Can't tell from the picture -- it does look so light and uniform that I would guess grenadillo, but much of the rosewood being used, and often by Gibson, these days is remarkably light in color. And I guess grenadillo is now called, generically, "rosewood" so who knows? It seems like every major builder (except PRS?) is using an increasing variety of fretboard woods (and "mahoganies" as well) so I guess we're going to have to get used to this somewhat lower standard. The stuff, whatever it is, probably works fine -- it's just unremarkable. Other makers, including Asian budget lines, seem to have access to more traditional looking rosewood, but I suspect this may be because they make far less substantial (that is, thinner) fretboards than Gibson does. Most of these lighter boards can be easily darkened -- I'm surprised Gibson does not do that.
2018 Les Paul fret board wood question/issue?
in Gibson USA
Posted
Can't tell from the picture -- it does look so light and uniform that I would guess grenadillo, but much of the rosewood being used, and often by Gibson, these days is remarkably light in color. And I guess grenadillo is now called, generically, "rosewood" so who knows? It seems like every major builder (except PRS?) is using an increasing variety of fretboard woods (and "mahoganies" as well) so I guess we're going to have to get used to this somewhat lower standard. The stuff, whatever it is, probably works fine -- it's just unremarkable. Other makers, including Asian budget lines, seem to have access to more traditional looking rosewood, but I suspect this may be because they make far less substantial (that is, thinner) fretboards than Gibson does. Most of these lighter boards can be easily darkened -- I'm surprised Gibson does not do that.