Fingerboard Materials

[cwoodall]

Hi,

I was just at my local wood supplier and was rummaging around for lack of something better to do. I know that tradition dictates that fingerboards are generally made out of rosewood or ebony and not without reason. However, I was wondering if anybody uses anything different? I picked up a piece of "Bloodwood" 3/4" x 6" x 22" and brought it home. I ripped it into 2 3" wide pieces, then resawed/planed it into four 1/4" thick pieces. My tools told me it was hard like rosewood/ebony......it has very similar grain pattern, and just seemed very stable. The color, as the name suggests, is a reddish color and not as dark as either rosewood or ebony. I'm guessing this wood developes a nice darker patina over time. Any thoughts?

I also looked at some cocobola, wenge, padouk, purpleheart and some very strange visions going on in my head.........(only had 7 Diet Dr. Peppers this morning).

Thanks,

CUrtis

[Devon Headen]

I know of several people that have used bloodwood as a fretboard with success. I'm thinking one of the big suppliers offers it as an option. Maybe Warmoth?

[doug]

Bloodwood is great. I make out of all sorts of hard exotics. It'll sure plug up your sandpaper fast though! Wenge is used too, but the grain is very open and feels rough. Depending on how you finish it off though it can still be nice. Keep an open mind, it's half the fun!

-Doug

[PLUCKyou]

I'm using bubinga on my project and i bookmatched it so it looks really different...i know bubinga isn't all that crazy for a fretboard since rickenbacker uses it but i just thought i'd mention it

[Mahelcaya]

Wenge , ziricote , purpleheart , cocobolo , macassar ebony..........just about any hard exotic wood will do

[orgmorg]

I've used mesquite, which is really pretty. Also, osage orange, which is nuclear yellow, aging to a nice orange-brown.

[erikbojerik]

Diet Dr. Pepper is a fine drink if you ask me. Lots of ice.

[Daniel Sorbera]

Diet Dr. Pepper is a fine drink if you ask me.  Lots of ice.

←

LOL where did that come from?

[cwoodall]

Osage orange...............................They also had quite a selection of osage. It is pretty wood as well. So many woods, so little dinero. I'm still on my first project and I already have project number 11, 12, & 13 in the back of my mind. They had a chunk of ebony, about 3 feet long, basically3" x 4" (it was kinda jagged along 1 side), and weighed about 50 lbs. $150............I'm scared of small chunks of heavy wood.................

[KeithHowell]

We have tried Rhodesian Teak recently. Rhodesian Teak

Very hard and a bit difficult to work, but makes a very nice fret board. Clogs sanding belts and burns quickly if your'e not careful.

Keith