Richlite Fretboard Questions Answered in this FAQ Video

Although we’ve been making Richlite since 1943, it’s a fairly new material to the guitar industry. We put together a video with our most frequently asked questions and explain everything down to the nitty-gritty details. See time stamps below for specific questions.
1. How Does Richlite Sound? - 00:17
2. How is re-fretting with a Richlite fingerboard? - 00:49
3. How does Richlite feel? - 01:14
4. How long will Richlite last? - 01:33
5. How durable is a Richlite fingerboard? - 01:57
6. How does Richlite stand up to temperature and humidity? - 02:19
7. Do I need to maintain a Richlite fingerboard? - 02:52
8. Can I fabricate Richlite the same as wood? 03:24
9. What are the different ways to finish a Richlite fingerboard? 04:42
10. What thicknesses of Richlite are available for different applications? - 05:18
11. Can Richlite be used on an instrument anywhere other than a fingerboard? - 05:55
12. Can you explain milled vs. unmilled multilayered Richlite? 06:39
13. Why is Richlite expensive? - 07:01
14. Why does an instrument featuring Richlite cost the same as an ebony one? - 07:42
15. Where can I buy Richlite? - 07:59
Shop Richlite fretboards here: bit.ly/ShopRichliteFretboards
Music composed by Peppino D'Agostino BMI - Recorded at Onewaystudio by Masaki Liu.

[@apostolispaspalakis2627]

THANK YOU! Finally someone who knows what they are talking about. It's scientifically proven there are no sound differences in woods/fretboards for electric guitars. Grwat video!

[@acepaul407]

I would gladly replace ebony with Richlite. this isn't the old days anymore where you can just take harvest the earth without any repercussions. Your music will not suffer because of the change in the fretboard material. Somethings are much more important.

[@Davis_Ho]

Just got my brand new Custom made guitar with Richlite fretboard and I'm very pleased with it, feels so smooth and way more stable than real ebony, also looks way better than ebony. Really do hope more company start using them in production guitars.

[@ramencurry6672]

Richlite is arguably the best fretboard. It sounds great and you will not have to worry about possible shrinking and fret sprouts like with ebony. It’s my choice if I were to build a guitar neck.

[@Dirsmuutio]

Ebony 4 life

[@oscarestrada6276]

Will getting water on it damage it?

[@trenthogan4212]

I played a gorgeous, high-end Godin Metropolis LTD with a Richlite fretboard and it blew me away. I had to purchase it. It equals any of my other high-end guitars and the fretboard is fantastic.

[@DannyHauger]

Thanks for making this video and breaking down some of the unique components.

[@-GRAVESITE-]

How tf have I never heard of this? I binge watch guitar review, cover play throughs, you name it. This Richlite stuff is really cool.

[@RichliteCompany]

Thank you!

[@MrBighairyass]

I have a Richlite 355 and it is great!

[@charlesrocks]

I’m a fan of richlite. Thanks for making a great product.

[@cnrfitzgerald]

1:15 Feel 1:35 Last 1:58 Durability 2:20 Temperature 2:53 Maintenance

[@AnderzP]

Very informative. Thanks !

[@chrispile3878]

Guitar repairman with over 40 years at the bench here. I've worked on Gibsons and Martins with Richlite fingerboards. I have no problems working with the material, and my clients have found that Richlite sounds and plays like real wood. I am currently considering using Richlite for guitar parts other than fingerboards, too. All the haters should be ignored.

[@planetdigital300]

'haters' - so if you don't live recycled paper and resin as a fingerboard - you are a 'hater'?

[@chrispile3878]

@@planetdigital300 Live??? Composites have been part of stringed instrument building for a long time. The haters are the ignorant ones who don't know what they are talking about.

