| Official Luthiers Forum! http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
| Wenge for fretboard and bridge? http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=16637 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Peter Pii [ Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Wenge for fretboard and bridge? |
I bought a really nice piece of wenge 1 3/4 x 6 1/2 x 72, when I bought it I didn't know it doesn't bend to well and how difficult it is to work with. However I'm thinking that it might make some great looking fretboards and bridges. Anybody have any experience with this? Is it sonically suitable for a bridge? Is it hard enough for a fretboard? seems to be heavier that rosewood or ebony, maybe it'll just ad to much weight to the guitar. Peter |
|
| Author: | Mattia Valente [ Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Wenge for fretboard and bridge? |
Wenge's very commonly used as a fingerboard wood on electric basses (Warwick in particular is a big fan), so that should work fine. Not sure about its use in a bridge, though, as all the stuff I've worked with has been very split-prone/splintery, and the splinters like getting more or less everywhere and irritate if you don't remove them. I have seen several acoustics built with wenge back/sides as well, though, so while it may not be ideal in terms of bending, it's not impossible to do. As far as weight goes, it can be slightly heavier than most rosewoods, but it's roughly in the same density range overall. It's certainly lighter than ebony, though. People make necks with the stuff fairly regularly (I use it for laminates/contrast strips, since it looks good and is far easier to find than rosewood, for example). |
|
| Author: | Chas Freeborn [ Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Wenge for fretboard and bridge? |
I don't know why Wenge has such a bad rap around here. I've built with it, and yes, it does have a few bad habits, but it bends fine and if it doesn't crack very early in the process (when you're rough milling it), it holds together just fine. I think it makes a fine looking and sounding instrument. Due to the large pores it would not be my choice for typically unfinished (FB, bridge) parts of an instrument. -C |
|
| Author: | Kent Chasson [ Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Wenge for fretboard and bridge? |
Wenge is low damping and in theory would make great bridge material but I would not use quartersawn wenge for a pinned steel string bridge due the fact that it is so split prone. Six bridge pin holes roughly in line with the grain would be trouble waiting to happen. |
|
| Author: | Peter Pii [ Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Wenge for fretboard and bridge? |
Thanks for your replys guys. I think I'll give it a try, I'll use quarter sawn on the fretboard and off quarter on the bridge, probably angle the pins same as the saddle. Peter |
|
| Author: | James Ringelspaugh [ Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Wenge for fretboard and bridge? |
I have used it for back and sides and bridges. I didn't have any trouble bending it. It rings so very well and weighs about the same as rosewood, so I think it is great for bridges. Kent is right it is split prone. I angle the bridge pin slots so as not to have it run down a single grain line. The pores are so big I'm not sure I would try it as a fretboard. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|