Rosewood has always been one of the most common types of wood used in fretboards, favored for the beloved designs of such heavy hitters like Gibson, Ibanez, and Paul Reed Smith. If you need/want a re-fret, Richlite won't “splinter” like timbers sometimes can. It’s easy to spot what guitars have Rosewood board by the dark red-brown hue but is also commonly found on Paul Reed Smith, Ibanez, and Gibson guitars. It’s not as attractive compared to Brazilian rosewood and the grain markings are much coarser, but the noticeable purple color is attractive. Maple is seen by some as something of a “utilitarian” wood, but in ‘flamed’ or ‘birds-eye’ varieties it can be visually stunning. Be careful. Charlie, who has a Gibson pickup named in his honor, … Top braces go back to solid hand carved wood, because now the top is wider and doesn't have as much arch as the smaller L-5 body type. That's good for guitars, because it doesn't need a finish, so it feels “natural”. Rosewood is often described as providing a “warm” or “soft” tone — good for tempering the zing of new strings or a bright sounding guitar, but it's one of many factors. I don't know why they decided to change the model name, but it does make sense to call it an SG bass, since the body shape is the same as the SG guitar, and that's what everyone called the bass anyways. It's an improvement. Featuring beautiful rosewood back and sides paired with a Sitka spruce top. It's a classic case of “guitar voodoo” - many sought-after vintage guitars have Brazilian Rosewood 'boards, so it must be “the best”, right? Ace Frehley … Body Woods Alder Similar to Basswood, alder is lightweight with soft tight pores. Many mahogany guitars have a … We use cookies to understand how you use our site, give you an awesome experience, and deliver our services. In truth, actually isolating the tonal properties of a fingerboard alone is tough. i am assuming these got BR, 1956 Reissue, ranging from 63001-63148 Throughout the first half of … An old toothbrush is useful. The Sound Of Richlite? Available on checkout. This is why it is also used a lot for bridges and fingerboards. However, there have been some small runs here and there of Gibson guitars that do have Brazilian fingerboards, particularly during 2001-2003. -it appears that 03007 DOES have BR -26 are LP Juniors It pays tribute to Gibson's Golden Era of innovation and brings authenticity back to life. From their simplest entry-level solid bodies to the inordinately expensive custom-built jazz guitars, all of Gibson's output has been created in … For now I would suggest that you are very … 83009 is a quilt top R8 that went to Guitar Center Historically, there were two types; the relatively common Indian Rosewood, and the rarer Brazilian Rosewood. So it looks great in contrast to, say, a white body and neck. Or 'board. The Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) held a conference from September 24 - October 4 this year in Johannesburg, South Africa where it was decided that all species of rosewood under the genus Dalbergia and three bubinga species (Guibourtia demeusei, Guibourtia pellegriniana, and Guibourtia tessmannii) will be protected under CITES Appendix II.Kosso - sometimes called African rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus) - will als… Since 1898, C.R. In recent years, Gibson has made guitars with one-piece rosewood boards that are thicker than ever. It’s not used as a top for guitars because it’s a bit too dense and wouldn’t vibrate well as a top. So, while Epiphone does use the same type of wood that Gibson uses, the species that the two companies use is extremely different. -within this range of numbers, 37 are ’54 Black Beautys The pearloid dot inlay rosewood fingerboard on a hand-rolled Rounded "C" mahogany neck remind players where it all started. guitars that are constructed out of a single slab of wood, mahogany is neutral and powerful. Gibson’s wood of choice for the Les Paul, Les Paul Jr., and SG. East Indian rosewood (EIR) is the main type used in guitar construction today, as it’s become the generic substitute for the Brazilian type after restrictions. That's just scratching the surface of fingerboards — and not in that Zakk Wylde way — but basically, there's a material for every taste from the steadfastly traditional to the forward thinkers to the eco-warriors to the blackest of black metallers on Satan's black skateboard. Also, because it can be slightly denser and harder than other types of Rosewood, might provide a little extra sonic “punch” compared with other, softer varieties. Differences among how Brazilian rosewood guitars are made create changes in … If