Republic 61 woody fret board

[pete1951]

‘Blackwood’ as a type of wood is new to me. The photo seems to show engineered wood. Thin strips of timber glued together , probably with an epoxy or polyester glue? Despite repairing guitars for 50 years I have never seen a finger board made in this way before ( though necks have been produced in a similar way for many years). I am supposed to be retired so haven’t had large numbers of repairs per week for 3 years, so I guess I this is a fairly recent development?
Pete

[zero]

Engineered woods are pretty much like working with other woods but some of them are very dense/hard, so putting something like Linseed Oil on them is just a waste of time. It will not penetrate them at all, nor will it hurt them. It is kind of like working with Ebony, it is just so hard that oils of any kind will not do anything.

To me that photo which is showing white color in the pores is likely wax or polish that someone put on the guitar. It should come right off with either Linseed Oil or even my least favorite Lemon oil. Neither will harm the Engineered wood at all.

[pete1951]

I think we need a better term for this type of material. Engineered wood could include all form of ply, most of which will absorb oil,water etc. I’m guessing ‘ ‘Blackwood’ is soaked or pressure treated with some hard chemicals and the strips of wood are so thin they are saturated with it (?).
Anyone with information on how it’s made ?
Pete

[Michael Messer]

Pete, There are no chemicals used in the process. That is the whole point, as well as helping to stop the destruction of the groups of trees that ebony and rosewood are taken from, it does not use any chemicals, only natural products such as oat milk and chamomile tea 😜

The interesting thing is that when I changed to using this product in 2017 when the CITES laws came into play, I have found it better and more consistent than the mass produced rosewood that MM fretboards were made from. MM fretboards are really nice, they feel and look great and they are using sustainable ingredients.

I would never go back to importing and exporting unsustainable woods that require a licence to ship around the planet. This is a much better way to go.

I am actually fairly sure that lemon oil is fine to use on this product, but until I hear that from the manufacturer I will not use it.

Shine On
Michael

[pete1951]

Thanks for the information Michael, I guess it’s a bit like Linoleum, which is linseed oil based and very durable.
Pete

[pete1951]

corporate.madinter.com/blackwood-tek/

There maybe more than one product out there called Blackwood
Pete

Couldn’t get the link to work but this Blackwood Tec looks very different to both Michael’s Fiddle Edge fingerboards ( which look like the Gibson composite ones on some Les Pauls) and the Republic one ( which looks more like engineered ply)

Pete

[muddy056]

Pete you are right my board does not look like my blues 28, or any of the blackwood tek material i can find on line, i was told it was blackwood when i bought it new, the republic site calls out a rosewood board? The only man made boards i have are Michael's and they have a really nice finish on them. However the guitar plays great kind of a mid range tone, loud fun to play.  I included a pic of the whole guitar for those of us who have not seen one. I did go on line too but  the information is mostly promotional rather then technical. I am going to try the polish and buff it and see how it goes.
Anthony

[Michael Messer]

I am doing some research about Blackwood / Blackwood Tek etc.. and I will post about it when I know more.

No matter what is written on the guitar company's website, your guitar does not have a rosewood fretboard.

I am guessing there are now numerous companies in China producing what we call Blackwood. They have to because it has become very difficult to export & import unsustainable woods, and rightfully so. I see there are now guitar bodies being made from this stuff too, which in the mass production manufacturing world is a great thing to be happening. Of course at the high end of the market there will always be fine and beautiful wood used and that is okay because it is only around 5%, if that of a massive industry.

Shine On
Michael

[slide496]

It may be that fretboard info has not been ugraded on the website for whatever reason from when they switched from Rosewood - mine from 10 years ago is rosewood.

[muddy056]

Oh yeah it’s not rosewood I was just pointing out that the republic site is incorrect and most likely was never updated. I have noticed that in areas of the neck that are played a lot it is taking on a nice smooth patina. So I think it just needs some TLC to look it best.
Anthony