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Post subject: Rosewood
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 9:16 am
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Due to CITES Fender is charging extra for rosewood fretboards now. Does this mean that someday in the near future Fender will not offer rosewood fretboards when their inventory has been depleted?


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 7:06 pm
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Yes, you should stock up on hundreds and hundreds of rosewood necks before it is too late!


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 10:40 pm
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FMIC will continue to offer its customers whatever they can afford.

All you need is cash.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 6:44 am
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John Suhr said that with the new regulations for rosewood, when they export guitars with it they have to have an employee carry the boxes with their documentation to a Fish & Wildlife office, complete more paperwork, then take that to a shipping office and complete even more paperwork to make sure they will clear Customs. It's very labor-intensive; I suppose that is why Fender is passing along the costs with these price increases.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 11:26 pm
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Well, I've seen some pretty expensive axes with rosewood fingerboards; but, I've also seen cheap (toy) guitars with rosewood fingerboards. Maybe, there's a source to cannabilize.

Add to that a market could be created or out there with old guitars where they have served their time and the rosewood will be recycled.

Birdseye maple may gain ground, and new kids on the block may become the norm.

There's certainly no shortage of older guitars made with rosewood so the demand may be met as it stands. Not necessarily so with another chosen uknown.

FSB

My first guitar was solid mahogany (55 years ago) and my second was all maple. What goes around comes around, and it's back again. Some will say, "But, that was the good mahogany". Ditto on yesteryear's rosewood. Not so today. IMHO. They can make a '57 Chevy today . . . but, would it be a '57? I think not - until the marketing department convinces me. :wink:
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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 3:08 am
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I wonder if "Striped Ebony" will be used on the fretboard of more makes of guitar. Taylor has been using it for pick guards, backs, sides, headstock overlays, and it is starting to show up on their fretboards too. It is beautiful, and sometimes similar in grain pattern to Rosewood. We might even see solid white Ebony. :?:

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 9:50 am
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I have been informed that walnut fretboards will be more prevalent. Cost and availability of the good stuff may support that rumour.

Whatever the case, I'm sure the guitar companies' investments and profit margins will dictate.

FSB
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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 9:55 am
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I've heard of something called Richlite, which DiPinto is going to be using on some of their guitars. http://www.richlite.com/applications/mu ... struments/

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 12:14 pm
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Richlite has been out there for a while, Paul. Gibson, Martin, Godin, and others have marketed this product. It does seem to be picking up steam. Whether it is to be grabbed and embraced by the consumer is anyone's guess. Some say yes and others say no.

Not every manufacturer has easy access to all woods. Some have a closer relationship. The rosewood scarcity and regulations is well known. Ebony has run into problems crossing borders especially if the border authorities are not clued in. There is still a misunderstanding as to what is and isn't legal. Add to that the frustrations manufacturers have with documentation, etc. There might even be a song and dance created to promote a lesser desirable but acceptable product. With all the reality of scarcity and hassles it leaves the door open to all kinds of materials including man made.

Fretboards and bodies are even being printed on 3D printers. That is still in its infancy as a consumer item.

The beauty and tone of woods will always be something to behold; but, in the day of solid state, modeling, and all, one never knows what may be found hanging on that wall or sitting on a stand.

Thankfully, there's a gem hiding in some cabin or barn. :wink:
FSB

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 5:54 pm
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Richlite is very interesting. I own a Gibson Midtown Custom with it for a fingerboard and at first was skeptical. I played it before I bought it and didn't see or feel a difference. But I really wanted to test it against some real ebony to be sure. I tested it against a Les Paul Custom with ebony. I could not see, feel or hear any difference between them. I am a traditionalist when it comes to my guitars, but when it comes to Richlite, I am sold!

T2

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 8:43 pm
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Hey, T2. Nice Gibby there.

I don't believe everything I read on the Net. No, really! :wink:
I did read about refretting recently. Some say that ebony been known to crack when refretting. Good ebony is difficult to get as it is scarce. The remainder can be sub par and dyed black.

Others say that refretting Richlite has other issues related to both purfling and remounting frets with possible chipping and slot fittings. Richlite can, if the Net reports it correctly, only use epoxy to bind it to the neck. I don't see that as an issue as others have mentioned.

Less related concerns appear with rosewood aside from the odd fillers for cracks (no different than many other woods).

Some manufacturers turn to stainless frets for synthetic fretboards reputed to last as long as their fretboards.

There has been a history in the evolution of these newer composites and they've come a long ways. Whether it's far enough is up to the individual to decide. IMHO.

I'm of the camp that if one is looking for an argument not to use something, "Seek and ye shall find". On the other hand, the reverse is true.

I think a good luthier may rescue some of those guitars; but, a good choice in the beginning is, I believe, a better way. But, where's the fun in that? I'm all for adventure, but I still like to come home to what is familiar. :D
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Last edited by Fender Strat Brat on Thu May 04, 2017 10:34 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:13 am
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I just did a little reading on Richlite and it sounds like it could a great choice. My favorite fingerboard is the ebony on my LP Custom but, as T2 pointed out, if Richlite feels and sounds the same as ebony I would be sold too.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 10:02 am
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I understand it doesn't shrink with cold, dry weather so you don't have to worry about filing down the fret ends, which is a problem I've encountered living in the New England area of the US.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 6:21 pm
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PaulLF wrote:
I understand it doesn't shrink with cold, dry weather so you don't have to worry about filing down the fret ends, which is a problem I've encountered living in the New England area of the US.

Wiping rosewood with oil every now and then is a good way to prevent it from shrinking or warping. Once a year is enough for most, but if the climate vary a lot or is very dry, it won't hurt to do it more often, as long as you wipe off any excess. If using naphtha or fretboard cleaners to clean the fretboard, it's especially important to give it an oil treatment afterwards, as it will suck out some of the oil.

Old Brazilian rosewood has more oil in it already, and needs it less often than Indian or Honduran rosewood, or "rosewoods" that's used these days, which can be anything that looks or is stained dark reddish brown.


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 5:26 pm
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Where exactly do Richlite trees grow?


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