Katalox

[William2]

Does anyone know something about this wood? I have seen it used by a couple makers in place of rosewood for bridges and fret boards. Is it as good as rosewood or better in terms of holding up to the job, and does it have similar sound transferring properties? I was looking at the Martin 15 series. The D-15 uses rosewood for the bridge and fret board and the D-15 Street master uses Katalox. And the Street master costs $100 more. I see Iris guitars use it also.

[B0WIE]

It's another high density wood. "Mexican Ebony". There are hundreds of woods that are perfectly fine for instruments but builders never used them for marketing reasons. Acoustic players tend to have their minds made up about what a "tone wood" is so introducing anything else has been a challenge.

[Silence Dogood]

Probably more than fine wood to use, but it needs a new name.  It sounds like something one would find on the cold and flu aisle of Walgreens.   

[William2]

I've read Katalox has been called Mexican ebony. I've also read that some people think rosewood is a better fret and bridge material. They say it has better sound transfer abilities than ebony.

[B0WIE]

I've also read that some people think rosewood is a better fret and bridge material. They say it has better sound transfer abilities than ebony.

They're incorrect as ebony is stiffer/denser. But, "better" is relative. If it was all about density/transfer, we'd use metals and resins and guitars would sound bright, harsh, and never stop ringing (in an annoying way). There's a conscious choice, by the builder, to use the right woods in the right places to get the desired sound. When someone tells you one bridge material is better than another (without saying what the target is), they might not understand the subject. And, they probably don't know how much influence the bride plate underneath is contributing. These choices are all about the target sound as there isn't just one sound that builders are trying to make.

 I have the best tires for my car... except when I go off road, then they are the worst tires. It's all about what we're trying to do.

[William2]

They're incorrect as ebony is stiffer/denser. But, "better" is relative. If it was all about density/transfer, we'd use metals and resins and guitars would sound bright, harsh, and never stop ringing (in an annoying way). There's a conscious choice, by the builder, to use the right woods in the right places to get the desired sound. When someone tells you one bridge material is better than another (without saying what the target is), they might not understand the subject. And, they probably don't know how much influence the bride plate underneath is contributing. These choices are all about the target sound as there isn't just one sound that builders are trying to make.

 I have the best tires for my car... expect when I go off road, then they are the worst tires. It's all about what we're trying to do.

Great answer Mr. BOWIE