[@planetdigital300]

@@chrispile3878 which of course sir is anyone who has opinions that aren't like yours - 'composites' as you call them - are the way guitar makers cut costs - perhaps you are referring to laminates - go ahead - fret your music on recycled garbage and resin - me and my students will stay with rosewood, which is CHEAPER than richlite which tells you there is NO shortage of rosewood from guitar fretboards (it is housing and furniture) - haters are ignorant ones - and King Chris decides who are intelligent and ignorant - I will happily stay ignorant with my 15 all-wood fretboards and piss on this trend - which will extend to sides and back one day - and the reason is - environmental BS (all the crap chemicals in the richlite process will leach into the earth one day) - and the other is manufacturing-based profit margins at the sold-out companies - which is most of them

[@VostorVic]

I have a Godin semi acoustic fretless 5 string bass with piezo's and a richlite fingerboard. It plays well and it sounds wonderful! Very warm and doublebass-like. That is why I intend to use it in my own builds. (for a bass guitar and a fullrange tapguitar) I will keep you informed!

[@leedee4968]

Awesome you all sold me on Richlite🎉

[@walther9161]

So glad this was posted because my Martin has it and I wasn’t informed what it was when I purchased the guitar.. now I know I don’t need to mess with it ..😊

[@Guerrini2954]

Same here. I have a D10-E2 and didn´t know that the Fingerboard is from Richlite. So far I cannot say anything negative about it.

[@Anteksanteri]

Tried one of the richlite godins and thought the surface was extremely smooth. Will definitely look into this.

[@anthonyroach7974]

Played a Gibson J45 studio today with the Richlite ..Looked gorgeous very dark ..black ..felt great to..nobody told you would never guess ..think it’s phycological ..better that chopping trees down ..Lovely smooth feel ..love dark fingerboards ..

[@Hostile_Design]

Just got my first Richlite instrument here, a Strandberg bass. I do miss the look of the grain featured on my guitar's fretboard a little, probably due to nostalgia or something. But I don't miss having to clean up, oil, or keep an eye on my fret ends. This specific fingerboard had a little bit more friction to it out of the box than my guitar's ebony board does, but once some finger grease got on there, they feel virtually identical, minus the inconsistencies of the ebony board (obviously, the ebony board has been oiled a few times, etc, which plays in as well). I have no doubt that when it comes down to it, this is a superior product.

[@jeetray11]

I used hide glue to glue a richlite fretboard on my banjo neck (walnut). It is still work in progress and I haven't used the final finish on the neck yet. I am noticing the glue weeps/sweats when I take the neck on my garage that does not have any heating. The sweating of glue happens on side edges on the glue joint line only. Inside home it is usually dry where I have my furnace heating. Is this a known issue. How can I get rid of it? If I apply 3 coats of tru oil on the neck wood and the side edges of richlite will it stop it? Of course this will make the side of the richlite shinier than the fretboard. Should I apply tru oil on the top of the fretboard so the shine/sheen looks the same?

[@haroldsanchez8235]

Thanks for D information on this product I have it on my Martin now how do I clean it thank you

[@mikefinley4367]

Awesome ... You just made a sale,possibly multiple ones.

[@steveshaw1713]

Can you use Richlite for an acoustic guitar bridge. I am looking for a fretboard and bridge to look like rosewood, but play like ebony

[@eunicemayet1453]

ang galing nyo naman sir keep it up

[@stevemorse108]

Do you need to clean and treat with fretboard conditioner ?

[@anthonyroach7974]

Sounds good ..

[@denniscohle3786]

Is it possible to construct a whole neck out of Richlite?

[@canadiancombatwombatthe3rd782]

I have a little scratch in my richlite fretboard, any tips to repair it?

[@faustinogarciabassplayer3174]

Can the edges be rounded out to make it rolled edges?

[@NunchucksHabit]

I've never played a better fretboard than Richlite & I'd trade any fretboard I've ever played with it. It's smooth, flawless & more resistant to temp/humidity changes to anything (except for maybe the stainless steel fretboards they're making now...).

[@alexisoru6415]

I put richlite in my jackson and it still sounds amazing and looks so much better than ebony in my opinion fully recommended. Greetings from Peru.

[@qinghai1]

What part did you put it in? The rear like I do your girl?

[@graphicsociety1]

Hi there, is Ebonol material as Richlite?

