Wenge as a fretboard?

axisus

I want something really 'woody' looking as a fretboard, and it has to be dark as well. Has anyone got experience of wenge, either on a bought guitar or used it on a neck? My recollection was that I read that wenge is a pain to work with?

Roland

Wenge is poisonous. If you get a splinter in your finger it goes septic, or so I’ve read. I had an NS-Stick with a Wenge neck. To me the grain looked too open for a fretboard. 

WezV

Yeah, it works well with a few things to watch out for.

Try to get quartersawn rather than flatsawn. Flatsawn looks prettier, but the lighter grain does wear quicker. A lot of old eko's have unevenly worn fretboards because of flatsawn wenge.

And yes, it's splinters are horrible

PeteC

Based on colour that you want I would recommend a nice panga panga fretboard blank.  They look very good but again be careful with splinters because its super sharp when splintered.   Ive used it on three builds and been really pleased with the results 

its pretty cheap too.  

Neilybob

I have a Warmoth wenge tele neck which I love on my partscaster. Haven't ever worked with Wenge though. 

Danielsguitars

I've used wenge and really liked it, just don't get splinters they're nasty, once it's finished no problems at all.

Think I'll be doing a 3 piece wenge neck on something next year.

Sporky

I've done Wenge fretboards. They're fine. Ziricote is easier to work with, but they're different sorts of pretty. 

WezV

Danielsguitars said:

I've used wenge and really liked it, just don't get splinters they're nasty, once it's finished no problems at all.

Think I'll be doing a 3 piece wenge neck on something next year.

I did a junior style with solid wenge neck and english ash body.  It ended up rather heavy and quite bright, but a lot of fun once i found a pickup that suited up

Danielsguitars

WezV said:

Danielsguitars said:

I've used wenge and really liked it, just don't get splinters they're nasty, once it's finished no problems at all.

Think I'll be doing a 3 piece wenge neck on something next year.

I did a junior style with solid wenge neck and english ash body.  It ended up rather heavy and quite bright, but a lot of fun once i found a pickup that suited up

I'm planning on a lightweight body blank with 3 single coils.

Was the neck really heavy or mostly the Ash as I know that's bloody heavy, I'm building an English ash LP but fully chambered.

WezV

Most of the weight was in the body, even with it thinned down a bit... but a solid wenge neck was still pretty heavy. 

Danielsguitars

WezV said:

Most of the weight was in the body, even with it thinned down a bit... but a solid wenge neck was still pretty heavy. 

Thanks for that, might try a different laminated neck then.

xGizmo

As other's have said i can get a bit splinter'y and those splinters are nasty if they go in...

I used Wenge on the Neck and FB of my last build (a headless Vader clone)

It does like to move (a lot) so i added some Carbon strips, Doesn't need any finish if you polish/sand it up 800/1000

It's also UV reactive and will darken quite a lot, freashly cut/exposed it's a light grey...Slotting this on the CNC was a PITA i think i broke about x10 0.6mm bit's, next time i use it i'll stick with the saw/slot box.

I have a nice 10mm thick wavy QS piece which is ideal for a few fretboards, I can grab some pic's of it if you like?

 

axisus

Gizmo said:

As other's have said i can get a bit splinter'y and those splinters are nasty if they go in...

I used Wenge on the Neck and FB of my last build (a headless Vader clone)

It does like to move (a lot) so i added some Carbon strips, Doesn't need any finish if you polish/sand it up 800/1000

It's also UV reactive and will darken quite a lot, freashly cut/exposed it's a light grey...Slotting this on the CNC was a PITA i think i broke about x10 0.6mm bit's, next time i use it i'll stick with the saw/slot box.

I have a nice 10mm thick wavy QS piece which is ideal for a few fretboards, I can grab some pic's of it if you like?

 

That looks superb! So are you selling fretboard size pieces?

xGizmo

axisus said:

That looks superb! So are you selling fretboard size pieces?

Thx,this neck also has some Inset block LED's that work really well either on or off, i was pretty happy with the build but there are still a few things left to tweak on it.....as always ;P

& yep I have one FB Sized Wenge blank left i was keeping it for a headless bass but im not that keen on working this stuff so yep it's up for sale if your interested.

It's 78mmx900x10 so plenty big enough, i'll fire you some pic's once i get home later on as my workshop wifi is a bit crap for uploading....also totally forgot about it but id also made a 25.5" 22 fret slotted 57mmx43mmx6mm 20" radius'ed board from another piece, i recall this was for a Strat project that got shelved when i got the NJ strat last year....I'll upload you a few pic's of that also might save you some work

Cheers

Gizmo

fretmeister

Warwick bass necks and boards used to be 100% wenge.

Very nice they are too.