Rosewood vs. Pao Ferro

  • Thread starter Thread starter dabluesman
  • Start date Start date
dabluesman

dabluesman

New member
Hey, what's the difference between rosewood and pao ferro fretboards? Thanks!
 
Pao ferro feels like ebony, but sounds like rosewood. Ebony is brighter sounding than rosewood.
 
I have found that guitars with rosewood boards will have more sustain and a slightly mellower(less bright ) charachter than ebony boards .
 
LMI describes pao ferro as the predominantly "current" choice for fingerboards, particularly among electric guitar manufacturers. It is a less expensive alternative to Indian rosewood and has equivalent qualities. As rosewoods become more scarce, their prices skyrocket and the quality of wood for the money declines. Hence the move towards alternative soundwoods.

Pao ferro is not a true rosewood, but it is a true fingerboard wood. Machaerium villosum . Comes from Brazil and Bolivia.

[This message has been edited by Treeline (edited 07-16-2000).]
 
You need to consider the guitar as a whole. One reason ebony is popular is its looks. Many guitars with ebony fingerboards have had the fingerboards dyed black; it is quite common and an accepted practice, particularly with the growing shortage of ebony.

Rosewood is not "cheap" and ebony is not always "better." There will be grades of each, and good quality rosewood (or pao ferro) is an excellent fingerboard material.

I prefer dyed ebony... because it provides a beautiful background for inlays. Too bad custom inlayed guitars are out of my reach... :D
 
Rosewood more sustain than Ebony? I can't even remember the last time I saw a Rosewood fretboard on a quality acoustic.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top