[@MulletTV]

I have Richlite fretboard on Martin DX. It’s kinda benign.

[@maximuslanden7856]

you all prolly dont care at all but does any of you know of a trick to log back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the login password. I would love any tips you can give me

[@camdynabraham1776]

@Maximus Landen instablaster ;)

[@maximuslanden7856]

@Camdyn Abraham Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and im trying it out atm. I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@professored7169]

This is a scam btw ^

[@qinghai1]

I get your girl from benign all the time dude. She’s a skank.

[@FloridaManMatty]

I’m beginning my first guitar build this week for my daughter and will be using Richlite for the fretboard. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it is to work with and, over time, how well it holds up. If it’s half as good as them interwebs says it is...whooo boy!

[@edorissen]

how did it turn out dude?

[@ramencurry6672]

I like richlight

[@zenithchan1646]

Would you care to share any updates?

[@nikkikay4188]

Hi, pals. I work as a luthier and had a chance to work with "tech ebony" (i suppose, it was some sort of richlite) fretboard while refretting a Flight A555 Transacoustic not a while ago. Problen was than the neck wood, whick is koa, shrunk quite dramatically, and fretboard didn't, so the backbow was INSANE. I sanded off the hill, and here is what i noticed: 1) It's very hard, maybe, harder than ebony. Difficult to even scratch 2) Dust is as irritative as a real ebony 3) It chips like hell. Warm up frets and pull out gently 4) Do the fretboard sanding and polishing COMPLETELY done cosmetically before installing the freys, becaude it's almost impossible to make it look pretty. Glue traces will stay. Scrathes between the tlfrets are very hard to

[@charlief.]

Is Richlite the same as ebonol?

[@leeanbasaenmusic]

How to clean/maintain a richlite fretboard? Is lemon oil recommended?

[@RichliteCompany]

We recommend using a damp town and soap, no need to oil Richlite.

[@Tricknologyinc]

Can you make it thinner for acoustic guitar tops and laminate applications?

[@FB-gm6el]

is it sandable...? or does it have an exterior coating of some kind? where might one get a sample...?

[@RichliteCompany]

Yes you can sand it. Machines with standard tooling, the same as working with hard wood. All mating surfaces of Richlite to wood needs to be abraded or scored for proper adhesion. 100-150 grit. Fret slots can be cut with carbide cutters or diamond tooling. You can purchase one from our website www.Richlite.com or you can email [e-mail] for a small sample

[@lokilaufeyson3983]

You had me at skateboard ramps ive skated my hole life and i know how durable thats stuff is i didnt know it was the same stuff it lives through bmx bikes with steel pegs and pedals and people skating on it all day

[@captainamerica9353]

That doesn't mean it belongs on a quality guitar.

[@chrispile3878]

@@captainamerica9353 - Doesn't mean it doesn't, either.

[@patrickkem689]

Wondering if hemp has ever been attempted for substitute to paper,, thank you

[@RichliteCompany]

Good question! Yes! We used to use hemp paper as well but didn't seem to sell very well. We are looking at bringing it back, we will keep you updated when that happens.

[@aligatorsandwitch72]

I would love if you guys could work with Warmoth guitars so they can provide a richlite option to their necks

[@RichliteCompany]

We do!

[@Pirushu]

I have another question, if I use this material on a guitar, don't I have to hydrate it like real wood?

[@Proper_Gander]

Do the fretboards come with frets pre-slotted or is it completely blank?

[@RichliteCompany]

They are blank, you will need to have it machined

[@mailvilla]

05/23/2022: ​I viewed KZbin videos on how Richlite is made for guitars. The videos showed large sheets of special paper soaked in a liquid resin. I am looking at buying a Martin Special GPC All-Solid Grand Performance Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural, which has a Richlite fretboard. The only bad review of this guitar was like most guitars, it doe not have a rolled fingerboard edge. So, if I sanded it to take the sharp edge off, I do not want to see paper layers. Also, if in time my fingernails dug into the fretboard and I wanted to sand that out too? So, does sanding reveal layers of paper?

