Fretboard options

[TroubledTreble]

Is it possible to have a fretboard option that is curly, burly, flamed or quilted maple? That is if someone wanted a neck wood of one type then topped with a fretboard of a figured maple.

It may sound like a strange request but I have a neck that is this way and I love it. The neck is standard maple and the fretboard is some strangely figured piece of maple. It seems to me this is a way to use some striking piece of wood that perhaps is not stable enough to make an entire neck from but is good enough to use as a fretboard.

I love the neck I have which is some MIK from long ago. It's a little bit between a boat and a fatback. If it fit a standard body (neck route) I would put it on one instead of the 5 piece hunk o' junk it's on.

 

[Fat Pete]

The builder only allows flame maple on flame maple and birdseye maple on birdseye maple but They're often more flexible if you give them a call. The only time you see figured maple boards on anything but figured maple necks in the showcase, is when they put them on walnut like this one:

 

[TroubledTreble]

Thanks Pete. That's an interesting piece there. I'm hoping that a "unique choice" can be added to the builder of fretboards like that one, and more, so that it can be selectively chosen.

 

[Fat Pete]

If you choose flame maple as the neck wood, you can then browse the uc flame maple boards - likewise for the birdseye. If there's one you like, just note the reference number and give W a call.

 

[TroubledTreble]

That would work... :icon_thumright:

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Occasionally pieces come & go to the showcase, but in general, flame & quilt are significantly softer than other hardwoods that are traditionally used for fingerboards.  Pieces that make it to the showcase are rare exceptions.
That's one reason why you'll likely never see spalted maple as a fingerboard option.

 

[TroubledTreble]

That would be nice to see some of those pieces show up as fretboards. I do have a zebrawood fretboard on a maple neck that is very nice. I don't know if I would want a spalted maple board but it does sound cool. Maybe it could be made tougher with some CA.