not sanded to their maximum level of smoothness? I asked a question awhile back about why rosewood boards aren't finished in a glossy manner, and some responded they hate the way applied finishes feel on rosewood, that the wood itself feels better.
Ok, I can understand the tone being affected by finishes, so some would have an aversion. I can also understand some enjoy smaller frets, so they like the tactile interaction between their fingertips, frets, and the wood itself.
However, as an experiment tonight I tried sanding a piece of rosewood using my palm sander. moving up through various grades of paper. I eventually got the piece to be so smooth and naturally glossy even I, a lifelong devotee of ebony (though I do have several guitars with rosewood fretboards), could envision it as a viable alternative. The feel of a properly sanded piece of rosewood can be smooth enough and naturally glossy enough to take away one of the main reasons I like ebony and maple better. Now, I can consider just the tonal and aesthetic differences.
My question is, why are most rosewood fretboards left so gritty in the way they feel? I have always thought, "Well, that's the way rosewood is naturally; with such an open pore wood that's what you get. If you want a different feel, get a different wood." Had I known rosewood could be this smooth and polished, I wouldn't have relegated it to the bottom of my preferences all these years. I'm irked looking at the instruments I do have with rosewood fretboards, knowing they could be much more enjoyable to me had the builder not left them in such an (pardon the pun) unfinished state.
Although I have been a devoted professional player for many years, I am very new to building and know you folks who do this all the time MUST have an answer (or ten) to this seemingly simple question. I am looking forward to your responses!
Thank you!
Cory