@russ 

Ive got a fingerboard included in a Martin D28 kit I’m half way through building it looks ok and not as liable to split as Ebony.

Cheers @rocknroller912

I just watched someone on YouTube saying that very same thing. The traditionalist in me still wants to use natural wood but maybe it's the way forward. 🤔🤨 

 🙏🎶🎸🙂

@russ

I just happen to be next to it at the moment so here’s what it’s like. You can see how clean the holes drill for dots.

I just happen to be next to it at the moment so here’s what it’s like. You can see how clean the holes drill for dots

It looks so smooth @rocknroller912. I guess it has no grain running through it. 🤔 

🙂🎸🎶🙏

@russ

No grain

@russ I don't know about Ebano, but I have a Rocklite Sundari (fake rosewood) blank here and it has grain.

If I didn't know it was engineered I'd assume it was real wood, maybe not rosewood (I don't have a piece to compare it to, but it seems lighter than my recollection of rosewood) but some similar alternative.

This stuff is also interesting, though they don't post prices.

They produce fake rosewood etc by compressing other woods (such as maple). It seems they compress a sollid piece, so the original grain is preserved (but denser I assume).

https://www.swisswoodsolutions.ch/en/sonowood

I found out about them on a video by Canna guitars, which are quite fascinating instruments where the main body is made from hemprock (which is pure hemp with no adhesives but sets rock hard, about as sustainable as you could possibly get).

@jonhodgson. 

Cheers Jonathan. It's all interesting stuff. 👍 

🙏🎸🙂🎶

I've looked into this a bit more. They seem to be more expensive than natural wood and I'm not quite sure that they are any more ecologically sound...... just another alternative I guess. 

🎶🙂🎸🙏

Has anyone ever used this stuff?

I think it is mainly sold as Richlite, certainly in the UK. It is a great alternative to natural timber for fretboards and there are some really funky colourways available if you you fancy a change from black or rosewood.  https://richlite.com/collections/fretboards

A company called Surface Matter distribute it in the UK and please mention me if you order something from them.

Cheers

Darren

I'd assume it was real wood

It’s made up from layers of paper bonded with a phenolic resin.

@darrenking

Richlite and Rocklite are different companies with different products.

Rocklite is made from wood

https://www.rocklite.co.uk/

I’ve never come across Rocklite. I’ll check it out tomorrow but I thought it was Richlite that Martin use for fretboards and bridges.

Cheers

@darrenking

You're correct, Martin use Richlite

@darrenking.

Thanks Darren. I do like the idea of being able to create funky coloured or funky patterned fretboard. 

🎶🙂🎸🙏

I'm not quite sure that they are any more ecologically sound......

Richlite, at least, is FSC certified. I'm not aware of there being much FSC ebony available anywhere and reading the report of Taylor Guitars ebony loggers in Cameroon you can understand why. The logging permit system that operates there means that the loggers don't have time to properly assess a tree before chopping it down resulting in 90% of the felled trees being unusable for their intended purpose. It's sobering to think that we are actually part of this problem.

Here's the link to the report.

https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Taylor-FinalDraftofFinalReport.pdf

Here's the link to the report.

@darrenking.

Thanks for that Darren. We do need to find ways to make things sustainable in everything we do. I'll have a good read of it later. Got to get the balance right somehow. 

🎶🙂🎸🙏

@darrenking. 

I've just finished reading it over Darren. Sounds like a good plan for sustainability. As with all these things, everyone involved has to feel they are benefiting or there will always be a spanner in the works. Let's hope they can work it out. 

🙏🙂🎸🎶