Can this fingerboard be brazilian rosewood?

[kaio1995]

Hi guys,
I want to buy a Gibson on the internet where the owner claims that the fingerboard is made of brazilian rosewood. From the picture I have posted, can anyone say that this wood can actually be brazilian rosewood? I know it is not a real 50s Gibson, but it was made modded according to real 50s specs. I am glad about any help and looking forward to your responses. Thanks, Kai.

 

[charliechitlins]

I have several guitars with Brazillian and I believe that likely is.

 

[jb_abides]

This is a reissue?

Get serial number from seller and call Gibson Customer Service. They will state definitively.

Also, there was (or maybe still is... I can't find it now) a Brazilian serial number look-up database. Search thru old posts here, the DB may pop up or at least more guides.

For now, use these as realistic guidance -

Handy Gibson Guitars Brazilian Rosewood Guide

Back in the 1950s, if you bought a brand new Les Paul Standard your guitar would have been equipped with a Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard. The original specification of many Gibson guitars back the day called for the Brazilian species of Rosewood; it was considered ideal for guitar making...

www.themusiczoo.com

Brazilian Rosewood Quantities 2001-2003

I've been researching this topic quite a bit lately, so i thought i would post my findings. 2001: there was a run of Brazilian R9s in the range 91203-91250 (91201 and 91202 only come up as Les Paul Classics for me). within this range, the following numbers do NOT have Brazilian Rosewood according...

forum.gibson.com

 

[jb_abides]

BTW and FWIW, I own several Brazilian board guitars from the early era (2003, Stinger, etc.) and yours does not have the distinctive choclately threads and swirling grain that mine have going on. This doesn't mean anything conclusive, it's just an indication. When I look at it, I say, mmm, nice dark consistent board but not Brazilian. The later era ones might prove different, and some might say yours has the look, like Charlie. Just more to ponder.

 

[brandtkronholm]

It is impossible to differentiate between Brazilian rosewood fretboards and rosewood fretboards of any other variety - from just pictures, even very good pictures.

The fretboard on my 1995 Gibson R9 Les Paul is not Brazilian rosewood, but it looks more like Brazilian rosewood than my 1959 Gibson ES345 or my early PRS, which do have Brazilian rosewood.

Also, if that guitar was made with “vintage ‘50s specs” then I have some questions about that extra thick modern binding.

 

[S. Weiger]

It is impossible to differentiate between Brazilian rosewood fretboards and rosewood fretboards of any other variety - from just pictures, even very good pictures.

The fretboard on my 1995 Gibson R9 Les Paul is not Brazilian rosewood, but it looks more like Brazilian rosewood than my 1959 Gibson ES345 or my early PRS, which do have Brazilian rosewood.

Also, if that guitar was made with “vintage ‘50s specs” then I have some questions about that extra thick modern binding.

+1, good eyes. And the 'busy' inlays too.
Re. the braz. question: From the pics provided, I see more clues to indian RW than braz. Where are all the long streaks, I see too many short streaks. But a nice board nonetheless.

 

[garywright]

whichever it’s a very nice looking slab of rosewood

 

[kaio1995]

Thanks guys. I really appeciate your help! I came from the strat-talk forum and was advised to post my question here. It was worth it in any case! I have also noticed that the fretboard has really thick bindings, but it never came to my mind that this is NOT a 50s authentic spec. Even though I own some vintage Gibsons and R9s, I completely did not see this binding issue... and what do you mean by busy inlays? But overall, I am gonna pass on that one since I would only pay pretty much for the brazilian fretboard and that's it. He does not own a certificate for the brazilian fretboard and even though it is a quite nice modded R9 for 4k, it is not worth the risk to pay that much for a completely overworked "R9" without any certificates. I do not even know if this is an R9...

 

[S. Weiger]

double post

 

[S. Weiger]

You're very welcome. "busy" inlays reffers to the way they look, with kinda busy swirls compared to the inlays in the '50s and early/mid '60s.
When Gibson reissued the Les Paul in 1968, one of the changes was the way the inlays was made, I believe, hence the different look from earlier. When the historics came on the scene, ppl began to nerd the wrong inlays (among a lot of other things hehe..)
Gibson has tried & got them better year by year, but still, "close, but no cigar..".
I think I once read here at LPF, that the original material was sth. like cellulose + glue, and: small fish bones (!) ?
Actually, in a few inlays on my 1960 Standard, I believe I can spot a tiny fish skeleton..

