I Have Changed My Mind About Richlite Fretboards On Ukuleles!

Описание: It's a no-brainer. Richlite fretboards and bridges are the way to go!

Here's the article that changed my thinking about Richlite. I've included some of the article below but you can read the entire article by following the link.

https://guitargoblin.com/richlite-fre...

It’s a controversial subject among guitar snobs everywhere. Is Richlite an acceptable, quality replacement for traditional wood fretboards?

Many guitarists will undoubtedly say no. Others will say that Richlite fingerboards are fantastic and that they just got a bad rap.

Well, get off your high horses and meet me in the next section because, today, we’re going to settle this once and for all. And half of you aren’t going to like what I have to say!

What Is Richlite?
Richlite is a composite material that, among other things, is often used in place of traditional tonewoods for guitar fretboards and bridges. Made from recycled paper and pulp harvested from sustainably farmed trees, Richlite produces a hardened, durable material that they claim to be superior to other materials, especially ebony.

Other applications for Richlite include marine, sports, architecture, automotive and even aerospace industries.

Because it’s made from 65% recycled paper, they’re also considered a very environmentally friendly alternative. When you add on the endangered statuses of certain tree species like Ebony and Rosewood, Richlite can seem like an even better option for guitar manufacturers.

Ebony Vs Richlite Fretboards – Can You Tell The Difference?
With the widely popular Black Diamond Richlite fingerboards, it’s really easy to tell the difference by just looking at the guitar neck. There are no wood grains and they are solid black.

Many of Richlite’s other fretboards, however, are designed with a wood grain appearance to imitate real wood. Even then, upon close inspection, you can see that the Richlite isn’t porous like natural wood. The material is very smooth.

Do Richlite Fretboards Sound Different?
Richlite fretboards sound nearly identical to ebony and in some cases even better. You can expect a bright top end with very tight and defined low-end frequencies, just as you would with traditional ebony.

Martin Guitars actually did isolation comparison testing which concluded that the same guitars with Richlite fingerboards were even superior to those using ebony.

Richlite Fingerboards: Playability
As someone who has tested many guitars using Richlite fretboards, I can tell you that there is no downside related to the feel and playability.

One thing I hear people say is that it feels like plastic. That’s just simply not the case. While it’s a very smooth fretboard, it doesn’t feel cheap or glossy like plastic. You probably wouldn’t know you were playing on Richlite unless you were looking for it though.

Richlite Fretboard Care
There isn’t really any maintenance involved, other than wiping it down with a soft cloth sometimes. Richlite doesn’t corrode or absorb oils and dirt.

You’ll never need to worry about oiling your fretboard as you do with naturals tonewoods. Richlite is extremely stable and never shrinks, so it will never need to have a second fret dressing.

Ebony fingerboards often crack up a little at the seam where the fretboard meets the neck due to expansion and contraction over time*. While this doesn’t affect the playability, it can affect resale value. Richlite doesn’t have that issue.

You will hear occasionally hear that it’s harder to replace the frets on a Richlite fingerboard because it’s brittle and chips easily. This is a myth. It’s actually stronger and better to work with, actually chipping less than ebony.