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Since this is my first post i thought i would introduce myself! My name is Steve. I am currently attending school at South east technical in Red Wing, Mn for their guitar repair and building program.

Right now i am planning my builds for next year. Im planning om making a myrtle topped lp style guitar with a walnut neck and body. Since all the wood i am using are from north America i figured i would stick with the theme for the fingerboard as well. As of right now i am looking at using pistachio wood. Has anyone had any experience using it? My main question is if you have to finish it or not?

The Janka hardness of pistachio is 1930, putting it a little harder than Purple Heart which I've used and seen used by others. Purple Heart isn't the hardest stuff out there but it does polish well enough. Check me if I'm wrong but I think Pistachio is a tighter grain with smaller pores than Purple Heart. If so then I'd expect it to polish well too.

There are other choices up the Janka scale of American woods though. Google Janka and see.....and here's a scale that includes some harder American woods near the top.http://www.oregonwildwood.com/janka.html

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Say HEY to David Vincent from Chris Pile in Wichita.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Persimmon is also a good choice. If you include Mexico by technicality, cocobolo and Mexican ebony are excellent choices. There's also Texas ebony.

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http://www.tinyhouseandland.com

and mesquite!

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

and Pecan!

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Tom at Northwinds has some Persimmon that is blackened the whole way through. Looks a lot like ebony.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

So i had a big fancy response typed up and i swear i posted. But i guess it disappeared. But long story short thank you guys for all the responses! I will defiantly look into some of the woods for future builds particularly the mesquite and mexican ebony! I think im gonna to stick with the pistachio because it kinda matches the color scheme of the top and i can just order it from Oregon wild woods.