Dotneck Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Looks like richlite has started showing up on J-45 as a fingerboard and bridge material. Is richlite wood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Its Plastic.. Like a eminee guitar.. or a Kay Force 3 guitar.. Its really a Joke whats happening with the New Gibson Guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richlite    Imitation ebony fingerboard - I had it on an X series Martin I had - it is ok and if that is the worst they can do....we'll make it.   BluesKing777. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Same as Corian kitchen counter top materials….I had a Martin 00-17 once that had it on the fret board and bridge…it really didn't bother me at all…felt fine, sounded goos…..here is a vid of that guitar I did…  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Same as Corian kitchen counter top materials….I had a Martin 00-17 once that had it on the fret board and bridge…it really didn't bother me at all…felt fine, sounded goos…..here is a vid of that guitar I did…    I dont think its so much the sound and playability as much as it is the Price of these Guitars... I would hope quality woods would be used to warrant the prices..  were sitting at about 2700 cdn for a j45 here.. so my question would be.. fret replacement.. its not going to be the same as Rosewood or Ebony, or is it?  I hope Plastic bracing is not going to replace wood.. That would be going cheap.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Its ToneRites little brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 They do need to find alternatives... Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 My first slope was not a Gibson. It was ... Gulp... A Martin CEO 4R. I never liked the guitar as it was too muddy. However it did have a riichlite fretboard, which looked and played great. To be honest I don't know how I would feel about it on my Gibson J45. I'm thinking I'd prefer real wood, but that's maybe due to too many years on guitar forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pittgibson45 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Isn't it only on the j 45 progressive? I don't think the fret board and bridge material are the biggest problems with that guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Rosewood isn't an endangered species as far as I'm aware. Â Let's hope it stays confined to that one model. Â Â Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 They are sort of ok. Sort of. Kind of chalk-board like. They arent porous like wood, so I cant imagine theyd go down well with sweaty hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dotneck Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 Isn't it only on the j 45 progressive? I don't think the fret board and bridge material are the biggest problems with that guitar. Â what else don't you like about the progressive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 When I went back to school back in the early '70s, - in the required science course - one point I remember vividly (because it scared me) was that in 50 years we will run out of the chemicals needed to make batteries. Of course, that was just before someone invented Rechargeable Batteries, and new chemical combinations to make mini-batteries, etc. So, I'm pre-disposed to be a skeptic. I believe, sadly, there are some woods that will disappear, when jungles are cleared to grow coffee of palm oil. Tigers are more threatened than trees, but places like Brazil and Madagascar do not have the same 'environmentally responsible' views as someone living in California might. While the tactile surface is critical on a fingerboard, and something like Corian would not fly with me - for the reasons Rambler noted. I think there are lots of alternatives, like cherry or sapele. And, for the cheaper, entry level, starter, student guitars - they could use almost any kind of cheap wood. Or Corian. I agree that some slow growing, rarer woods like ebony are a problem - but it may just be that those go on the high end guitars and are considered the same as semi[precious metals - not in everyone's price range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pittgibson45 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 what else don't you like about the progressive? Well, I am not crazy about the auto tune (what ever they renamed it). I don't think there is anything progressive about the saddle, haven't they been using that since the 60's? The thing I don't like most of all is the inlays on the fretboard. Do dots and call it a J 45, do parallelograms and call it a Southern Jumbo progressive. Just my opinion, but I have always leaned more towards the tradional in something like a J 45. I know they have changed a lot over the years, but this isn't really a J 45 at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Well, I am not crazy about the auto tune (what ever they renamed it). I don't think there is anything progressive about the saddle, haven't they been using that since the 60's? The thing I don't like most of all is the inlays on the fretboard. Do dots and call it a J 45, do parallelograms and call it a Southern Jumbo progressive. Just my opinion, but I have always leaned more towards the tradional in something like a J 45. I know they have changed a lot over the years, but this isn't really a J 45 at all. Â I'm agreeing with this. J45 has dots. It just does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Looks like richlite has started showing up on J-45 as a fingerboard and bridge material. Is richlite wood? Â No, not wood. But it's not plastic, either. It looks like unblemished black ebony. It's a man-made material probably a little harder than ebony. Watch that video in Rabs' post. The choice ebony on this planet is about used up. Of course, there are still ebony boards in the used market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogeye Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I just don't like the degrading of a Gibson Icon. If you want to put plastic on a Gibson don't put it on an Icon. Be a little creative and hang it on a "new" model. I know they don't have anyone that can actually design and build a "new" model but maybe they could take a guitar from the past like the OP-25 and put their "new" features on it. Â First they put "Flubber" on the Hummingbird and now it's on a bunch of guitars including the J_200. This tone sucking stuff costs nothing compared to a real pickguard but Gibson raises the price instead of passing the savings on to the customer. No one here objected and they got the green light from the posters here to cheapen the product so they did. Now they put plastic on the "Workhorse" and no one seems to be upset. Â They are so clueless at Gibson that they actually think a plastic adjustable bridge is a new innovation. Guess no one there remembers the B-25. There have been numerous threads here and on other forums that encourage folks to take the plastic off and put wood bridges on as upgrade replacements. Most of you think that because Martin uses plastic Gibson should as well. Shame on you as you are making it easy for Gibson to degrade their product at your expense. Anyone that thinks plastic has a home on the J-45 just doesn't know or was born last year. If they get away with this look for a plastic moustache bridge coming soon to a dealer near you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I'm with Hogeye on this……wouldn't this specification be more suited for an Epiphone than a flagship Gibson model? Send Epiphone the Micarta, and have Epiphone send all their Ebony and Rosewood Fretboards and Bridges to Gibson….. