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  #1  
Old 11-08-2019, 03:25 PM
Guitartanzon Guitartanzon is offline
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Default interesting Video on Richlite fingerboards

Found this quite interesting and informative.

Changed my opinion on Richlite. Its not a cheap substitute for Ebony, its a wood product made of paper and resin, and in many ways its superior to Ebony.

https://youtu.be/0UT7Me7FUdw
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Old 11-08-2019, 03:42 PM
AcousticDreams AcousticDreams is offline
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Great video. Really enjoyed it. Thanks for posting.
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Old 11-08-2019, 03:54 PM
Dbone Dbone is offline
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It does seem like a good idea. Still rubs me the wrong way a bit for some reason from a traditionalist perspective.

I had thought that stuff was new to market. Learned something in that video. Thanks. Had no idea it has been around that long.
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Old 11-08-2019, 04:07 PM
Guitartanzon Guitartanzon is offline
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I was glad I found It and wanted to share it in the forum.

I am in the market for a used Gibson G series. I want the standard now, with the richlite fretboard and bridge. Do not have to worry about oiling if too dry, or warping or chipping. I am sold.
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Old 11-08-2019, 04:35 PM
Jaden Jaden is offline
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Close to half of the acoustic guitars I’ve owned have had ebony fretboard and bridge, but no richlite - one day I’ll catch up to improving with this smooth, more durable material not subject to contraction and expansion.
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Old 11-08-2019, 04:42 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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There's a superior product to Richlite available and it's starting to make the rounds in the luthiery community.

The product is Rocklite Ebano (ebony substitute) and Rocklite Sundari (rosewood substitute). The material is made from actual wood fiber and is not made from the finer paper pulp. I've used it on a few instruments and love it.

Here's a quick video from O'Brien Guitars relating his experience with the rosewood (Sundari) variety:

https://youtu.be/0Q3ckhjYV2I

Last edited by Rudy4; 11-08-2019 at 04:52 PM.
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Old 11-08-2019, 04:55 PM
DownUpDave DownUpDave is offline
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Yes thank you very much for sharing. Fascinating that it’s been around since the 1920s and used for exterior building products as well. I have no issue with it being on guitars. Plastic tortoise and ivoroid bindings seem widely accepted.
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Old 11-08-2019, 05:00 PM
Arthur Slowhand Arthur Slowhand is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guitartanzon View Post
I am in the market for a used Gibson G series. I want the standard now, with the richlite fretboard and bridge.
I had one set aside last week, but took home the Studio, on a 14 day trial to compare with my J-15. Just couldn't bring myself to buy the Standard because of the Richlite; caring for the (walnut) fingerboard is part of the enjoyment of owning a nice instrument, in my view. Good luck finding a used one.
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Old 11-08-2019, 05:02 PM
rumble rumble is offline
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Thanks for the very informative post. I’ve owned one guitar ,Martin, with a Richie fretboard . Very smooth and problem free . I like the concept of the coloration and detail character through radiusing the material.
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Old 11-08-2019, 05:14 PM
jklotz jklotz is offline
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I had a Martin Jeff Tweedy for a while. It had a richlite fb. When I first got it, it seemed just fine, but after spending some time with it, the very slight "rubbery" feel of it started to bug me a little. A lot of folks say they can't tell the difference. I could.
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Old 11-08-2019, 05:18 PM
stringjunky stringjunky is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jklotz View Post
I had a Martin Jeff Tweedy for a while. It had a richlite fb. When I first got it, it seemed just fine, but after spending some time with it, the very slight "rubbery" feel of it started to bug me a little. A lot of folks say they can't tell the difference. I could.
If you can feel the FB whilst playing you are pressing too hard.
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Old 11-08-2019, 05:43 PM
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TBman TBman is offline
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My Martin D-16GT has the richlite fretboard and I didn't know it until well after I bought it. It feels fine. What I really think is fake looking is ivoroid binding on the fretboard. I have some guitars with it, but as I age I like the unbound fretboard look the best.
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Old 11-08-2019, 06:12 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guitartanzon View Post
Found this quite interesting and informative.

Changed my opinion on Richlite. Its not a cheap substitute for Ebony, its a wood product made of paper and resin, and in many ways its superior to Ebony.

https://youtu.be/0UT7Me7FUdw
Some of us on this forum have been saying these things about Richlite for years now, whenever the subject comes up. It’s never made the slightest difference: the usual reaction most folks on here have to Richlite is to bristle with indignation. The facts of the situation rarely seem to matter.

Those of you who’ve watched the video and have an open mind have changed your opinions, and good for you. But I suspect that the next time the subject of Richlite comes up the reactions will be about the same.


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Old 11-08-2019, 06:16 PM
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David Eastwood David Eastwood is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stringjunky View Post
If you can feel the FB whilst playing you are pressing too hard.
Indeed. .....
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Old 11-08-2019, 06:49 PM
slooky slooky is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jklotz View Post
I had a Martin Jeff Tweedy for a while. It had a richlite fb. When I first got it, it seemed just fine, but after spending some time with it, the very slight "rubbery" feel of it started to bug me a little. A lot of folks say they can't tell the difference. I could.
Rubbery feel? If it had a slight rubbery feel it wasn't richlite.
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