Historics/ReIssues

[Texas07R8]

I've seen a wide variety of fretboards on the Historics/ReIssues. Just a few thoughts here and I'd like to hear what you think about this subject.

My first R8 had almost a 1/2" wide light red/brown streak or two down the fretboard against a much darker board.

My new R8's fretboard is really dark, almost ebony in color, and I've noticed the pores and grooves are much smaller in size and frequency than the streaked neck of my first R8. My 87 Custom ebony neck is flat smooth with virtually no open pores or grooves. My new R8's dark neck is probably in the middle between the striped R8 fretboard and the smooth ebony fretboard on my Custom as far as grooves and pores.

Is there a trend of darker rosewood having typically less grooves and pores than lighter or these streaked necks? Or is it just my examples?

I love the look of those streaked necks, especially the ones with some good wave in it that makes it look Brazilian. They just look amazing to me. I'd love to find one on a nice wide flame R9 like those 03R8BR.

So this begs a question, does a denser fretboard wood with few or no open pores and grooves have better sustain and tonal qualities that a lesser grade wood on the fretboard?

Many Historic/Reissues I've seen lately have had LARGE grooves running down the entire fretboard like my first R8 with the light streak down the neck had a lot of deep open grooves and pores all over the fretboard.

I wonder if sweat and other contaminates will weep into the grooves and wear the neck much faster and unevenly on those Historic and Reissues that have those type necks.

Just wondering, what's your thoughts on the differences in the necks and if you've noticed the same thing I have. I'm sure not all are like that but it seems that most Historic seem to have the highly pored and grooved fretboards. Funny that most production Les Paul series seem to have much smoother fretboards but I don't know what kind of rosewood they use but it does look different the the Historics.

Also are there any non "Custom" Les Pauls with ebony necks?

[Joeydego]

Originally Posted by Texas07R8

Also are there any non "Custom" Les Pauls with ebony necks?

Check out the supreme

[FennRx]

white studios did, not sure now. es-359 does (its called custom, but its memphis). i think the classic custom might as well.

[LPCollector]

Originally Posted by Texas07R8

I'd love to find one on a nice wide flame R9 like those 03R8BR.

Photo op..........

'03 R9 Stinger, Tiger Flame and Brazilian board..................look at the red in the fretboard!



'03 R8 Brazilian.............................



'03 R0 Brazilian...................................

[RCCola]

Originally Posted by LPCollector

[B][COLOR="Yellow"]Photo op..........

The Stinger fingerboard looks like something you'd find on a fine European automobile. Looks kind of like stone. Beautiful.

As for the question, FWIW my 2000 R9 has a pretty light board with a few streaks - one is very large. It's pretty porous and has some grooves.

I haven't really looked at recent Historic fingerboards. I rarely pay attention to the fingerboards.

[Nick59]

My fretboard is very dark, an almost-black brown, and it has a very smooth slick finish with no real pores or grooves. Feels fantastic! The main reason why I don't worry about "Brazilian versus Madagascan"...

[blueheeler]

What a great thread! I hope this one kick's on a bit. I alway's pay a lot of attention to the fret board on anything i intend to buy. It is such a huge part of how a guitar sound's and feel's,i dont know how anyone can just gloss over the board.When i first pick up a new guitar-one i've not played before-in that first minute or two there is so much coming out from the board.It really makes or breaks how you view a guitar.Texas07R8-i like the way you've described your fretboard's.My 2000 R9 is the odd one out for board's.It has a very coarse surface,not smooth like the other's.It has many large,deep pores all the way along the fretboard.It is a very dark color,like dark chocolate.It feel's probably the smoothest of them all.

[Texas07R8]

Thanks for your input guys, and man LPCollector, what can I say bro???? Put me in your will??? That stuff you're posting is da bomb.

Seriously though, I think the fretboard is huge when talking about the mechanics of a guitar. It has been my personal observations that darker necks tend to be tighter pored and smoother. I haven't personally inspected the Brazilian boards but I'd be okay with pores and cracks to get a fretboard that looked that good....

You know we mostly talk about tops, pups, pots and caps and neck profiles. Rarely do we discuss the nuances of the fretboard. I did notice that Gibson has an ebony neck on one of their production (non- custom) Pauls, I forget which it was, I glanced at it today at lunch and it was a burst not a white one.

So let's hear some more from you guys, are fretboards overlooked a little?? I think they are very important, I normally inspect the top first then the fretboard then the hardware, headstock then the back. They are all important and of course the sum of these components make the guitar you play and hear.

Just trying to stir some thoughts about these fine instruments we all love.