Narrow neck aids overall playability
What We don’t like
- The actuator module bumps up the cost quite a bit
- No onboard EQ provided
Check our picks for the best acoustic guitars under $1000 and the best acoustic guitars under $500.
Who is it for?
The AC5R is one guitar that all guitarists will love, but it’s primarily designed for gigging musicians and singer-songwriters.
With its all-solid construction, high-quality hardware, smooth-playing neck, and premium electronics, it’s a worthy guitar if you need a deluxe acoustic without shelling out $3000 in cash.
Do you like Yamaha guitars? If yes, check this article out: 5 Best Yamaha Acoustic Guitars in 2022.
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Best Premium Acoustic Guitar With Ebony Fretboard – Taylor 814ce
What We like
- Amazing looks add major stage appeal
- High-quality tonewoods produce sweet, singing tones
- Very comfortable and extremely easy to play
- Versatile and great for every experience level
What We don’t like
- This guitar deserves a real bone nut and saddle! I’m just not a fan of Micarta or Tusq for these very important parts.
Who is it for?
The Indian rosewood sings in harmony with the Sitka spruce top and provides an incredible mid-range tone with plenty of presence and warmth.
The playability is second to none. A smooth-playing action allows you to venture up into the higher frets courtesy of the cutaway. I’m a fan of the smaller Grand Auditorium body style, and I could not stop playing fingerstyle blues licks on this thing.
Find more great fingerstyle acoustic guitars here and great acoustic guitars for blues here.
This guitar is an investment that players from any level can appreciate, but it’s of course meant for pro-level players. Play one and you’ll be hooked.
Do you like Taylor guitars? If yes, check this article out: 5 Best Taylor Guitars in 2022.
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Best Electric Guitar With Ebony Fretboard – ESP LTD EC-1000S Fluence
What I like
- Great metal tones
- Stunning looks
- Spot on the action and smooth neck make this axe comfortable to play
- Works well with small hands too
- Fishman Fluence pups are versatile and sound amazing
- Versatile
- High quality
- Tons of different color options are available
- You can get LTD EC-1000’s with tons of different extra features from piezo pickups to Floyd rose
What I don’t like
- Upper fret access is not great
- The use of plastic nut feels a bit cheap for this price
Who is it for?
I’ve been lovin’ this guitar since I first tried it out a couple of years ago. With this axe, you get excellent value for money. It’s built for metal but can handle different music too. For people who mostly play metal, but want to explore other genres too, this guitar is definitely worth the money.
And another awesome thing is that there are so many different versions of this guitar available. Versions with:
I know, it can be hard to decide which one, but it’s awesome that there’s an LTD EC-1000 for almost everyone. It’s an awesome, versatile metal machine.
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FAQ
Is Ebony Good for Fretboard?
It’s excellent fretboard material.
- It looks stunning with most colors (black fits almost everything in my opinion),
- it’s really dense and hard, so it’s extremely wear-resistant and durable,
- ebony fretboards usually have a really smooth feel,
- plus guitars with ebony fretboards aren’t that expensive.
All that sounds great to me.
Is Ebony A Good Tonewood?
Ebony is a dense wood that produces a bright, but still well-balanced tone. It’s a good tonewood if you like the sound of it. But it’s good to keep in mind that fretboard material doesn’t affect the sound of the guitar almost at all. But if you get an acoustic guitar that has some ebony body woods, that will impact the tone in most cases.
How Do I Identify My Ebony Fretboard?
It’s really dark in color. This photo reveals how the ebony fretboard is visually different from the maple and rosewood fretboards:
Some ebony species are a bit lighter in color, but most are really dark and you can easily spot the difference between ebony and other fretboard woods.
It should be noted that some cheap guitars, ESP LTD EC-10 for example, have engineered hardwood fretboard, which looks relatively dark, but it’s still not an ebony fretboard. Here’s a photo of EC-10:
How Do You Care for An Ebony Fretboard?
An ebony fretboard is really easy to take care of. It just needs oiling once in a while. This way ebony maintains its beautiful looks and durability.
Ebony is really similar to rosewood when it comes to taking care of, I personally oil rosewood necks of my guitars 2-3 times a year, and they look just beautiful. MusicNomad F-ONE Fretboard Oil is one of the best options available.
Do Ebony Fretboards Need Oil?
Yes. An ebony fretboard needs to be oiled once in a while.
Conclusion
That’s it! Ebony fretboards are stunning, and while I don’t currently own a guitar with an ebony fretboard, I’m always checking them out in music stores and online. They have stolen my heart a little bit if I’m completely honest. I think that you are in the same situation.
I hope that this article helped you out, and maybe you even decided to get one of the guitars featured. If you have any questions just leave a comment, I and the GND team are here for you.
I wish you all the best and keep rocking!
Looking for a inexpensive 12 string with Ebony fingerboard. Id love to. Buy a Guild but it cost about 4 grand. I’m a disabled craftsman & at 1point I was hit by a semi & it almost did me in. Thank God for saving me. I couldn’t even hold a guitar let alone play. I started hitting a key on my piano & built up my dexterity enough … Then 1 day a neighbor brought over an acoustic guitar & the rest is history!
Hi Timothy! Thanks for sharing some of your story. Sorry for not replying earlier, your great message had slipped through unnoticed for some reason… Luna Vista Eagle 12-string is probably the cheapest 12-string acoustic with ebony fingerboard. Costs under $800, you can find it from Sweetwater. I haven’t played it, but it’s the cheapest I know… Take care!