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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on January 22, 2010 at 1:05pm

I have never used walnut for a fingerboard, but I would think it might be kind of hard to work with since it is so hard. I dunno...

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Permalink Reply by THENUGE on January 22, 2010 at 1:51pm

walnut isn't actually that hard and makes very nice fretboards...wear a dustmask while sanding.home depot carries 1/4 in by 2 in maple and oak for pretty cheap. do you have a rockler woodworking in your area? they carry all sorts of exotic hardwoods in a variety of sizes and the prices are not bad at all, around 5 to 10 bucks for a piece big enough for a fretboard

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Permalink Reply by Jkevn on January 22, 2010 at 3:08pm

There is only ONE drawback to using walnut.....the price when purchased...that's it. It is a beautiful wood when finished, easy to shape/work, and very stable. I am using a walnut finger board on my latest build and I have used a walnut 1x2 as a neck on two cbg's....I love it. The sawdust is a lil bit of an irritant, when the dust gets wet....it WILL stain any and everything. (save it for homemade stain later...) Good luck with yer build....

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Permalink Reply by Jim Mitchell on January 22, 2010 at 3:13pm

I use it all of the time. I think it makes a great looking fingerboard.... There are pleanty of pictures on my page with Walnut FB.. I have also used Bacote, Paduk and Oak... Hope it helps - Jim

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Permalink Reply by alan rogers on January 23, 2010 at 1:49am

hi i use walnut all the time for fingerboards and bridge not hard to cut or sand good finish

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Permalink Reply by O-DAD on January 23, 2010 at 11:03am

thanks for the feedback,its good to know i can use something local

alan rogers said:

hi i use walnut all the time for fingerboards and bridge not hard to cut or sand good finish

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Permalink Reply by JUJU on January 23, 2010 at 2:11pm

yep like most of the other guys have said Walnut is fantastic wood to work and takes a really nice finish and works very good as a tone wood - i have just scored a Slab of English Walnut for my next four Plank Guitar bodies :-)
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/english-walnut-1?context=user
juju.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on January 23, 2010 at 4:16pm

I've used walnut on at least 20 CBGs... works well, looks good, holds frets just fine.... probably won't last as long as rosewood, but I will probably outlast the CB, so who cares????

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/reso-banjo4?context=user

build with what you got....

the best,

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by John A. Wallace on January 24, 2010 at 12:33pm

Check out my last build. Full 1" thick x 1.5" wide walnut neck. You can get great prices from Willis lumber in southern Ohio.

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