Re: Alternative fingerboard material.
It's a $200 guitar.
Maybe you've posted it in the past and I missed it but I'm curious as to what guitars you own or favor. I ask out of my own curiosity as I'm trying to figure out whether your are a cork sniffer or maybe just a contrarian in general. Of course, you are free to ignore the question.
I'm a proud bargain hunter cork sniffer:
Guitars:
1972 Westminster maple board lpc (rebadged matsumoku Ibanez 2393), Super 70 bridge, EMG 81 neck, active/passive series wiring --- bought for $125
~1995 ESP Eclipse FR, emg 85x bridge 81 neck - bought for $380 - most I've ever spent on a guitar that I didnt flip for profit
Fender Partscaster, MIJ alder strat body / MIM tele neck maple board/ Hot Rails + 2x CS 69's - about $200 in used parts
Basses:
1987 Fujigen Ibanez RD-707 strung BEAD, bone stock - $150
MiJ Fame Pbass, Kahler bass trem, vintage Seymour Duncan minitoggle active, ash body maple/maple- $85 (lol)
Amplification:
Bugera 6262 combo converted to head - cost me ~$100 net expense, since I got it in part trade for some pretty worthless crap then flipped chassis and speakers
Carvin 412 frontloader, Rola sticker g12-65's up top, Rola sticker g12-k85's on bottom - cost $175
DIY homemade 212, UK v30 / mc90, about $100 in used speakers $60ish materials
Carvin 115 bass combo, 80s - cost $150
Projects to do list:
Restore a possibly-MIJ early LTD eclipse I got for $89 and redo electronics w/ Distortion and Demon
Put some lines on a $99 Cort Fretless lefty with Bartolinis and restring her for righty
Refinish and redo a $100 lowend MIJ noname SG...though that might need a refret alas
PS as to the pine, my bigger question isn't about getting FAR greater mileage out of $200, which you cleaely can but used market only ---- i know manufacturers gotta eat too ---- but rather about the reluctance to just use a maple board instead...
But then again I guess I'm a maple board fan