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 I just don't like the degrading of a Gibson Icon. If you want to put plastic on a Gibson don't put it on an Icon. Be a little creative and hang it on a "new" model. I know they don't have anyone that can actually design and build a "new" model but maybe they could take a guitar from the past like the OP-25 and put their "new" features on it. Â First they put "Flubber" on the Hummingbird and now it's on a bunch of guitars including the J_200. This tone sucking stuff costs nothing compared to a real pickguard but Gibson raises the price instead of passing the savings on to the customer. No one here objected and they got the green light from the posters here to cheapen the product so they did. Now they put plastic on the "Workhorse" and no one seems to be upset. Â They are so clueless at Gibson that they actually think a plastic adjustable bridge is a new innovation. Guess no one there remembers the B-25. There have been numerous threads here and on other forums that encourage folks to take the plastic off and put wood bridges on as upgrade replacements. Most of you think that because Martin uses plastic Gibson should as well. Shame on you as you are making it easy for Gibson to degrade their product at your expense. Anyone that thinks plastic has a home on the J-45 just doesn't know or was born last year. If they get away with this look for a plastic moustache bridge coming soon to a dealer near you. Â Hgy, Agree 100% - except for the part about no one being upset about the Progressive. I think there was a thread a couple of months ago, more geared to the Robotuners, that clearly sent a message that no self respecting forum member would buy one. Yes, it is sort of ironic - as OWF pointed out- that Bozeman would start using flubber and plastic, while Epiphone / China uses wood. If resources are that scarece, re-allocate them. Let Epiphone introduce the "Progressive Product Line". As one member mentioned - with a little handle in the bout you can crank and the guitar will work like a player piana a al the old, plastic, miniature Mickey Mouse guitars of the '50s. The Progressive "J45" is clearly devaluing the Gibson marque. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victory Pete Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Hgy, Agree 100% - except for the part about no one being upset about the Progressive. I think there was a thread a couple of months ago, more geared to the Robotuners, that clearly sent a message that no self respecting forum member would buy one. Yes, it is sort of ironic - as OWF pointed out- that Bozeman would start using flubber and plastic, while Epiphone / China uses wood. If resources are that scarece, re-allocate them. Let Epiphone introduce the "Progressive Product Line". As one member mentioned - with a little handle in the bout you can crank and the guitar will work like a player piana a al the old, plastic, miniature Mickey Mouse guitars of the '50s. The Progressive "J45" is clearly devaluing the Gibson marque. Â Came across this and was excited until I saw the fretboard and bridge was made out of Richlite. Why they use it on their top of the line guitars is a mystery. I wonder how it compares tonally, especially the bridge, compared to ebony. Considering that ebony has less sound transmission than rosewood, I woudnt even want it with ebony. Rosewood rings out the best. Â Â Â http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-sj-200-vine-special-limited-run--acoustic-guitar?rNtt=sj200&index=5#productDetail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 One of the best sounding guitars I've owned, my Martin 00DB, had a Richlite board and bridge (along with entirely sustainable FSC Mahogany construction). The Richlite felt silky and fast, like a good ebony board. I have no issues with Richlite at all, as a player. We have to look to sustainable materials and think progressively going forward. Â The bottom line is that there are thousands of wonderful used instruments for sale with just about every combination of beautiful woods imaginable. We have the luxury of choice between older traditionally built guitars or modern, progressively specced models. What a time to be alive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Richlite is what Gibson is using as alternative to buying Ebony from Bob Taylor.    The "new" HP and AG lines have it  JC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyFreeLove69 Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 (edited) On 9/8/2015 at 5:51 PM, slimt said: Richlite: It is NOT plastic at all. I don't really care about sustainable materials, of course I will ALWAYS prefer high quality woods and craftmanship, but Richlite is amazing, it is the fingerboard material on my new Gibson J-45 Custom! 🙂 Richlite is made from paper thin slices of wood, it's paper, many layers stacked together with their woodgrains criss crossed, moistened in a special lacquer, and then "pressure pressed" and heated until it binds together, it is far superior to cut thin slabs of wood that are usually used for fretboards.. It is great for music tones and is stronger, everlasting, and moisture resistant, it will never chip, warp, or crack, and it is much easier to take care of. It has the same style tone as being in the middle of rosewood and ebony, and it has the look of both.. It is amazing! It is made from many sheets of sliced paper.. WOOD. 🙂  Edited October 31, 2020 by DaveyFreeLove69 Added more comments. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 That onevilyfool-recording was everything else but foolish - re-listening moved me. Cheers Vily, , , from wherever you may be watching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 Amen OWF. Â And I also hope Hogeye is doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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