Acoustic Guitar Construction

An article I posted today on Ebony, Rosewood, Maple and alternative fretboard woods. Let me know what you think!

ericschaeferguitars/acoustic-guitar-design-fretboard-woods/

I love the variations in all woods. I think that's part of what can make your build unique.

Just never could get my head around very light colored woods being used for fingerboards, I've seen some pretty shabby looking Maple FB's on Fender's -- but I am sure to some that gives a guitar that Willy Nelson "Trigger" appeal.

ken cierp wrote:Just never could get my head around very light colored woods being used for fingerboards, I've seen some pretty shabby looking Maple FB's on Fender's -- but I am sure to some that gives a guitar that Willy Nelson "Trigger" appeal.

Ken,
Like you I'm not a fan of the light colored woods finger boards as they get grungy pretty quick. With that being said, a friend is building a dread with striped Sapele b/s, figured redwood top. In your opinion what would be a good fingerboard wood to choose as well as what wood binding choices should he look at?
Thanks!

I'd likely go with Ebony fingerboard and bridge -- Curly Maple bindings --- black binding would look good too.

Ebony is the easiest wood for make a fretboard. Flaws when making inlays can invisibly be repaired. And the smooth feeling is unbeatable. For other choices I think Wengé is underrated if you want sparkling brights. As it comes to ringtone, Padouk is close to Brazilian RW. But I never met someone who wants an orange fingerboard. Ya, guitar business is so traditonal.....
Herman

I've used EIR and Ebonies, and the more I use EIR, the more I think I should be using Ebony, for the reasons Herman has stated. The last one I did was Madagascar Rosewood and pores in the wood were horrendous, yet the one I did before was also Madagascar and it was almost like ebony, with almost no pores.