Suitable fretboard woods? - Guitar Building Tricks and Tips

RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

Deej — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 13:52:03 +0000

@johnnierox-boo I hope all works out with the guitar making business and any potential move.

is there some strange pull to Scotland for guitar makers. Must be the Highlander effect. ?

RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

Robin — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 11:00:22 +0000

@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.

RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

Boo — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 10:43:06 +0000

@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.

RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

Robin — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 10:29:29 +0000

@johnnierox-boo What part of our lovely country are you planning on moving to John? My home is near Falkirk, but I spend most of my time in a remote part of Argyll on the west coast in the good clean fresh air.

RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

Boo — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 10:15:21 +0000

Posted by: @

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.

RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

tv1 — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 10:03:34 +0000

You've got enough fingerboards there for a fair few guitars @johnnierox-boo!

Have you found a reliable supplier of suitable quality / interesting blanks?

RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

Boo — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 09:55:12 +0000

Here are few more alternatives. I’m building up a collection.

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RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

Boo — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 09:12:06 +0000

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.

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RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

mark bailey — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 08:56:18 +0000

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 :)

RE: Suitable fretboard woods?

Boo — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 23:08:54 +0000

Try something a bit more exotic like Panga Panga! Standard or highly figured.

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