If you ask most acoustic guitar builders, most would say that the fingerboard doesn't have a large effect on tone. And this is on an ACOUSTIC GUITAR. Here's a response from one luthier on the AGS forum:
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/foru...stcount=13
#13
Old 11-03-2017, 04:12 PM
Bruce Sexauer's Avatar
Bruce Sexauer Bruce Sexauer is offline
AGF Sponsor
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Petaluma, CA, USA
Posts: 7,588
Default
I have opinions on these things!
The fingerboard makes so little difference to sound that I have never discerned any. The issues that matter are wear, ability to hold frets, and as a substrate for inlay. Most ebony wins on all counts.
Ebony is something like 33 different species, and they aren't even all black. I have black ebony on hand that is only about 3/4 the weight of typical Brazilian. Not all ebonies sound like cardboard either, though most do. Malaysian Blackwood, while fairly heavy, rings very nicely.
The difference in sound we often attribute to the bridge's wood choice has probably got less to do with the wood's resonance than it has to do with the weight of the bridge itself, regardless of the material. Same thing with bridge pins, by the way.
As I said, ; opinion . . . based on direct experience rather than hearsay.
__________________
Bruce
http://www.sexauerluthier.com/
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/foru...stcount=13
#13
Old 11-03-2017, 04:12 PM
Bruce Sexauer's Avatar
Bruce Sexauer Bruce Sexauer is offline
AGF Sponsor
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Petaluma, CA, USA
Posts: 7,588
Default
I have opinions on these things!
The fingerboard makes so little difference to sound that I have never discerned any. The issues that matter are wear, ability to hold frets, and as a substrate for inlay. Most ebony wins on all counts.
Ebony is something like 33 different species, and they aren't even all black. I have black ebony on hand that is only about 3/4 the weight of typical Brazilian. Not all ebonies sound like cardboard either, though most do. Malaysian Blackwood, while fairly heavy, rings very nicely.
The difference in sound we often attribute to the bridge's wood choice has probably got less to do with the wood's resonance than it has to do with the weight of the bridge itself, regardless of the material. Same thing with bridge pins, by the way.
As I said, ; opinion . . . based on direct experience rather than hearsay.
__________________
Bruce
http://www.sexauerluthier.com/
