Gaboon Ebony Lumber

Gaboon Ebony Lumber in Los Angeles

Gaboon ebony is the benchmark for jet-black wood. Sourced from the rainforests of Central Africa, it is one of the densest, hardest, and most visually striking timbers on earth. Its deep, pure black color and mirror-like polishing ability have made it the definitive choice for musical instrument components, fine inlays, knife handles, chess pieces, and luxury woodworking details. At House of Hardwood, we carry Gaboon ebony lumber to serve luthiers, instrument makers, woodworkers, turners, and craftspeople across Los Angeles. Browse our full selection of exotic hardwood lumber to find the right species for your next project.

Our Gaboon Ebony Selection

We stock Gaboon ebony in smaller billets, turning blanks, and dimensional pieces suited to the specialty applications this wood is known for. Due to the nature of the species - slow growing, increasingly scarce, and typically harvested in smaller logs - wide or long boards are rare and priced accordingly. Availability rotates with our sourcing; ask our team about current stock, sizing, and pricing.

Why Craftspeople Choose Gaboon Ebony

• True black color - Gaboon ebony delivers the deepest, most uniform black of any commercial wood species, with little to no visible grain variation in premium pieces
• Exceptional density - One of the heaviest woods in the world, it sinks in water and delivers a solid, substantial feel that’s prized in instrument fingerboards, bridges, and fine tool handles
• Mirror polish - Its incredibly tight grain structure polishes to a glass-smooth, lustrous finish without any filler or topcoat
• Tonal properties - The standard for piano keys, guitar and violin fingerboards, woodwind components, and other tonewoods where density and acoustic response matter
• Accent and inlay work - Its stark black tone creates dramatic contrast against lighter species like maple, holly, or boxwood in marquetry, purfling, and decorative inlays