Rick500 Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Wow... I finished leveling the cocobolo fretboard for my Strat project, 150, 220, 320, 400, and 600 grit, and I can actually see reflections in it if I hold it at the right angle. Was not expecting that. I tried to take a pic but I can't capture it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 It's really hard to get a clear shot with reflections. I've got some amazing Cocobolo that looks like it has burl figure with some curly figure that I will be using for an upcoming 6-string fretless. It's going to take me a few months to plan it out though. Oh yeah, this fingerboard is sanded to 1200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted May 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Yeah, I can see some reflection in your pic. That's a nice piece. I need to find some >600 paper...I'm thinking I'll try an auto parts shop. My lousy cell phone pic didn't capture the true color of the board. Here's a shot of the same board from before I inlaid the abalone (they're just lying on the surface)--really close to the actual color though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooten2 Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 I sanded a cocobolo board up to 2000 grit and it's almost like a mirror. Very beautiful, if you can handle the dust. I found some 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper at Autozone. Very nice looking fretboards there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 I purchased some 800 grit off Stewmac that I have a fair amount of. The only place I've been able to find anything higher is Harbor Freight. Which was 1000 and 1200 grit. I'll definitely check Autozone for something higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 I get my higher grits from an auto paint store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambo Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 I use cocobolo for all my fretboards. Mainly because its cheaper than indian rosewood where i get my wood from . But the amount of sheen ya can get off the stuff by sanding is amazing... Have had a few probs glueing it in the past.... any suggestions? S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernova9 Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Funny how you get trade-offs in life - like cocobolo, beautiful wood, but work with it for any length of time and it can really mess up your skin, lungs, yeesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted May 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 I'm fairly allergic to it, but it's not too much of a problem if I take my allergy medication, and jump in the shower after I'm done sanding it. As far as trouble gluing it; I haven't experienced that, but I read a tip in a book that said to lightly score the underside of the fretboard in a crosshatch pattern before gluing it. Don't know if that would help or not. I didn't do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bainzy Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 I look forward to using mine, the two fretboard blanks made from it I've got have a fantastic tap tone, really clear and resonant. Plus a pair of matched Cocobolo boards will look the dogs nads on my 6/12 Strat doubleneck project! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooten2 Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 No problems glueing cocobolo here, just use titebond and the same methods as glueing any other wood. Maybe I've just been lucky. As for the dust, I recently bought a nasal irrigation product and use it after working with cocobolo, or any other time I'm in a dusty environment. It's a bit uncomfortable to rinse out your sinuses with saltwater, but not so bad after you're used to it. Kinda like getting water in your nose when swimming. And it sure helps me with any breathing issues after being in the dust. I got it at a Kroger grocery store, so I'm sure it's fairly common. Here's a link if anyone is interested: http://www.achooallergy.com/sinus-neilmedsinusrinse.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted May 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Mostly a skin irritation rather than respiratory for me. I have a good respirator that I wear when I'm making sawdust, so that part's not much of a problem. Thanks for that link though; I may check that stuff out for other allergy issues (mowing the lawn always gets to me!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Simo: Coco cheaper than Indian? Yikes. Share, dude Only downside to the stuff (other than, y'know, poisonous DEATH DUST) is that it loses that gorgeous vibrancy over time, like pretty much all rosewoods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 What are the tonal differences between cocobolo and regular rosewood, anything substantial? I've never played on cocobolo, so I don't have a clue, heh. Mattia, LMI has coco fretboards for cheaper than Indian rosewood, but the difference is only about $1. I'd be interested in getting a coco fretboard for my next project, the wood certainly LOOKS better, but as far as sound, I've no clue. And death dust is certainly a key selling point ::EDIT:: On second thought, I don't know if I myself am allergic to it, maybe it'd be better to play safe and not build a neck that I won't be able to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted May 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 I've found that although I'm allergic to the dust, just touching the wood itself causes me no ill effects. There's always the possibility of putting a finish over it if it becomes a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Weird...I pay (inlcuding taxes and shipping) about 5 bucks for an EIR fingerboard. Can't get coco for that price! If I didn't already have stupid amounts of fingerboards, I'd be sorely tempted.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 EIRW isn't even availible in my area. Cocobolo is, but it cost $18+ a BF, yikes. I have seen some great pieces of flatsawn Cocobolo at Rockler, perfect for fretless projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shorterthanrich Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 (edited) It's so interesting how different the cocobolo fingerboards look than the ones you all posted. That's how Jason (wwwdotcomdotnet) and I thought ours would be from LMI, but they came very orange in color (almost like padauk) . I will post a picture soon - camera batteries are dead. They still look completely awesome, though. Edited May 2, 2007 by shorterthanrich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Cocobolo really does range in color, there can be many different colors on a single board. From red to orange to black to brown to purple. The fingerboard I got was a first grade bass fingerboard from LMI a long time ago. I wasn't satisfied with the look until I worked with it for a small bit. The wood really does look amazing after you sand it up to a higher grit sandpaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Nicaraguan Coco is often way, way more orange, Mexican a bit redder. And yes, sanding it does change things, and age will 'darken' them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davis guitars Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 my local walmart has wetdry sand paper up to 2000 gritt in the automotive section idk if this is every where Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikbojerik Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Abralon pads are the cat's meow for this kind of thing, and you can get them velcro-backed for orbital sanders up to 4000 grit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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