[@ringosteve21]

I think just depending on what you choose. The bridge didn't look like the radius fretboard in the example. I'd round the edges and hope for a cool kind of binding effect, personally.

[@qinghai1]

It’s only now 3/11/2022 you fuctard.

[@edt.5118]

Are there Richlite blanks for ukulele bridges?

[@chrispile3878]

They could be made by any experienced and competent luthier.

[@Jdsmith0895]

Is there a way to buy a neck with a richlite fingerboard already on it? I’m just a lefty looking for a good fretboard/neck

[@breaux2806]

same, I asked Warmoth and they said they don't make them and don't have any plans to make them in the future

[@marioholler9491]

I‘d recommend a roasted maple neck, warmoth makes them for a reasonable price, and they’re very stable

[@ggatinggatincom]

I've been asking around for a Tele style neck with a Richlite fingerboard and no luck so far from local luthiers or Musickraft. Please post if you find someone who makes such a thing.

[@GaBeSBR]

I have 4 Gibson Les Pauls. recently I bought an used Black Beauty 2012 and I had no idea it wasn't ebony fingerboard. I took it to a luthier and he tough it was ebony too. I must say, it feels great and sounds great. You can't see the difference! I think people are prejudiced, they don't even try the stuff!

[@willbrosha1982]

^I agree I just got a black beauty the same year and the rich lite is perfect I can’t imagine ebony being any better

[@vallesvaldez]

I love the look and feel to it. It's like a fretboard that has just been cleaned and oiled.

[@professored7169]

I would rather have an ebony tbh cant imagine spending the same price for a paper "plywood" board

[@GaBeSBR]

@@professored7169 you clearly don't know what you are talking about.

[@qinghai1]

@@professored7169 should be “special “ ed

[@bobhickman4976]

Glad to see real ebony back on the Gibson Les Paul Customs. I would not buy a custom with the Richlite, so I bought a Standard with Rosewood and am happy with it.

[@gprz843]

My Gibson Les Paul has a richlite fingerboard, boomers love my tone until I tell him what it is.

[@eckhardt76]

I never heard of this material before.. I'm thinking about having my local luthier build me a custom neck for my Strat.. I'll consider this. FYI I'm a Boomer too lol..

[@gprz843]

Matt Eckhardt great material man, great feeling and looks great.

[@eckhardt76]

@@gprz843 I would love to hear a soundclip:)

[@gprz843]

Matt Eckhardt I don’t have any sound clips but look for the 2018 Gibson Les Paul Player Plus, killer guitars with Richlite fingerboard

[@eckhardt76]

@@gprz843 Ok, will do. Thanks.

[@rick381v69]

My Gibson ES 275 has a Richlite fingerboard which I find to be a superior product to ebony. Unfortunately the market is so traditional that they trying to move back to ebony.

[@GiordanoSantiago]

It's a "technical wood“?

[@RockYourrMind]

any difference between Richlite and Micarta fretboards ?

[@chrispile3878]

I think Micarta uses cloth, not paper - but it should function exactly the same.

[@djcgtrbass]

Are string cleaners safe with a Richlite fretboard?

[@adamcasey3365]

Yes

[@qinghai1]

No. It’ll melt.

[@johntrik]

How can you clean the fingerboard ??? Is oil or alcohol safe ?????

[@RichliteCompany]

You only need a damp towel with warm water, no need to add anything else to clean it.

[@johnnygonzales3211]

I got me a 2017 and 2018 Gibson Les Paul Standard and waited for a custom to come back with ebony im getting one shipped on the 27th😜

[@edsonmarquezani]

How does fretboard impact sounds if in fretted instruments strings are actually FRETS, metal, not wood?

[@SxSxG666]

The fretboard resonates and therefore shapes the sound of a guitar.

[@lambdaprog]

I would like to try it on Ouds.

[@RichliteCompany]

Email us and we will send you a fretboard! [e-mail]

[@JangYounghwan]

What about the sound sustainability(not environmental sustainability)? Would its sound sustain the similar length as ebony?

[@RichliteCompany]

Great question. Absolutely would sustain the length as ebony.

