Double Bass Tailpiece Question

[Kevin Hsieh]

how can i tell if i have a ebony or a carbon fiber tailpiece?

i'm hearing a lot about the carbon fiber and would like to switch to one but i'm afraid i might actually have one and go into the shop asking for one and getting this weird look from my luthier instead.

 

[Bob Gollihur]

The surface of carbon fiber is typically quite different from wood; even with the density of ebony you can usually tell by examining the surface. But in any case, using a sharp knife to carve a small chip from the back of the tailpiece will resolve the issue.

 

[ZachDad]

Also, the CF is most likely concave on the backside whereas the ebony will be thicker and heavier.