Hi all, I was oiling the fingerboard on 76-562 today and noticed it has some golden stripes in the ebony, just wondering if this is a special type of ebony. The area in this pic has the strongest color, but it really goes all the way up the neck in bright light.

Welovecats, that is called Macassar Ebony, there have been some beautiful fingerboards and body tops and backs made from it.  You come across those fingerboards like that in 70s basses now and then. 

i have a lovely instrument with a macassar ebony top.  it's hard to photograph well without getting technical, here's a shot of it taken with a tablet and a buzz...

Macassar Ebony can have some really nice color variation in it. Makes a beautiful top for an instrument, one drawback is the weight but the instruments I have seen with Macassar tops are stunning.  Here is a guitar with a Macassar Ebony back plate.

Is madagascar ebony as hard and heavy as regular black ebony?