Here's an inlay example of my 1960:




Personally, I'd also pass on the guitar in question - 4K can get you a nice R9 with a dark, nice finger board, although not braz.
But then you don't have to face the CITES problems that might occur with braz board on newer instruments

 

[kaio1995]

@sweiger Wow, what a beautiful fretboard and very interesting fact about the inlays! Although I am a strat player, I get more and more interested in Les Pauls, especially lightweight Les Pauls that play much more comfortable. Thanks for all the help and I wish you a great day!
Regards,
Kai

 

[jb_abides]

Wise decision. There a plenty of great Reissues out there that are readily verified as the real deal. Be patient, the right ones come to you! ?

 

[DoubleBoogie]

Hi guys,
I want to buy a Gibson on the internet where the owner claims that the fingerboard is made of brazilian rosewood. From the picture I have posted, can anyone say that this wood can actually be brazilian rosewood? I know it is not a real 50s Gibson, but it was made modded according to real 50s specs. I am glad about any help and looking forward to your responses. Thanks, Kai.

If the owner is reputable, he should be able to tell you who modified the guitar and you can go to the source and ask them. If it was sent to Historic Makeovers for example, you can get the information about the modifications quite easily.

 

[AA00475Bassman]

If you have to ask what difference would it really make ?

I owned several Gibson guitars BR IMO this has little bearing on tone IMO .

 

[Wally]

As I understand it, there are two ways to ascertain the origin of rosewood. With experience, the aroma when the wood is sanded can inform. The other and perhaps the only sure, undebatable way is to have a genetic analysis done.
I have seen Brazilian rosewood in a Martin D-28 from the ‘50s that looked nothing at all like what most would consider to be what Brazilian would look like, and I have seen Indian that would fool the eye.
As for the sonic results…..I have heard a 1993 Martin HD28 1935 Reissue with Indian rosewood back and sides that
was a much better sounding guitar than a 1988 HD28 BSE…Brazilian Special Edition…..side by side comparison. Both guitar’s were built to 1935 specs.

 

[charliechitlins]

As I understand it, there are two ways to ascertain the origin of rosewood. With experience, the aroma when the wood is sanded can inform. The other and perhaps the only sure, undebatable way is to have a genetic analysis done.
I have seen Brazilian rosewood in a Martin D-28 from the ‘50s that looked nothing at all like what most would consider to be what Brazilian would look like, and I have seen Indian that would fool the eye.
As for the sonic results…..I have heard a 1993 Martin HD28 1935 Reissue with Indian rosewood back and sides that
was a much better sounding guitar than a 1988 HD28 BSE…Brazilian Special Edition…..side by side comparison. Both guitar’s were built to 1935 specs.

Fingerboard wood is a VERY small factor in the tone equation.

 

[Wally]

Fingerboard wood is a VERY small factor in the tone equation.

True…and the point of the second part of my post is that Brazilian does not guarantee great tone even when it is a bigger part of the sonic equation.

 

[sumitagarwal]

I've got the same question here, and I figured: why make a new thread? Would be nice to have one big megathread for brazilian identification and comparisons.

With no other context, what do you folks think?

 

[CS Murphy 'R9]

If you have to ask what difference would it really make ?

I owned several Gibson guitars BR IMO this has little bearing on tone IMO .

Agree 100%! My R7 has BR but my Murphy R9 has IND , visually they look the same and tonally i find it is the guitars themselves that sound different from each other not the FB wood?
The only time i hear any tonal change with FB woods is when comparing RW to MPL or to EBN. The Big thing with BR for me is it is Historically accurate that is its big selling point.

 

[El Gringo]

You're very welcome. "busy" inlays reffers to the way they look, with kinda busy swirls compared to the inlays in the '50s and early/mid '60s.
When Gibson reissued the Les Paul in 1968, one of the changes was the way the inlays was made, I believe, hence the different look from earlier. When the historics came on the scene, ppl began to nerd the wrong inlays (among a lot of other things hehe..)
Gibson has tried & got them better year by year, but still, "close, but no cigar..".
I think I once read here at LPF, that the original material was sth. like cellulose + glue, and: small fish bones (!) ?
Actually, in a few inlays on my 1960 Standard, I believe I can spot a tiny fish skeleton..

Here's an inlay example of my 1960:

View attachment 20045


Personally, I'd also pass on the guitar in question - 4K can get you a nice R9 with a dark, nice finger board, although not braz.
But then you don't have to face the CITES problems that might occur with braz board on newer instruments

You are very knowledgeable ! It has been over 20 years since I heard the small fish bone reference (Lark Street Music )