Richlite Fingerboards.....

RVA said:
I like Richlite very much. It even got the Biddlin seal of approval, which counts for a lot in my book!

I do not like $ 3,000 LPs, regardless of the fingerboard material.
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I'm going to have to agree here. I just passed a $4K Gibson Les Paul off in a trade because there was no way it played like a $4K guitar...whatever that is???
The Custom Shop Les Paul played no better than my Standard and my Standard sounded better.

As for Richlite vs Ebony there was no big difference to me. There is a big difference when you get down to Rosewood. I don't love it, it's not hard enough
in most examples I've had.

The Flying V Snow Falcon has a "Phenolic Resin" board and I love it! It's hard as a rock which makes it tough and easy for bends...
 
gball said:
It's not just Gibson using Richlite. Not sure if you personally have tried a guitar with a Richlite 'board but I have seen a lot of negative opinions offered by people that have not tried one, whereas the overwhelming majority of those who have seem to like it, myself included. Just because it hasn't historically been used for guitars does not mean it isn't a good material for building them. And as mentioned previously, it is not a price-point issue since the material is not exactly cheap. Part of the equation here is the CITES legislation and the fact that all guitar builders are going to have to look for alternative materials in the future - in that sense Gibson and Martin and a few others are ahead of the curve.
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I recently played a new Gibson Les Paul Custom with the Richlite board. Its shiny and black. There were other issues with this guitar that kind of overshadowed everything else, but the board looked good.

I like ebony. I suppose I am somewhat traditional in my ways, but I prefer it.

I also like Rosewood bodies and necks, but I have a lot of export restrictions on things made from Rosewood.
 
I don't know much about advanced composites honestly. When Warmoth offers a Richlite option, i may try it, but i am skeptical that it offers any tonal or wear advantage over a good puece of ebony. Right now, when i build a USA model, from the very best USA parts, I use ebony, AAA grade. The imported versions are generally Rosewood, and get the best grade available....
 
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eSGEe said:
Intersting you get Ebony on a 200.00 Agile....but compressed crushed colored paper on a 3000.00 Gibson or 7000.00 martin......
or you can go the bargain basement route on a 149.00 Peavey USA Bass.......
look at that lovely rosewood
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I dont wanna speak outta class--- but I think SOMEONE is getting hornswaggled, bamboozled and flat out screwed........

...but ya'll enjoy your richlite.....


It does look nice.....and dark.....and I liked the baked maple.....none of it really effects tone anyway ----- BAZINGA---
feel free to start WWIII now.......oh and Henry G eats babies
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You can go ahead, and move the decimal point on the Martin price a notch to the left:D
 
Use of phenolics for fingerboards isn't new. Ibanez basses have used ebonol, which is the same as richlite, (paper phenolic laminate) without issue. Stelling banjo's used ebonol. This is the only time that Im aware of where they encountered thermal expansion problems. There's internet speculation that this may be why Martin went to a dual action truss when they changed to richlite on some models, but its only speculation. Regardless, there are several alternative woods that are perfectly good for fingerboards. On the other forum I posted pics of fingerboards made from desert hardwoods by custom luthiers here in Oz that are harder & denser than the very best ebony. Being desert hardwoods they have very low moisture content & don't split or crack & are sustainable. Cheers
 
Here's a few examples, fretboard blanksC__Data_Users_DefApps_AppData_INTERNETEXPLORER_Temp_Saved Images_thumb_DSC03695_1024.jpg C__Data_Users_DefApps_AppData_INTERNETEXPLORER_Temp_Saved Images_thumb_DSC03697_1024.jpg C__Data_Users_DefApps_AppData_INTERNETEXPLORER_Temp_Saved Images_thumb_DSC03699_1024.jpg these are from acacia's. Top is straight grained gidgee, 2nd ringed gidgee & 3rd mulga (common names). These are all a good bit harder than ebony (Janka test) & surface well (& polish even better). There is also the ironwoods etc. I'm sure the world over there are suitable sustainable woods that can be used if we just move away from tradition. Cheers
 
ivan H said:
I'm sure the world over there are suitable sustainable woods that can be used if we just move away from tradition. Cheers
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Ah, but there is the crux of the problem. People want tradition and are not as open-minded as they tell themselves they are when it comes time to actually outlay the cash. I don't mind the Richlite at all and don't find it inappropriate on a $4500 guitar, but I am well aware that I am the exception. Every recent LPC I have played with the Richlite board was amazing, and if they didn't tell you what is was most people would never be the wiser.
 
Not Richlite but I remember when Ovation guitars first came out.
Their sales reps were literally begging music stores to carry them.
The dealers didn't want any part of that plastic roundbacked thing.

Kamen Aerospace?
Don't they make helicopter blades?
What do they know about making guitars?

How many million Ovation guitars have been sold?

(I think they called it a lyracord back?)
 
Yes, you are right gball, which is why I said "if we'd only move away from tradition". People are stubborn to change which is a pity. Cheers
 
Robert Herndon said:
Ebony is still readily available...These are £16.95 each from Ebony guitar fingerboard blank AAA Grade and bulk pricing is even better... :)


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Yes but the traditionalists don't like it. It looks nothing like the ebony of 40-50 years ago and exhibits far too much grain for people to stomach, at least on something selling for north of $4500. I've owned 3 1970's Les Paul Customs in my life (and played many more) and the ebony was so dark and dense on all of them that it doesn't even register as wood when you first look at it. That's the look people want on a Custom and the Richlite does a better job of that than the currently available ebony.
 
gball said:
Yes but the traditionalists don't like it. It looks nothing like the ebony of 40-50 years ago and exhibits far too much grain for people to stomach, at least on something selling for north of $4500. I've owned 3 1970's Les Paul Customs in my life (and played many more) and the ebony was so dark and dense on all of them that it doesn't even register as wood when you first look at it. That's the look people want on a Custom and the Richlite does a better job of that than the currently available ebony.
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This 1979 Gibson Les Paul Custom fretboard is largely covered with 20+ years of junk...but the grain is there...

IMG_20170415_24353.jpg IMG_20170415_14207.jpg
 

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Thatbastarddon said:
You can go ahead, and move the decimal point on the Martin price a notch to the left:D
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700.00 for an Acoustic ---- WTF?!?!? Next you'll be buying bargain toilet paper and used cars ----UGH----GOSH----you keep talking like that Biddy they are gonna ask you to leave Californication
 
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