Fretboard Material Epiphone Vintage Pro TBird

veebass · February 04, 2018, 02:06:35 AM

Do we know definitively what type of wood they are using to make the fretboards of the Epi VP TBirds? I am interested because the Australian importer appears kaputish and there is no sign of them Downunder. I am importing one and want to know in case there are questions.

Basvarken · February 04, 2018, 02:49:37 AM

Specs say: Blackwood Teck (Pinus radiata) fretboard

veebass · February 04, 2018, 04:02:48 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on February 04, 2018, 02:49:37 AM
Specs say: Blackwood Teck (Pinus radiata) fretboard

Thanks. That is what I had heard. I couldn't find that on the Epi webpage for the VP TBird that I found.
Do you have a link to where it says that, in case I need to get into a discussion with customs and need to prove it.

Basvarken · February 04, 2018, 05:29:39 AM

https://www.thomann.de/nl/epiphone_thunderbird_vintage_pr_b_stock.htm

You'd better make a screen shot, because I think this one will be gone pretty soon.

Dave W · February 04, 2018, 10:18:54 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on February 04, 2018, 02:49:37 AM
Specs say: Blackwood Teck (Pinus radiata) fretboard

My first thought was that Pinus radiata is known here as Monterey pine. It's a softwood, and not very hard or dense. Then I looked up Blackwood Teck and found this info.

http://www.madinter.com/blackwood-tek.html?___from_store=fr&___store=en
http://blackwoodtek.com/

So it's been specifically developed as an alternative to rosewood and ebony, and it solves the CITES problem.

Lightyear · February 04, 2018, 10:45:35 AM

Interesting, sounds like a viable alternative. Looks like the process needs a lot of large spring/summer growth rings to take the resins they impregnate the wood with and that the process needs very soft wood to work. One has to wonder about this statement I pulled of the manufacturers site: An organic resin, derivated from agricultural waste, is introduced. Since this is manufactured in China one has to wonder what the waste stream starts out as?

This reminds me of the warning I received years ago about purchasing leather goods in Juarez, Mexico as I was informed that the locals used a locally sourced "organic" form of ammonia in the tanning process.

Still, this is probably only the start for this type of product - if this works on this species of pine there's no reason why a similar technology couldn't be used on domestic white pine, alder, spruce or poplar.

veebass · February 04, 2018, 12:24:08 PM

Quote from: Basvarken on February 04, 2018, 05:29:39 AM
https://www.thomann.de/nl/epiphone_thunderbird_vintage_pr_b_stock.htm

You'd better make a screen shot, because I think this one will be gone pretty soon.

Thanks again. That page also mention Rosewood, not sure if it will help if I have to convince a public servant.
Hopefully, it won't come to that.

Chris P. · February 04, 2018, 01:37:45 PM

According to Epiphone, the Embassy has a pickup selector switch. Apart from the balance, which is mentioned too, I can't see any:) So information is not always correct even on manufacturer's pages.

Thornton Davis · February 05, 2018, 06:05:25 PM

Here's a couple of photos of the fretboard on my Thunderbird Vintage Pro. Hope these are of interest to the OP so he understands what to expect.

TD

Dave W · February 05, 2018, 10:57:00 PM

That doesn't even look close to rosewood. Hopefully a customs inspector will know enough to recognize that.

The fact that the Blackwood Tek process uses agricultural waste wouldn't bother me so long as fretboards don't start smelling or decomposing as they age.

There's always maple.

veebass · February 06, 2018, 02:14:18 AM

Quote from: Thornton Davis on February 05, 2018, 06:05:25 PM
Here's a couple of photos of the fretboard on my Thunderbird Vintage Pro. Hope these are of interest to the OP so he understands what to expect.

TD

Thank you. It doesn't look much like rosewood except for the general colour. It is in customs now, waiting to hear.

Basvarken · February 06, 2018, 03:10:48 AM

I think it does look like rosewood. I've seen rosewood as dark as this quite a few times. Also depends on the kind of oil you use for maintenance.
Lately I've been using linseed oil and it darkens the fretboard quite nicely.

gearHed289 · February 06, 2018, 10:14:58 AM

Quote from: Dave W on February 05, 2018, 10:57:00 PMThere's always maple.

Yeah, but then they'd have to bake it, which would add to the cost.

clankenstein · February 06, 2018, 11:41:10 AM

Can't see NZ Pinus Radiata running out anytime soon - there a forests of the stuff all around the country,It's used (treated) a lot in building. It seems this canadian lutherie know a bit about the process- https://www.macmarr.com/fingerboards-made-fsc-certified-blackwood-tek

4stringer77 · February 06, 2018, 12:19:37 PM

Chinese agricultural waste? So that's why my fingers smell like ground up aborted girl fetus.
Just kidding, I didn't buy any of these new Epiphones.