Maple Fretboard & Bridge Question

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mjmeehan
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Maple Fretboard & Bridge Question

Post by mjmeehan »

I've never seen any variety of maple as a fretboard or bridge on an acoustic guitar. It's even difficult to find maple in a bridge blank. Is it a matter of aesthetics (light colored wood where we're used to seeing dark) or is there another reason?
kencierp

Re: Maple Fretboard & Bridge Question

Post by kencierp »

Maple finger-boards are coated with a heavy Epoxy finish otherwise body oils and bronze tarnish stains causing a pretty ugly black/green mess. The tarnish residue mostly likely will stain a bridge as well. I believe the "Reranch" guitar refinishing website shows how to protect the finger-board.
Jim_H
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Re: Maple Fretboard & Bridge Question

Post by Jim_H »

I put maple bindings on the fretboard of my first guitar, and promise I will never do it again (at least not on one I'm building for me). It's just too hard to keep clean unless it's under a bunch of finish.
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mjmeehan
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Re: Maple Fretboard & Bridge Question

Post by mjmeehan »

Thanks for the info. I can see where an acoustic fretboard all slathered up like a telecaster's would be unappealing. At least to me.
tippie53
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Re: Maple Fretboard & Bridge Question

Post by tippie53 »

Maple and a few other light woods are often dyed black or EBONIZED to be used for fretboards . With ebony getting harder to come by it isn't a bad idea to look for alternatives before you have to use other woods.
John Hall
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Ken Hundley
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Re: Maple Fretboard & Bridge Question

Post by Ken Hundley »

Back on the old acoustic guitar forums, I raised this question as well. The pros couldn't understand why I would use maple for a bridge, until I explained I wanted to make either an all padauk guitar, or an all wenge guitar. Either would use maple bindings, and I wanted to tie the binding and the maple together. Set them back for a few minutes, but the reaction was "Never even thought of matchning things up that way....try it and let us know....don't see why it wouldn't work". Still haven't done it, but would like too.
Ken Hundley
Nocturnal Guitars
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So, my big brother was playing guitar and I figured I'd try it too.
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
tippie53
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Re: Maple Fretboard & Bridge Question

Post by tippie53 »

First off there are many different maples. I would suspect you will be using Rock maple or another specie of hard maple. Most maples are a bit softer for bridges and you will have some dampening effect . Be sure you select the right one . Also be carefull of grain .
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Ken Hundley
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Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:34 am
Location: Wilmette, IL

Re: Maple Fretboard & Bridge Question

Post by Ken Hundley »

Yeah, I would orient the grain about 45 degrees from both the nut slot and the vertical, or something close to that.
Ken Hundley
Nocturnal Guitars
http://www.nocturnalguitars.com

So, my big brother was playing guitar and I figured I'd try it too.
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
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