Fretboard and Bridge Wood

[Tony Done]

Thanks...

[LouieAtienza]

I use phenolics for many different things, from jigs and fixtures; and have cut many types for different clients. Even used them for fretboards, bridges, and nuts. I find most of the paper-based stuff work pretty much the same, whether it's richlite, or paperstone, or garolite, or arborite, or tufnol.

[John Arnold]

Any idea what the would be on a '33 L-00?

Brazilian rosewood.

I prefer ebony for fingerboards. Fingerboard wear is much more prevalent on old guitars with rosewood fingerboards.

[Godfather]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I have opinions on these things!

The fingerboard makes so little difference to sound that I have never discerned any. The issues that matter are wear, ability to hold frets, and as a substrate for inlay. Most ebony wins on all counts......

just what I said in post #3..."I really like the look of Brazilian, and it is not as common as ebony these days, so that is cool too. One of my concerns is durability and how well will frets stay in place vs lifting."

I appreciate all of the input. This thread has been great learning experience.

My take away so far is that ebony is denser and sometimes heavier, while not as resonant as Brazilian RW, for a fret board, it will be more durable and hold the frets better.