Why Not More Madagascar Rosewood Hype?

[Uncle Gary]

I agree with Al. IR is pretty good, but you also have to realize that Gibson as of 2013 started using steel thumbwheels on the ABR-1.
When you swap these out for plated brass a good bit of that snap is gone. For Historical reference I am personally dying to try Brazilian.

I think the steel thumbwheels may have started a bit earlier. My '12 R0 had them. "Snap" notwithstanding, I replaced them with brass, which seemed to work better, at least to my ears.

Okay, I admit I'm splitting hairs here, probably any REAL tonal difference is between my ears.

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[J.D.]

The steel thumbwheels (with coarse knurling) were introduced with the current no-wire bridges, circa 2009.

 

[EdwardR9]

The steel thumbwheels (with coarse knurling) were introduced with the current no-wire bridges, circa 2009.

Makes perfect sense to me. Prior to 2013 the last R9 I bough was in 2008 and they were brass and I think it had the wired ABR-1.
I do remember the Plek sticker though, so my recollection may be fuzzy. That was a fat sounding guitar.

 

[J.D.]

Plek arrived '06 IIRC

 

[EdwardR9]

Plek arrived '06 IIRC

You are right. Found the receipt and it was July 2006. You are damn knowledgable J.D., but please forgive me I am going to be 44 and have had
about 60 guitars and only 78 brain cells.

 

[J.D.]

:jim

 

[Sol]

Why not more? Perhaps it's because each rosewood type brings with it its own unique quality and is just one of many parts and materials, with all the variance you find in in any instrument made of wood wire and magnets. (A fingerboard change won't rescue a lemon).

I bought my first new Gibson Les Paul with the help of my father, a Luthier (now long retired) Back in 1992. I wanted a sunburst (obviously) but after listening to the acoustic tone of all the Les Paul guitars in the store, he pointed to an all black Standard and said 'that's the one'.
All these yrs later and I'm still gigging with it, and wouldn't change a thing. I've also lost count of the comments made regarding its great sound.
I've since taken over where my father left off, and have stock of rosewood, some of it Brazilian, some Santos,the rest is Indian but grown in Indonesia.

Most Luthiers would agree that the fingerboard can have an effect on the tone of a guitar out of all proportion to its mass, and was shocked the first time I used Dalbergia negra (Braz rosewood) on a familiar model to us all. Great detail,a more sensitive, faster response, most of what you've already heard about.
It can be brittle though, and I first heard about Madagascar rosewood from the acoustic guys who said this stuff has the tone of Braz but is less likely to split.

I'd wanted a Historic Les Paul for yrs and tried so many and passed, but it was a 2004 R7 that finally responded with the tonal characteristics indistinguishable from guitars Id built with Brazilian rosewood.

So, does a fingerboard a guitar make? Not by a long shot. So much of what makes a great sounding and playing guitar is in the way that guitar is 'voiced', the wood selection, its setup, its electrics, in fact all the things you can learn from forum members not to mention Dan Earlwine.

A guitar cannot be improved by a change of fingerboard, altered perhaps, but I wouldn't change the fingerboard of my '92 Les Paul Standard for all the tea in China.
FYI the braz rosewood we have in stock was cut Pre war, long before CITIES, and when its gone no attempt will be made to find more. I haven't looked into the Madagascar situation in great detail, but know its such a fragile ecosystem over there that once gone I will persue alternatives.

As a final perspective: The changes Gibson has made since the issues of 2012 ,the hide glue and new pickups to mention just two, has resulted in some of the most glowing reviews I've ever seen on this forum. A place renowned for its unflinching appraisal to every aspect of the company's drive to deliver the look feel and tone of the originals. It's such a shame that the finest tonewooods come from the most fragile ecosystems. I conclude that Gibson are producing some of their best guitars despite some of the limitations placed upon them, no mean feat

 

[oldflame]

Here's the lovely Madagascan board off my old Rossington.....

 

[J.D.]

That sure looks like BRW.

 

[EdwardR9]

That sure looks like BRW.

I agree.

I have something coming in the mail to show you J.D., may be of an Imperial nature......

 

[oldflame]

I agree.

I have something coming in the mail to show you J.D., may be of an Imperial nature......

That's what I though but it didn't smell like chocolate.

 

[J.D.]

A lot of those Rossingtons did have BRW.

 

[oldflame]

A lot of those Rossingtons did have BRW.

Well, apparently not.

 

[Warmy]

I remember my 2005 R8 had this type fretboard, not sure how I felt about it - had a really slick, almost oily feel. Can't say i ever really bonded with it. It was really light colored too, which I didn't care for.

Sold it to a dealer and he posted it on his website saying the fretboard was *almost Brazilian looking*

 

[J.D.]

2005 Historic would almost certainly be MRW, and it is often very close in look and feel to BRW.

 

[Warmy]

2005 Historic would almost certainly be MRW, and it is often very close in look and feel to BRW.

Interesting. I don't believe I've ever played a BRW guitar - not sure I'd be into it based on my experience with MRW.

 

[bluesjuke]

'03 '59 Nashville 335

 

[sidekick]

MRW fingerboard '03 R9, (no longer with me) just outside the official BR numbered run.

Looked to the eye like 'chocolate' BR with a nice 'smell' and 'waxy' feel too ... It was a great guitar to play, (with a 'fast' neck feel) but I had a rare UK made 'old wood' replica LP at the time and the R9 went to another home.

 

[J.D.]

'03 '59 Nashville 335

Very nice. The board has that heavy, dark streak lengthwise that is unmistakable MRW.

 

[bluesjuke]

Thanks, my '06 '59 Nashville Historic 335 also has it but not quite as pronounced mostly due the board being darker.