Sandberg Guitars Innovates New Steamed Oak fingerboard

[Weberman]

Wood/fuel...pun intended or no? Plus, steamed hams.

You must be from Albany.

 

[MojoPenguin]

Steamed oak, chechen wood, baked maple, ebonol fretboard... Looks like there were a lot of alternatives, and it is good that manufacturers at last acknowledge the issue IMHO.

 

[JACink]

It certainly does look very nice!

My only question is this -- since Oak is so widespread and readily available --- why has this not been done before? Oak is certainly cheaper to harvest than rosewood (for example); so the realist in me says there must be some reason this hasn't been done before. Maybe it splits or cracks easy, is hard to care for in the long run, I don't know, but something smells off to me . . . . . .

Maybe it is similar to the P and J shaped basses. There are millions of alternatives, but they are still the most built/sold, some people want "classic".

If there was a law against P and J shaped bodies, then people would probably accept changes and other options would be more popular.

 

[bassdude51]

I would think that walnut would also make a nice fretboard. It makes great gun stocks and pistol grips.

 

[BusyFingers]

Is this the future!?!?!?

The future is now!

 

[ThuzzleFump]

Sadowsky has been offering morado, chechen, and grenadilla as alternatives to rosewood. I'm fond of morado, myself.

Sound like exotic cheeses. I'm ordering my next Sadowsky with a Morbier fretboard. That thin layer of ash should definitely add a dry resonance to the sound.

 

[MojoPenguin]

That being said, people should be careful as some woods can be downright nasty, just ask Mark Wahlberg

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

It will not have the same tonal qualities of rosewood which a much denser wood than oak ... I would go to ebony although it is more expensive or wenge or pau ferro... This oak will sound like maple ... They could have find a way to colour maple ...

 

[HolmeBass]

I have often wondered why oak, hickory, and walnut are not used more for necks and fingerboards. They baseball bats out of hickory, surely it's stiff enough for necks and fingerboards?

 

[svtb15]

We're doomed

 

[202dy]

Importance of fingerboard wood? Some folks claim they can here a difference in tone. Maybe they can.

Where fingerboard species is important is in contributing to the overall stiffness of the neck. It is a small, but important part of the equation.

 

[202dy]

I would think that walnut would also make a nice fretboard. It makes great gun stocks and pistol grips.

You're right. Walnut looks great.

It has been employed for years for gun stocks for it's ability to absorb mechanical shock.

 

[JRA]

i used to only want/play ebony fb's. i've relaxed my old 'standards', but i would still say this: if it's not ebony* = just about anything else will do fine! i like the looks of the instrument in the OP. the fretless version also looks really sweet, IMO.

*fretless

 

[backin82]

Once steamed, it has the warmth of rosewood yet gives the player improved right hand dynamic response similar to maple and a sharper attack like ebony. The final results are permanent and easy to maintain.

It does ALL of these things? Color me dubious.

But.....I applaud their efforts, and look forward to seeing how it works.

 

[larrygs]

Or they could try Rocklite: Rocklite - Environmentally friendly tonewoods & hardwoods | eco friendly ebony

 

[J-Bassomatic]

Of COURSE! The old steamed oak trick!
It does look nice.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

We're doomed

Dang.