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Posts: 42
Joined: Mar. 23 2010
From: Dunstable, England
The colour of ebony... and Thomas Au...
I have just bought a guitar that is supposed to have an ebony fingerboard, but I was surprised to find that it wasn't black, but has a dark, brownish, reddish colour instead. It feels as hard and smooth as the ebony fingerboards (all black) on my other guitars, so I'm now confused: does ebony come in colours other than black?
Is there a way to tell if the fingerboard is in fact rosewood rather than ebony?
The guitar was made by Thomas Augustine in Lewes, England, in 1997. Has anyone heard of him and/or know of his whereabouts? It would be great to be able to talk to him about his guitar.
Posts: 42
Joined: Mar. 23 2010
From: Dunstable, England
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to beno)
Hello Beno,
You are right, of course. Unfortunately, I only have a phone camera so the quality is not great, but here are a couple of photos of the neck. I have also included one of the guitar for the foro members to enjoy!
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to Mohan)
Yes it looks like ebony. He could have dyed it black.. but I personally like some of the color variations in ebony. Never heard of the guy but that is a gorgeous guitar.
Posts: 42
Joined: Mar. 23 2010
From: Dunstable, England
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
Thank-you Andy!
I've had it for less than 24 hours so far, but it is already growing on me. Unfortunately, the previous owner(s) abused it by playing it around the upper end of the sound hole rather than where the golpeador is and has left quite a lot of finger nail marks and wear both above(???) and below the strings I had to give it a good scrub to get the grime and dirt off, but happily, it's come up quite well
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to Mohan)
Glad you are enjoying your guitar. By the way, ebony is rarely completely jet-black anymore, unless the most color-consistent (i.e. more expensive) pieces are selected from the suppliers. Many "black" ebony fingerboards were given a coat of stain to darken the gray/brown/etc. streaks in the wood. The photos of your guitar show rather long and deep pores. They seem larger than typical, although it could be just that particular tree or section of the branch.
Whatever wood it was, I wouldn't worry about it. Playability and sound are WAY MORE IMPORTANT than the type of wood used for the fingerboard.
Enjoy your new baby,
_____________________________
Peter Tsiorba Classical-Flamenco-Guitars tsiorba.com
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to Mohan)
Lewes, England eh? Sounds like the guitar was made by a student of Stephen Hill. It looks like the kind of guitar that came out of his workshop. I have Guitar made in that era by a student of his that looks very similar. I will say that it is definatly ebony though!
Posts: 42
Joined: Mar. 23 2010
From: Dunstable, England
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to Peter Tsiorba)
Hi Peter,
Thanks. I'm suspecting that the wood used wasn't the best out there, but it feels good underfinger and as the guitar has already survived 13 years it is unlikely to become "unstable" at this stage, so I will do my best to just enjoy it now.
Posts: 42
Joined: Mar. 23 2010
From: Dunstable, England
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to Stephen Eden)
Hi Stephen,
I think you are correct in thinking that it was one of Stephen Hill's students who made the guitar; either that or he worked for Stephen in his workshop - the previous owner of the guitar suggested the latter. I have written to Stephen to see if he's still in contact with Thomas or knows of his whereabouts.
Thanks for confirming that the fingerboard is ebony. As Peter Tsiorba mentioned the pores are quite deep, so I suspect Thomas used lower grade wood... The label in the guitar says "06", so at it wasn't his first guitar and that's reflected in the quality of the work inside the guitar and all the external joints look very clean and precise.
What do you think of the similar guitar that you have?
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to Mohan)
Well interestingly enough The guitar I have, also a blanca with pegs. Was made in 96-97. Perhaps If Stephen doesn't get back to you maybe I can ask the maker of this guitar if he knows anything. They would have been in the workshop at the same time
The guitar is not mine however it still belongs to the maker, a friend of mine, who was trying to sell it. It is his first guitar but very well built.
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to Mohan)
I saw the guitar on ebay and emailed the seller. He said that Thomas was a luthiere that worked with Stephen Hill and not a student of his!! I was unsure. Looks the part though.
Posts: 42
Joined: Mar. 23 2010
From: Dunstable, England
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to lowden)
Hi Lowden!
Lol - that was you who also asked about the guitar maker at the same time I as I did! I wondered if I would come across anyone else on the foro who'd looked at the guitar. Thanks for not bidding against me! I don't think the guitar, in the condition it is in now, is worth anymore than I paid for it. In fact, I probably paid just a touch too much, but, sound wise, it is an improvement on my other flamenco guitar, so I'm not going to beat myself up about it.
I'm playing it several times a day and starting to get used to the different feel of the neck - which I think could be improved with a bit of judicious re-shaping - which is one of the reasons for wanting to get in touch with Thomas. A little sanding and a re-finish of the neck would also remove most of the finger nail marks on it. I've never understood how people manage to put finger nail marks on the back of necks???
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to Mohan)
I have a Negra and Blanka made by Anders and there really too good for the level i'm at, but like people say about tatoos, I think buying guitars is an addiction!! Help.
Posts: 42
Joined: Mar. 23 2010
From: Dunstable, England
RE: The colour of ebony... and Thoma... (in reply to lowden)
quote:
ORIGINAL: lowden
...I have a Negra and Blanka made by Anders...
I haven't had the pleasure or privilege of seeing and playing one of Anders's guitars, but from what I have read on this foro and watching and listening to his videos, I think you would have been disappointed with this guitar. You already have a couple of real gems that you can grow with.
When I hear the guitars that my teacher uses when listening back to the recording I make of the lesson and I hear the sound of my Burguet and his at the same time, it is painfully obvious what a really, really good flamenco guitar should sound like. Unfortunately, my budget just doesn't stretch to those levels, and my playing... enough said!
quote:
... but like people say about tatoos, I think buying guitars is an addiction!! Help...
I hear you! I also pretend to play a bit of jazz guitar, and of course, you got to have the right guitar(s ) for that too. And, they come with amps and pedals and music stands... and... and...
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I had to give it a good scrub to get the grime and dirt off, but happily, it's come up quite well 
) for that too. And, they come with amps and pedals and music stands... and... and... 
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