Fretboard wood identification

[Jon Armstrong]

Anyone have a theory about what type of wood this is? It's from a Korean Tobias #01017983. I have basses with Ebony, Rosewood, and Pao Ferro but it does not match any of those. Seems too yellow to be Maple. Obviously a little late to start asking if the wood will be hard enough for a fretless conversion. I'm going forward but still curious about this material. -Jon-

 

[byacey]

Looks like a semi-tropical hardwood indigenous to the Pacific rim.

 

[Jon Armstrong]

Thanks Bill. I realize it's not much to go on, but I didn't figure an Epiphone-owned brand would get creative. I've seen a few photos of lighter colored Rosewood as well. We'll hear how it sounds when the veneer arrives.

 

[byacey]

The pores are too large for any rosewood family woods I've seen.

 

[abarson]

Nashville-era Tobias' used wenge for their fretboards, which is a open grained wood as in the photo. Most wenge I've seen is darker, but maybe it's a matter of lighting.

 

[Jon Armstrong]

I saw a couple of descriptions on the internet about wenge with some yellow in it. I finished phase 1 conversion, meaning, the fretboard is unfinished (but oiled) and the nut/bridge is adjusted. It plays slow. I think whatever wood this is, it's higher in friction. Tried D'Addario ground wounds first it sounded like a P-bass with 20 year old strings. Put some old round wounds on so at least it has tone while I figure out what I'm going to try next. The body is too small for a hipshot bridge upgrade. Too bad, I think the white oak veneer fret inserts came out really nice.