Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm working on a bass for my self, and have decided to try some "non-common" wood for the fingerboard. The top of the body will be Spalted maple, with a lot of black "ink" patterns. Tuners, bridges, knobs will be black (ebony for the knobs). I first decided to put a maple fingerboard, put after many many reflexions and checking pictures and pictures of many basses for design ideas, I finally decided to go for darker wood for the FB. Ebony is too much dark, and I don't want a straight lines board like most of the RW ones. Regarding to the "funky" look of the spalted, I want a wood for the FB that has non-straight figures, some curly and funky stuff. I've seen Bocote and Zirocote at LMI, and I tought it could be a good idea. So, I have two questions:

1- Did anybody here ever tried Bocote and Ziricote for fingerboard? (easy to work, to glue? And what aout the feeling of playing on it?)

2- Any other wood suggestions?

Thanks a lot again!

Francis

_________________
Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Francis,

I've used Ziricote, and I find it a wonderful wood for fretboards.

Here is a pic of a recent build with ziricote. It's still unfinished at this point, but it will give you an idea of what it looks like on the guitar.

Happy building!

_________________
Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

Woops... there's an accidental 'product placement' going on there!

_________________
Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

Nice look! the bridge is cool also!
How is it on playing?

And yours is pretty straight, but i've some funky ones... I guess i can ask lmii to send me a non-straight one..

Thanks!
Francis

_________________
Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Yo, Francis,

Regarding your two questions
"easy to work, to glue and especially the feel of" are all subjective reflex responses acquired when getting down with a particular wood...and so me won't get into personal stuff.

Now regarding your second question...

I like the look of balsa woods grain...but we both know you ain't gonna use balsa. So my suggestion is for you to choose and use what ever spins your wheels, which is what you gonna do anyways no matter what any of us say.



blessings
the
Padma

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

Yes I've used ziricote for a fingerboard and like it. Talk to Bob, he'll sort you out one I'm sure that will fit your requirements.

Here was my one from Bob.



Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Wow, that will make an awesome guitar, just can't wait to see it! That's real stuff!
The more I see the more i'm falling in love with fretboard with sapwood.... that's really gives it an extra

And thanks for the reply
Francis

_________________
Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

I used a bocote fingerboard and bindings on a mahogany guitar once. It worked fine.

_________________
David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."