you may see hairline cracks on a dried-out fingerboard, Gibson’s. -1 is a korina explorer -13001-13075 have Brazilian Rosewood. This means that it’s wide in terms of the fretboard, so if you looked at it laid out it’s back. These days, though, there is Richlite. Who knows. Ebony is a dense, heavy but smooth. Looks-wise, it can be light to chocolatey brown with hints of orange or even gold. Divided into two sections, the guitar’s body is mostly made up of wood, often from the following types. ... Granadillo » Granadillo is a scarce wood, considered a type of rosewood, though it is denser. -43001-43006 are 1-pickup ’54 Goldtops that went to Dave’s Guitar in WI. -93001-93006 are prototypes North American rosewood is also used by Gibson — it's a trustworthy source and sustainable. The Les Paul Standard 60's has a solid mahogany body with an AA figured maple top, and a slim taper 60's-style mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and trapezoid inlays. But that could be because it's usually married to a maple neck. Maple is a dense and strong hardwood. By Jeff Owens. Finally, neck bow issues are less likely because you don’t have two different wood species expanding and contracting at different rates, and frets don’t loosen due to wood shrinkage. Looks-wise, it offers a bold contrast to the lighter colours usually – but not always - found on a guitar's body. Because of its light color, years of playing can take its visual toll — but, hey, one man's “vintage patina” is another's “grimy”. You know what we're talking about. The differing appeals may simply be visual. All the components of your guitar are important, of course, but there's one where most of the “business” happens. Both types of rosewood … Ideally, try before you buy - the same goes for every guitar — though maple is also consistent, making online ordering pretty reliable as long as you've played similar. Gibson's Baked Maple fingerboards of a few years back generally brought favorable comparisons to Rosewood. The guitars that Gibson has verified, using a serial number range, as having these Brazilian boards have enjoyed a substantial price bump in the marketplace, so knowing if yours is truly Brazilian, Gibson verified, can prove useful. (Can also exhibit a figure in the grain similar to Ziricote that is known as “spider-webbing.”. Also, because it can be slightly denser and harder than other types of Rosewood, might … It's a straight-grained, dense wood from Cuba, which is known as “the wood that sings”. It took a while for some low-demand models to use "old" parts. African ebony is a more uniform black. Gibson purchased “fingerboard blanks,” consisting of sawn boards of Madagascar ebony, for use in manufacturing guitars. -3 are korina Flying Vs, 1960 Reissue, ranging from 03001-03163 It looks like ebony. In this article we’re going to analyze the most popular types of necks in today’s guitar world: maple and rosewood. More commonly found in the neck construction of guitars than in the actual bodies. Uses of rosewood in acoustic and classical guitarsRosewood is used for the acoustic body of guitar instruments and their fretboards. The future. It won't run out! For many years — hundreds of years — guitars were all wood because there was simply nothing better to use. Go for special guitar oil: no silicon, no wax and as few chemicals as possible. Also, 911007 comes up as an R9 with brazilian. -the only exception here is that number 63126 does not exist as far as i can tell, 1957 Reissue, ranging from 73010-73707 Make sure to check out the reviews but first of all press the red button below to see if it fits your music taste.reviews but first of all press the red button below to see if it Rosewood is Rosewood, right? And you’ll enjoy effortless playability, courtesy of a satisfying vintage ’50s profile neck and fast-action rosewood fingerboard. -within this range 29 are LP Juniors Be gentle. within this range, the following numbers do NOT have Brazilian Rosewood according to my info: 91236, 91230, 91220, 91217, 91215, 91214, 91209, 91207, 91206. Gibson presents Folk Guitars L-00 Mystic Rosewood AN.If you are on the lookout for steel string guitars or guitars and basses in general, then this may be a fitting choice. Maple is a hard wood — associated with brightness and bite and sustain. 1950 L-5C. If you want to see the main differences between the two, and how these types of wood affect your playing, sound, aspect and … It may even be impossible. It has a mellower, more rounded sound which makes it a very moderate choice, especially with guitars that use brighter body and/or neck woods, as it provides a pleasant tonal balance.