Texas07R8
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2008
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I've seen a wide variety of fretboards on the Historics/ReIssues. Just a few thoughts here and I'd like to hear what you think about this subject.
My first R8 had almost a 1/2" wide light red/brown streak or two down the fretboard against a much darker board.
My new R8's fretboard is really dark, almost ebony in color, and I've noticed the pores and grooves are much smaller in size and frequency than the streaked neck of my first R8. My 87 Custom ebony neck is flat smooth with virtually no open pores or grooves. My new R8's dark neck is probably in the middle between the striped R8 fretboard and the smooth ebony fretboard on my Custom as far as grooves and pores.
Is there a trend of darker rosewood having typically less grooves and pores than lighter or these streaked necks? Or is it just my examples?
I love the look of those streaked necks, especially the ones with some good wave in it that makes it look Brazilian. They just look amazing to me. I'd love to find one on a nice wide flame R9 like those 03R8BR.
So this begs a question, does a denser fretboard wood with few or no open pores and grooves have better sustain and tonal qualities that a lesser grade wood on the fretboard?
Many Historic/Reissues I've seen lately have had LARGE grooves running down the entire fretboard like my first R8 with the light streak down the neck had a lot of deep open grooves and pores all over the fretboard.
I wonder if sweat and other contaminates will weep into the grooves and wear the neck much faster and unevenly on those Historic and Reissues that have those type necks.
Just wondering, what's your thoughts on the differences in the necks and if you've noticed the same thing I have. I'm sure not all are like that but it seems that most Historic seem to have the highly pored and grooved fretboards. Funny that most production Les Paul series seem to have much smoother fretboards but I don't know what kind of rosewood they use but it does look different the the Historics.
Also are there any non "Custom" Les Pauls with ebony necks?
My first R8 had almost a 1/2" wide light red/brown streak or two down the fretboard against a much darker board.
My new R8's fretboard is really dark, almost ebony in color, and I've noticed the pores and grooves are much smaller in size and frequency than the streaked neck of my first R8. My 87 Custom ebony neck is flat smooth with virtually no open pores or grooves. My new R8's dark neck is probably in the middle between the striped R8 fretboard and the smooth ebony fretboard on my Custom as far as grooves and pores.
Is there a trend of darker rosewood having typically less grooves and pores than lighter or these streaked necks? Or is it just my examples?
I love the look of those streaked necks, especially the ones with some good wave in it that makes it look Brazilian. They just look amazing to me. I'd love to find one on a nice wide flame R9 like those 03R8BR.
So this begs a question, does a denser fretboard wood with few or no open pores and grooves have better sustain and tonal qualities that a lesser grade wood on the fretboard?
Many Historic/Reissues I've seen lately have had LARGE grooves running down the entire fretboard like my first R8 with the light streak down the neck had a lot of deep open grooves and pores all over the fretboard.
I wonder if sweat and other contaminates will weep into the grooves and wear the neck much faster and unevenly on those Historic and Reissues that have those type necks.
Just wondering, what's your thoughts on the differences in the necks and if you've noticed the same thing I have. I'm sure not all are like that but it seems that most Historic seem to have the highly pored and grooved fretboards. Funny that most production Les Paul series seem to have much smoother fretboards but I don't know what kind of rosewood they use but it does look different the the Historics.
Also are there any non "Custom" Les Pauls with ebony necks?
