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PT66
 Post subject: finger board wood
PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:25 am 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 2:08 pm
Posts: 72
First name: David
Last Name: Schneider
City: Silvis
State: IL
Zip/Postal Code: 61282
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Any sugestions for an alternitive fingerboard wood. Maybe domestic US that would work.
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oval soundhole
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:53 am 
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Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 6:42 pm
Posts: 589
First name: Brian
Last Name: Itzkin
State: NY/Granada
Country: USA/Spain
Focus: Build
persimmon is a true ebony that grows in the US, that would probably work.
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Phillip Patton
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:15 am 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 2:59 pm
Posts: 458
Location: Northeast Indiana
First name: Phillip
Last Name: Patton
City: Yoder
State: IN
Zip/Postal Code: 46798
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Arizona desert ironwood. Very hard and dense, and pretty.

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DennisK
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 12:32 pm 
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First name: Dennis
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City: Kansas City
State: MO
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Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Texas ebony is another of the hardest and best looking domestics. Osage orange is plenty hard, but not so great in the looks department. I've been wanting to try hickory and mesquite as well.
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Corky Long
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 12:39 pm 
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Koa
Koa

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First name: Corky
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City: Mount Kisco
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I've always wondered how dogwood would fare as fretboard wood. Super hard, and more suited to the size of fretboards and bridges than backs or sides (would likely need a four piece back). It's light in color, though, if that turns you off.
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Scott A
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 1:38 pm 
I'm looking for the same thing. I purchased a Dalbergia Granadillo board, I believe it's North American.
The thing is it's very wavy and I don't think I can use it.
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David Newton
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 2:37 pm 
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Koa
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Location: United States
State: Texas
Focus: Repair
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I bought a log cant of Texas Ebony, and it will make a nice fretboard, and almost look traditional, but getting enough for a clear fretboard is a real effort.
I also bought a few bridge blanks of Arizona Ironwood. That would be great fretboard wood if it is big enough and you can get it.

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Phillip Patton
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:09 pm 
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Location: Northeast Indiana
First name: Phillip
Last Name: Patton
City: Yoder
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Zip/Postal Code: 46798
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Here's where I get my ironwood:

http://arizonaironwood.com/

Just send them an email asking for the specific dimensions you need. I got a 3" by 3" by 18" block from them recently, and used it for the fingerboard on the guitar I'll be finishing tomorrow. I'll be sure to post some pics of it.

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Phillip Patton

http://www.pattonblades.com

The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price has faded.

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Matt Bouchie
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:17 am 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:59 pm
Posts: 202
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
First name: Matt
Last Name: Bouchie
City: Manchester
State: New Hampshire
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Alan Carruth has used some figured hophornbeam and it's very nice. If I remember right, he dyed it with some black walnut hull tea. I used persimmon on one I finished a year ago and dyed it with some of his black walnut hull tea and it came out quite nice.

Matt
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ernie
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:50 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Honey and black locust are hard heavy, and tough to work, with Pecan would also work as FB for smaller instruments
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B. Howard
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:34 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Location: Magnolia DE
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Zip/Postal Code: 19962
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Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
I cut some hickory for FB's a few months back, haven't used any yet but seems like it should work well. How about Apple or Pear? Those were the preferred woods for plane bodies a century ago because of their resistance to wear, might make a fine FB.

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crich
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:08 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:15 pm
Posts: 655
Location: Columbus,Ohio
I wonder how the Arizona Ironwood sounds when tapped? Clinton
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Phillip Patton
 Post subject: Re: finger board wood
PostPosted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:35 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 2:59 pm
Posts: 458
Location: Northeast Indiana
First name: Phillip
Last Name: Patton
City: Yoder
State: IN
Zip/Postal Code: 46798
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
crich wrote:
I wonder how the Arizona Ironwood sounds when tapped? Clinton


Like glass. Very bright. I wish it came in pieces big enough for sides.

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Phillip Patton

http://www.pattonblades.com

The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price has faded.

https://hoosierbladesmith.wordpress.com
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