Is there an advantage to having ebony vs boxwood pegs? thanx

Ebony is the hardest and will last the longest. Apparently the somewhat softer boxwood also sounds a bit `softer`. But the difference in sound is minimal at best - unless you`re really tuned in to these subtle differences, you likely wouldn`t notice.

So ultimately it comes down to personal preference.

I presently have 2 violins; one with ebony and one with rosewood fittings. My viola has boxwood (or specifically, datewood). Personally? I like the rosewood best, then the ebony and finally the boxwood. :D

It`s more of an aesthetic thing than anything else. True, ebony is hardest (and therefore most durable), but the instrument`s tone should not be affected by the material of the pegs, since they are located outside of the vibrating part of the string (which is stopped by an ebony nut, in most cases). Get what looks best to you, or what will be the longest lasting, if that`s your major concern. I personally like ebony best, for both reasons.

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