What fretboard wood does Gibson use?
Rosewood
Rosewood is a medium density wood, and is naturally oily. That’s good for guitars, because it doesn’t need a finish, so it feels “natural”. In recent years, Gibson has made guitars with one-piece rosewood boards that are thicker than ever.
What is the best wood for a guitar fretboard?
The Big Three Fretboard Woods
- Ebony. Considered the supreme tonewood for fingerboards due to its solidity, resiliency, and firmness, ebony was the primary fretboard wood in use from the 15th century till very recently.
- Rosewood.
- Maple.
- Indian Laurel.
- Ovangkol.
- Padauk.
- Pau Ferro.
- Walnut.
Where does Gibson get rosewood?
Gibson Guitar has settled with federal authorities for illegally importing ebony and rosewood from India and Madagascar. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Gibson Guitar Corp. has agreed to pay a fine for illegally importing exotic wood from Madagascar and India, the U.S. government said Monday.
Does fretboard thickness matter?
Fingerboard thickness is a significant contributor to the overall geometry – if bridge/saddle height and neck angle stay the same, then a thicker fingerboard will result in lower action and easier playability.
How does fretboard wood affect tone?
The body and fret board affect the tone of acoustic and electric guitars in the same way that the neck wood does. It really comes down to how dense the wood is. The denser the wood, the brighter the tone will be, and the less sustain it’ll have.
Does fretboard wood really matter?
In Short. As you can tell, there’s definitely more that matters when it comes to the wood used for fretboards. Some guitarists may over-exaggerate the effect on the overall sound, but no one can deny that each type of wood looks uniquely different.
How thick should a fretboard be?
Most modern Martin fretboards are around 1/4″ in the center. The old Martins are usually no more than 0.225″.
When did Gibson stop using rosewood?
Since 1991, Brazilian Rosewood has been listed as an endangered species and has therefore been used sparingly by guitar makers. However, there have been some small runs here and there of Gibson guitars that do have Brazilian fingerboards, particularly during 2001-2003.
Did Gibson use ivory?
Please note: Gibson does not use, or endorse, the use of ivory in guitar building.
How do I know if my fretboard is finished?
“Finished” would be like a Strat maple fretboard. It will have some sort of a hard, smooth coating (finish) to protect the wood. An unfinished fretboard would be a rosewood or ebony fretboard, something where the actual wood is exposed, with no coating (finish) on top of it.
Should you oil a guitar fretboard?
A clean fingerboard feels and looks better and will extend the life of your strings. However, a more long-term concern is your fretboard drying out, cracking, and wearing. For that, many manufacturers recommend every six months you should clean your fretboard with a specialty wood oil.