Ebony bridge caps

[Ron Nossaman]

> They might have used denser boxwood in the treble to compensate for the
> increased bearing and shorter speaking and backscale lengths which, during
> expansion, would put a greater amount of compression stress on the cap from
> the strings.  
> 
> David Love


I think it was the sound, but not because Boxwood is harder 
and the little vibrations do more magic things somehow. Not 
that harder isn't a good idea, but I think it was, and is, 
because of the mass. With Boxwood being half again heavier 
than Maple, the bridge is effectively more heavily mass loaded 
right at the termination point. That will effect clarity and 
sustain, as those of us who have mass loaded bridges in the 
high treble have seen.

Incidentally, every wood imaginable has been called boxwood at 
one time or another. Anyone got a real name for this stuff?

Ron N