Custom-Made Ebony Wood Body for Decca London Black / Blue / Grey / Maroon / Gold / Super Gold

Custom-Made Ebony Wood Body for Decca London Black / Blue / Grey / Maroon / Gold / Super Gold

A wood body for a Decca London cartridge made of ebony wood results in a sound that is refined, controlled, and darkly luxurious. Ebony, one of the densest tonewoods, introduces a high degree of resonance damping, which brings the Decca’s naturally expressive and dynamic character into a more precise, focused, and tightly articulated sonic presentation.

🎧 Sonic Signature of Ebony Wood Body on Decca London:

🪵 Ebony Wood Properties & Influence:

• Density: Very high (~1.2 g/cm³) → maximum resonance control

• Tonal Coloration: Minimal; tends to tighten and clean up the sound

• Damping Factor: High → removes grain, edge, and excess harmonic bloom

• Used in: Violin fingerboards, piano keys, and high-end cartridge bodies

🔊 Effect on the Decca London Sound

The Decca London is known for its fast transients, rich mids, and direct energy due to its unique moving iron design. Ebony slightly tames the cartridge’s exuberance:

• Adds calm and structure to the Decca’s immediacy

• Controls any excess resonance or bloom in the midbass and lower mids

• Delivers a more audiophile, focused presentation with tighter imaging

• Slightly darkens the tonal palette, which some find more natural and less fatiguing

✅ Best Use Scenarios

• When you want to refine or discipline the Decca’s sometimes wild energy

• Ideal for classical, acoustic, and chamber music lovers seeking precision and intimacy

• Works well with systems that are already lively or slightly forward in the mids

🆚 Compared to Cocobolo or Karelian Birch

🎯 Summary

An ebony wood body on the Decca London transforms it into a more disciplined, elegant, and sonically tight cartridge, reducing coloration and enhancing clarity and control, especially in demanding passages. It's an excellent choice for those who love the Decca’s musicality but want to bring it into a more modern, audiophile realm.