What fretboard wood does Gibson use?

In recent years, Gibson has made guitars with one-piece rosewood boards that are thicker than ever.

Does Gibson still use rosewood?

Following the introduction of its extremely-limited run of Brazilian rosewood fretboard Custom Shop recreations of the 1958 Flying V and Explorer guitars, Gibson has now released slightly more accessible versions of the instruments fitted with Indian rosewood fretboards.

What is the best wood for fingerboard?

Rosewood. The most commonly used wood for fingerboards, rosewood's open pores and natural oils give it a smooth feel and warm tone. Its medium-density makeup is less reflective than harder woods with a tighter grain, giving rosewood a slightly softer attack and allowing your fingers to “dig in” and feel the fingerboard ...

What kind of wood is Gibson?

There are of course exceptions, but mahogany is the primary wood used for making Gibson electric guitar bodies.

Where does Gibson get their wood?

These woods come from Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the U.S. Some of these woods are harvested illegally or come from regions that are being heavily deforested. So Gibson is working with the Rainforest Alliance to be sure that the wood in its guitars is sustainably sourced.

Gibson Fretboard Tone Wood Guide

What kind of wood is used for Gibson Les Paul?

Its typical design features a solid mahogany body with a carved maple top and a single cutaway, a mahogany set-in neck with a rosewood fretboard, two pickups with independent volume and tone controls, and a stoptail bridge, although variants exist.

Where does Gibson get their 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.

Is Pau Ferro better than rosewood?

Pau Ferro has a tighter density than rosewood, meaning slightly less frequencies are absorbed into the fretboard. This results in a brighter, snappier tone, while still retaining the depth of rosewood designs. The feel of pau ferro is comparable to that of ebony, meaning an effortless, smooth playing experience.

Is ebony fretboard better than rosewood?

In short, Ebony is a much harder wood compared to Rosewood and feels slicker to touch. It produces brighter and snappier tones, while Rosewood produces a more balanced overall tone.

Does Gibson use Indian rosewood?

* Indian Rosewood has an even grain and is a rich dark brown color. Looks-wise, it offers a bold contrast to the lighter colours usually – but not always - found on a guitar's body. North American rosewood is also used by Gibson — it's a trustworthy source and sustainable.

When did Gibson stop using Brazilian rosewood?

Supplies grew extremely thin in the late 1960s, however, and Martin and others stopped using Brazilian rosewood in 1969, moving over to Indian rosewood, then other varieties. In 1992, Brazilian rosewood was added to the CITES treaty, strictly banning its exportation.

Why is rosewood restricted?

The restrictions under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora — commonly referred to as CITES — went into effect in 2017, after strong demand for high-end rosewood furniture in China led to conservation worries and violence in areas that produce the wood.

Is Indian Laurel rosewood?

In short, Indian Laurel and Rosewood fretboards sound surprisingly similar. Their colors differ slightly, with Laurel being medium brown in contrast to the darker, deeper brown hue of Rosewood. Both offer excellent playability and balanced tones, with Rosewood's tone being slightly warmer.

Is maple or rosewood fretboard better?

Compared to maple the difference is notable, as rosewood will soften the sound, even for guitars with maple necks. This is one of the reasons some guitar players prefer Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters with the option of a rosewood fretboard. The rosewood takes a bright guitar and mellows it out a bit.

Why does Gibson use Richlite?

After two decades of research and discussions with guitarists, Gibson determined that Richlite was not only the best alternative to woods like ebony, but was actually superior. Although the downside is that it's more expensive to make guitars with Richlite fretboards than ebony, there are some very attractive benefits.

Why did fender stop using rosewood?

Fender Musical Instruments is officially moving away from using rosewood fingerboards in the manufacturing of its Mexican made instruments due to the recent CITES regulations (see our previous post on CITES here).

When did Fender switch from rosewood to pau ferro?

In 2017 when CITES imposed restrictions on instruments featuring rosewood, Fender made a few changes. Now that those restrictions have been lifted, Fender use a combination of rosewood, pau ferro and ebony. So how do these tonewoods compare?

Do they still make rosewood fretboards?

Rosewood won't be disappearing anytime soon, but expect to gradually see it disappear from all but high end models. Original statement from Fender: Fender is committed to the continued use of Rosewood in American-made solid body guitars, such as our American Professional Series.

Why is Brazilian rosewood illegal?

Why is Brazilian rosewood so heavily regulated? In 1967, Brazilian rosewood had become so popular for instruments and other wood products that the Brazilian government became concerned that this precious hardwood could be wiped out, so the government outlawed the export of rosewood logs.

Did Gibson use ivory?

Please note: Gibson does not use, or endorse, the use of ivory in guitar building.

What guitar wood is illegal?

An international crackdown on illegal logging in tropical forests has ensnared the makers of some guitars and other musical instruments, whose top-end products require small amounts of rosewood, a material prized for its rich, multicolored grain and resonant sound.

Where does Gibson get mahogany?

Gibson has set up a global commodity chain that supplies them with 'sustainably certified' mahogany by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) grown in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Fiji.

Is alder better than basswood?

The mids of alder aren't as pronounced as basswood, but there is more emphasis on the highs and a bit more breathing room for the lows. Alder is overall a bit more dynamic than basswood, making it suitable for a wider range of sounds, but it's mostly found in Fenders and Fender style guitars like Squiers.

Is swamp ash lighter than alder?

Alder is a lighter hardwood. Most quality guitars made with ash use Swamp ash, which is usually slightly lighter than alder. Swamp ash is the bottom part of an ash tree that has its roots underwater.