So, I reckon 99%* of guitars have either Maple, Ebony or Rosewood fretboards.
Why?
Surely, if the wood has some basic attributes, are others not equally suitable?
I'm guessing that you'd want something reasonably hard (hence maple, ebony) to survive have a small metal wire being pressed into it, repeatedly, and fairly close grained to avoid splintering and getting completely mucky. i'd also like something that easily finished - rubbing on a bit of lemon oil is fine, but starting to lacquer maple is stretching my capabilities!
What other attributes make a suitable fretboard wood?
What should be avoided? I'm guessing here, you'd want to avoid softwoods, anything coarse that would be prone to splintering, or anything with defects (eg spalted) that you either might not want to be rubbing your fingertips on, or might become more defect-ed through use.
I've got various odds & ends scattered around the workshop, and was wondering whether any offsets could be used as fretboards.
Some walnut perhaps (albeit not 300yr old)? Is mahogany too soft? London Plane?
What are your thoughts, oh wise ones??
*OK, maybe not 99%, but it seems to be most of them!
Online guitar making courses – guitarmaking.co.uk
I’ve used a few @TV1010101. From zebra wood,Pau Ferro and padauk (Lovely orange colour).
Most guitarist are traditionalists so stick to what they know and the dreaded myth of tonewood...opening up another Discussion ?.
Quite a lot of hardwoods would work in my opinion but some can have irritation issues (toxicity) and would need lacquering.
https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-and-toxicity/
Just my opinion though.
I have too many guitars...said no one in the world..ever!
A fretboard should be Quartersawn - aside from that if you like it - try it...for those who missed it here is the recommended advice from the course where I answer the basics:
https://guitarmaking.co.uk/lesson/wood-and-parts/
and more in depth:
https://guitarmaking.co.uk/lesson/wood-part-1-the-neck/
Happy hunting 🙂
Measure twice, cut once...
I purposely seek out different and alternative fretboard woods, I have a real dislike for the traditional (that’s just me).
This Tele neck has a Zebrano (Zebrawood) fretboard.
This scarf neck has a Walnut fretboard, I have a few of them.
Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸
I have to hunt around for them really, it’s a job in itself, especially since COVID hit. It’s the reason I increased my buying because I’m making guitars full time now as my gardening business has effectively died. My wife has MS so we have both been shielding to protect her and in doing so, I’ve lost business. I saw it as an opportunity to increase the amount of guitar builds and I’m making them for friends and family and they have friends and family that are interested, this is how things start when starting any new business I suppose. It’s also a business I can move around, we plan on moving to Scotland very soon and if I’ve got a little corner for a bench and tools, I can make guitars.
Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸
@robin We don’t know which part yet but we want to get there before Scotland wins it independence! I have been taken to many parts of Scotland on family holidays as a child and I continue to explore different parts. My wife loves it too but we haven’t made our minds up on a definite location yet. My sister lives in a little coastal town called Tarbert (they live on their boat in the marina) so we are looking at surrounding areas but nothing in stone. I have a cousin who lives and works in Edinburgh and I have a friend who lives in Falkirk. It would be nice to meet up with you sometime, when we are up there and when COVID allows.
Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸
@johnnierox-boo I'm sure you'll still be welcome after independence, although you might have to join the queue. Tarbert is nice wee town, I'm about 30 miles from there just now in my caravan on Loch Sween. Yes we must meet up when you're in the area.