Richlite fretboard.

[Darg1911]

Re: Richlite fretboard.

Wow. The stuff ain't cheap.

Found this. 1 sheet of Richlite ... 1/4" thick 48" x 96" $474.50 OUCH!!!
Found another site that listed the same size for $315 (plus $245 shipping).
Obviously even the lower price is at retail and not close to what manufacturers pay, but point is ... it ain't cheap.

https://www.builderssale.com/tomlinson-1930220-richlite-heat-resistant-full-sheets

 

[Mincer]

Re: Richlite fretboard.

If you friend Richlite on Facebook, they tend to post a lot of non-guitar stuff, but you see a lot of different colors.

I have a Montreal Premiere. I absolutely love that guitar. It's laminated cherry. It's got a rosewood board that is probably average in terms of how dark it is. Regardless, it's a nice piece of wood. But the Montreal is one series of Godin's that I was referring to above. The Montreal Supreme and new Montreal LTD both have Richlite boards and they are both significantly more expensive than the Montreal Premiere. They are both over 2K. Clearly the higher price isn't due to the Richlite board. Point is, I highly doubt that they choose Richlite to help offset the cost of the other upgrades that those more upscale models include.

Something I'm wondering about and not being a builder, I wouldn't know ... I wonder if there is more labor involved in fretting a neck with a Richlite board. I also wonder what the costs are for a larger manufacturer for Rosewood or Ebony compared to Richlite. I'm sure that the wood is more expensive than the Richlite but I'm wondering, if there is more labor involved, how the bottom line cost works out between using the woods versus Richlite.

OT, but I've been seriously thinking about a Montreal Premiere. Anything I should know about them?

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Richlite fretboard.

If you friend Richlite on Facebook, they tend to post a lot of non-guitar stuff, but you see a lot of different colors.



OT, but I've been seriously thinking about a Montreal Premiere. Anything I should know about them?

Well, it's not a single cut 335 I think that the lam. Cherry body and sides along with the Spruce breathe-thru center block give it a pretty unique vibe but it will still cover a lot of the same ground. It's a pretty light guitar. Mine is just over 6 lbs. Graphtech bridge, tailpiece and nut, so good parts. Fretwork is perfect (medium frets). Un-branded Kluson style tuners but they feel and work really well. The pickups are G&B imports (I think). Pretty good clarity from the neck. Bridge is what I would describe as crisp. I like them and don't plan to replace but I can understand them being considered candidates for upgrade.

I was able to spend some time with one a while before I ever bought mine. I remember really being surprised by how light it was and then expecting the lighter weight to define how it played and sounded. Turns out that it's a pretty versatile guitar, and it can rock. And despite the lighter weight, it's solidly built. Best to try before you buy, if possible. Obviously.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Richlite fretboard.

I dig the weight thing. But how different than a 335 is it? I realize how different they are, but if you've played a 335, could you compare?

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Richlite fretboard.

I dig the weight thing. But how different than a 335 is it? I realize how different they are, but if you've played a 335, could you compare?

I have played 335's but it's going to be tough for me to put into words, especially without being able to account for differences in the pickups. The Godin is resonant but it's crisper, for lack of a better word, and I don't think it's quite as loud acoustically as a 335. But it's also a smaller body, just under 15" I think. In between a 339 and 335. The 335 projects more midrange and lower midrange unplugged. Plugged in, the Godin is warm but probably more balanced and more articulate than the 335. Maybe more "polite" or not as big sounding as the 335. The pickup differences here are definitely going to play a role. The Godin also feels more hollowbody-ish. Also, upper fret access is easier with the 335. The Godin gets tight beyond the 17th.

I don't really like the generalization but I think I've said before that for blues and blues-rock it would probably be players choice between the two with the edge going to the Godin for jazz and to the Gibson for harder rock. They really are quite different.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Richlite fretboard.

Thanks for this description, it helps a lot.

 

[Securb]

Re: Richlite fretboard.

I clean mine with a damp rag, which is what the Richlite people recommended. I don't use guitar polish on it.

Thanks for the tip. I will be changing my ways in the future.