[@JangYounghwan]

@@RichliteCompany BTW I found that you are a Seattle based company. I am so proud that I have a great local business like you!

[@RichliteCompany]

@@JangYounghwan Thank you! Yes we have been in Tacoma WA since 1943--same location, family owned. Thanks for your support!

[@2216sammy]

@@RichliteCompany Shocked that you would say it sustains just as long . I highly doubt it does but I'm sure it's satisfactory enough for most .

[@kristopherdavis5824]

Does it come in white?

[@qinghai1]

Fukin racist.

[@MeneerDick1]

Where can I but Richlite unslotted fretboards ? I live in Holland

[@RichliteCompany]

you can buy from our website www.Richlite.com

[@vidamedelafey5662]

@@RichliteCompany Not completely true, I have tried to order and you guys don't ship to Europe, it is very hard to find it here (I live in Switzerland)

[@RichliteCompany]

@@vidamedelafey5662 We have a distributor in the UK that can ship fretboards to you, www.surfacematter.co.uk

[@ryleitdept]

Is it earth friendly like a normal wood would do?

[@GaBeSBR]

Wood isn't friendly, because we don't have wood anymore. That's way materials like Richlite was developed.

[@qinghai1]

No. It kills puppies and kittens.

[@ryleitdept]

@@qinghai1 nyeeee

[@andrew_khz]

so, can i clean richlite freatboard with alcohol?

[@mocotonio]

Yes Water works best in my experience.

[@TheMissing62]

@@mocotonio So let´s drink alcohol and use water for cleansing

[@SxSxG666]

I play a Gibson SG Baritone (the one hanging in the background) with a richlite fretboard. The neck feels really stiff and a lot harder then any other guitar I know. Can't say for sure it is because of the richlite but I assume. Great sounding instrument but I dislike the fact that the material has no structure like wood. Still prefer wood just because it is a natural product and for how it looks.

[@ThorsShadow]

Richlite is made from (recycled) paper, dude. Paper is made from wood. Richlite isn't plastic or whatever.

[@SxSxG666]

@@ThorsShadow Ketchup is made from tomatoes and if it is all the same to you feel free to cut your next guitar out of a cardboard box. After all it's all wood.

[@nikosstr7908]

Since richlite is so stable, why don't woodwinds manufacturers use it?

[@fouellet1701]

They use another material called Ebonite for clarinets

[@nikosstr7908]

@@fouellet1701 I actually own an ebonite made clarinet. But the thing is that ebonite is just hardened rubber. On the other hand richlite is press paper and resin. Also most clarinet makers seem to have stopped using ebonite in their budget and entry level models since 2016. They use ABS instead, since it's cheaper and easier to work with.

[@fouellet1701]

@@nikosstr7908 : They would need big blanks of Richlite to bore the clarinet, probably too expensive. Many clarinets are now made from granadilla wood powder!

[@craigmeers6877]

I am generally not picky about guitars or wood types but I hate this stuff. Feels so cheap and porous. It’s on a gothic les Paul I own. It’s an American les Paul too and the cheapest made guitar I own. Really disappointing

[@2216sammy]

It feels cheap and porous because IT IS cheap and porous .

[@stevemorse108]

I bought a Godin Multiac nylon string guitar and was very disappointed to discover that the fingerboard way not ebony as I had believed but richlite and wonder whether it explains the tinny, inorganic sound of the instrument mainly when not amplified. The only advantage that I can see is the ecological argument which of course should be taken seriously but I think that if a guitar doesn't have a wooden fingerboard this should be brought to the attention of the potential buyer.

[@genustinca5565]

You didn't look at the specs before buying??

[@jaezryl]

@@genustinca5565 He played it and it sounds good so he bought it until he knew it wasn't ebony and suddenly the tone changed. Typical

[@qinghai1]

Maybe you should know what is in your hand before you buy it fuctard.

[@stevemorse108]

⁠@@genustinca5565i 1:54 should have checked for sure but I had a gig the next day and honestly it never occurred to me that a guitar in this price range would not be made of real wood.

