What fretboard wood would you suggest...

[KeeperOS]

... to someone that wants
the FEEL of Maple
the LOOKS of Ebony and
the TONE of Rosewood (Indian, Madagascar, Brazilian, heck, even Cocobolo, all apply)

The opposite is ridiculously easy, however for one that has trouble with the texture of a rosewood fretboard (constantly grazing it with the fingernails) but wants a warmer tone rather than the snappy response and highs of say Maple or Ebony its' a tough one...

 

[Oudy]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

ziricote is the only fretboard wood i can think of that's kinda black (but it kinda is more figured and kinda rare) but it's a bit brighter than rosewood


say ebony and maple being on the extreme end of the scale (bright) and rosewood being on the other end) warm.

ziricote would be kinda in the middle leaning a bit towards the warm side

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

I have a ziricote board on a wenge neck. It sings. It has a feel similar to maple (i.e. not "soft" but very smooth and almost waxy). It has SLIGHTLY more articulation than rosewood. It's probably close to what you want except color.

There is ALWAYS the option of African Blackwood...

 

[Oudy]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

I have a ziricote board on a wenge neck. It sings. It has a feel similar to maple (i.e. not "soft"). It has SLIGHTLY more articulation than rosewood. It's probably close to what you want except color.

There is ALWAYS the option of African Blackwood...

snake just curious what kinda body is your cote/wenge in

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

Alder strat body. MIM Fender with an american spaced two point Wilkinson trem. Alder is alder as long as it passes the tap test!!

 

[Oudy]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

Alder strat body. MIM Fender with an american two point trem. Alder is alder as long as it passes the tap test!!

(sorry to hijack your thread for a few seconds keeper)

im getting ether a wenge/cote or wenge/cocobolo board in my v soon and im really looking forward to hearing it (swamp ash body(


got a pic of the board, i wanna know what to expect

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

Cocobolo is gorgeous!! Some people do have allergic reactions to it. Ziricote is equally gorgeous. I will take a pic right now!!

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

Well, when I said the looks of Ebony it don't HAVE to be exactly like that, I meant it more like, I want it dark colored with ideally the look of Ebony, not that I'd shun any wood that was figured or had color variations or anything...

That said, isn't Ziricote supposed to be rare and quite expensive?
As for Blackwood, how come I don't see anyone carrying it?
Snake who made your neck?

 

[Oudy]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

Cocobolo is gorgeous!! Some people do haveallergic reactions to it. Ziricote is equally gorgeous. I will take a pic right now!!

the luthier who is building my guitar sent me out a piece that i got last week and no reaction so im in the clear for that

 

[Oudy]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

Well, when I said the looks of Ebony it don't HAVE to be exactly like that, I meant it more like, I want it dark colored with ideally the look of Ebony, not that I'd shun any wood that was figured or had color variations or anything...

That said, isn't Ziricote supposed to be rare and quite expensive?
As for Blackwood, how come I don't see anyone carrying it?
Snake who made your neck?

you should be able to order something from warmoth in ziricote maybe or get them to make a ziricote fretboard if you were thinking of going them

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

I took the neck off quick so you can see it better/easier to photograph.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

Ziricote actually isn't too expensive!! Fretboards are pretty inexpensive (maybe $30 to $40 for Ziricote vs. about $25 for Ebony).

Warmoth made my current neck but my future projects will be built by my best friend who is almost done with his luthier schooling.

 

[Oudy]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

I took the neck off quick so you can see it better/easier to photograph.

that is such a beautiful wood, thats why im having such a hard time deciding

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

Thank you, I'm glad you like my wood; I really do like it (haha). Cocobolo tends to have lighter streaks and Ziricote is darker.

 

[Oudy]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

its such a toss up, i think the cocobolo might look cool in the guitar i want it in but i dont really know

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

As for Blackwood, how come I don't see anyone carrying it?

Oh yeah, it's VERY RARE! Like $90 for a fretboard! Not as expensive as Snakewood or anything, but almost. You'd have to do some diggin to find someone who has some African Blackwood!!

 

[Oudy]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

ziricote is prolly the best choice unless you dont like how it looks

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

I see.
No problems with its' looks

Well, ideally I'd want USACG to do my neck but that's out of the question (unless I'd be willing to go with Pau Ferro which is brighter than Ebony) but Warmoth would be my very very last choice. Apparently they do no test the woods' tone whatsoever and although the fretboard isn't SUCH a big deal the rest of the neck would be...

So, does anyone have any idea who else could make me such a neck but with better quality?

It'd probably be a 1/4 sawn hard rock maple (unless I stumble on a more appropriate wood to go with the Ziricote) with 24 frets to go to a Dinky type body. What I'm most concerned is the quality of the frets installation and crowing/leveling/whatever and the ability to choose the profile to as close as I can...

 

[Oudy]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

I see.
No problems with its' looks

Well, ideally I'd want USACG to do my neck but that's out of the question (unless I'd be willing to go with Pau Ferro which is brighter than Ebony) but Warmoth would be my very very last choice. Apparently they do no test the woods' tone whatsoever and although the fretboard isn't SUCH a big deal the rest of the neck would be...

So, does anyone have any idea who else could make me such a neck but with better quality?

It'd probably be a 1/4 sawn hard rock maple (unless I stumble on a more appropriate wood to go with the Ziricote) with 24 frets to go to a Dinky type body. What I'm most concerned is the quality of the frets installation and crowing/leveling/whatever and the ability to choose the profile to as close as I can...

i thought pf was kind in the middle of the tonal spectrum but was kinda brighter than being in the middle

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: What fretboard wood would you suggest...

Yeah Pau Ferro is actually warmer than Ebony.

Warmoth has the most choices for neck profiles and woods but I am not overly impressed by their workmanship when compared to cost. That being said even when you order from USACG you will have to have a tech/luthier do leveling, crowning and polishing.

Ziricote would pair in PERFECT tonal balance with a maple neck (good call on quartersawn!).