FINGERBOARD WOODS

I have two favourite woods and use them almost exclusively.

Ebony (Diospyros spp.) This hard, heavy strong black wood grows in many species around the world, mainly in tropical regions. Ebony has been a favoured fingerboard wood forever, due to its strength, hardness and black colour. It is currently available but is classified as endangered in many places. I have good supplies accumulated over many years.

Wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) As mentioned under back and side woods, this Western Australian eucalypt is very hard, very heavy and very strong. It would be the ideal fingerboard but for one characteristic. Freshly milled, it is pale brown, yellow or even beige. Fortunately after a couple of years in playing it becomes a dark chocolate colour, almost black and looks fantastic, but its initial colour just does not look like a traditional fingerboard. It is far superior to the Rosewoods in strength and it takes frets beautifully. It also gives them up without splintering come refret time. In terms of its working properties and performance I prefer it over ebony. It is far superior to Indian Rosewood, which I keep but prefer not to use.

BRIDGE WOODS

The material, shape and size of a guitar bridge can strongly or subtly influence the tone by filtering the acoustic energy from the strings. I pay great attention to this and choose my woods carefully.

Ebony is used traditionally in the higher grade American steel-string guitars. I use it in replicating the time-honoured models, like the Dreadnought, but favour other woods for tone.

Rosewoods (Dalbergia spp) are used in bridges of many steel-string and classical guitars. Classicals use rosewood almost exclusively.  Brazillian, Honduras and other South American rosewoods sound best to my ear. Indian Rosewood is also excellent, giving a very rich sound.

African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) belongs to the same genus as the true rosewoods and like many of them it has a wonderful ringing tone. It makes superb bridges but is very hard to get. I try and use it instead of ebony where an ebony bridge is called for.

Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) Is a long-grained open-pored hardwood varying in colour from pale orange to bright red when freshly cut. It is less dense than the rosewoods and is a great choice for bridges in classical, flamenco guitars and smaller fingerstyle steel-strings where a quick response is required.