[@goodboyringo9716]

I wonder why they don't name it poorlite?

[@chrispile3878]

Because they are not dolts.

[@goodboyringo9716]

@@chrispile3878 but you are

[@chrispile3878]

@@goodboyringo9716- Did I mention you voted for that loser Bernie?

[@drkaplin98]

Can you scallop a richlite fretboard?

[@adamcasey3365]

It can be worked with in the same way and with the same materials as ebony or rosewood.

[@truffeltroll6668]

Would be cool to buy them pre-scalloped

[@chrispile3878]

Routers or sandpaper.

[@fazooleq1523]

Finger "oil" is not suitable for conditioning wood- there is some sebum but mostly sweat and excreted urea and electrolytes. It's more like urine than natural oil.....this finger oil topic is a common myth.

[@cydonia9342]

this is not wood...

[@669rd]

but neeeaaaaaaaaah

[@stephensmith1034]

I can’t play an Ebony board to save my life. My fingers feel like they’re on sandpaper, and just don’t move. I still prefer Rosewood.

[@espinogamer6641]

el richlite se estropea con el uso, ya toca remplazarlo todo

[@loki-thegodofmischief3288]

I swear by richlite, don't care what boomers say. It's like having a photograph of a perfectly set up neck & unlike ebony it doesn't crack, spit out frets or require truss rod adjustments whenever the temperature changes. It looks like ebony, feels like ebony & tonally sounds no different, if not better than ebony. Just without the drama

[@2216sammy]

It's recycled paper dude , it's dirt cheap garbage.

[@baddestmofoalive]

Martin tested and said Richlite is “better”?? Yeah, if I was trying to sell people on a $1500 guitar with a plastic fretboard, my marketing team would say scientists determined it’s the best thing since sliced bread, too. Funny thing is if you call Martin and ask them why they only use it in their lower tier guitars and not the top tier ones even thought it’s “superior”, they will say they would prefer to still use wood, and the decision is all about tonewood scarcity and filling orders.

[@bigal25938]

My new martin hd28 has the ugliest blond streaky fret board I’ve ever seen. Why did they make it so ugly!

[@Whitemoon379]

Rather play on an organic fingerboard over synthetic.

[@midnightwind8067]

I would never pay for any guitar with a synthetic fretboard. I have no desire for fake wood in my music.

[@loki-thegodofmischief3288]

lol bet you don't mind all that plastic on your guitar though...

[@dylanthomas7443]

I will never come near a Martin or a Seagull again. Thanks for letting us know. Ebony is Ebony.

[@chrispile3878]

And it's in short supply.

[@captainamerica9353]

A plastic fingerboard as expensive as Ebony? Umm, ok that makes sense?

[@edorissen]

yeah, it does. It is not even plastic, but resin and paper.

[@captainamerica9353]

@@silent5486 , ok, it's not exactly plastic, and I'm not saying it is junk, but would prefer real wood on expensive American guitars, before the natives burn it all for firewood, which is often the case.

[@craigmeers6877]

I have one and I hate it. It feels like dried paper honestly. I have an American les Paul gothic studio. I thought it was ebony when I got it but I immediately could tell it was not. The fingerboard feels rough to me. I’m generally not picky about what wood type is on my fretboard either. I like rosewood to maple but this stuff is crap.

[@pauls064]

Okay it’s nothing at all like plastic. Like zero similarity... it’s a paper/wood product

[@vallesvaldez]

It's not expensive as ebony. It's more economic. It's actually really good.

[@zippy3711]

I would use them, if they sold for $1.oo per unit. Its plastic !

[@adamcasey3365]

So frustrating when people say this; it's not plastic! It's a paper/wood composite.

[@pauls064]

It’s nothing like plastic. not even a similarity

[@vallesvaldez]

It's actually really good.

[@derekallen8060]

When did we start making plastic from trees?

[@TheMissing62]

I find it abusive that it is an expensive material, it should be widely available and at a price within everyone's reach; but of course, it is about fashion and business. Bad people.

[@chrispile3878]

I see you voted for Bernie.