Bloodwood v. Pink Ivory FB

[Wilbyman]

Hey guys...I'm trying to decide on a fretless fingerboard, and I thought I "wood" come straight to the experts. These seem rather similar to me...and I have good experience with bloodwood as a fingerboard (none with pink ivory). Nevertheless, I have heard very very good things about pink ivory as a fingerboard.

I would love to hear the pro's and cons of guys who have worked with both, and used either/both as a fretless fingerboard. I'm leaning toward bloodwood as a matter of cost and availability.

W

[Foamy]

I've worked with both woods extensively, but never as a fingerboard - just other woodworking projects like turned pens and small bowls.
For me, they seem to work about the same, but the price of Pink Ivory is like a bazillion dollars per bf. But it is really really pretty.
So woodworking-wise, they are both nice to work with. I just hate to see Pink Ivory sawdust or shavings on the floor.
Be sure and post photos as you go - I'm sure it will be gorgeous!

[Wilbyman]

I know, PI is very expensive. I'm leaning toward bloodwood, simply because I don't have champagne tastes these days.

W

[spudmaster34]

Isn't pink ivory considered sacred to the tribes in the places it grows, or am I just misremembering that?

[JSPguitars]

Originally Posted by spudmaster34

Isn't pink ivory considered sacred to the tribes in the places it grows, or am I just misremembering that?

That's interesting. I'd like to know more about that concept.
I'd consider it sacred, as I've never seen the stuff in person before.
If I had a piece, it would certainly become my "precious" until the proper ring-bearer came around.

[FBB Custom]

A lot of unconfirmed sources on the internet do say that pink ivory is/was sacred to the Zulu tribe. The way it is told to me is that eventually that tradition broke down and now you can buy it for $13/lb.

I don't touch the stuff, myself. Bloodwood has good janka and stiffness for fingerboard usage.

[Musiclogic]

never had enough pink ivory to do more than points in pool cues, but it is gorgeous.

[Foamy]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

never had enough pink ivory to do more than points in pool cues, but it is gorgeous.

Yeah, the pieces I've seen are just big enough to turn down a pen, or glue up some small pieces for a bowl.
I think the $13 per pound price is not correct - this stuff is big bucks. If I recall, it was about $25 for a piece about 3/4"x3/4"x12".

[Wilbyman]

I gave Larry @ Gallery Hardwoods a holler and he came up with some absolutely great looking quartersawn bloodwood for me. This will go to USACG for a lined/dotted fretless jazz bass fingerboard. Thanks for the input everybody. I can't say enough about Larry's service and coolness, but then again, I think that's common knowledge! If you see this Larry, thanks again!

[Mark Wilson]

What are you using for a neck wood?

I've been debating on a type of Fingerboard.

-Mark

[FBB Custom]

Originally Posted by Enchanter_Tim

I think the $13 per pound price is not correct - this stuff is big bucks.

YMMV. You may pay more for turning blanks. The stuff is heavy so $13/lf is no bargain. Unless I did bogus math it's a bit over 5lb/bf.

http://www.righteouswoods.net/pink_ivory.html

[FBB Custom]

Wikipedia says that the Zulu stuff is a legend invented to inflate the price.

[spudmaster34]

well, if wiki says it, it must be true...

[kimstevens]

just don't use any wood that isn't sustainably harvested, okay?

[christobass 416]

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

and I thought I "wood" come straight to the experts.

teehee.

[tribal3140]

Originally Posted by Enchanter_Tim

Yeah, the pieces I've seen are just big enough to turn down a pen, or glue up some small pieces for a bowl.
I think the $13 per pound price is not correct - this stuff is big bucks. If I recall, it was about $25 for a piece about 3/4"x3/4"x12".

more like twenty or twenty one.
and thats not even the curly stuff I have seen it on my travels for thirty!
rediculous I say.

[Larry Davis]

Originally Posted by FBB Custom

A lot of unconfirmed sources on the internet do say that pink ivory is/was sacred to the Zulu tribe. The way it is told to me is that eventually that tradition broke down and now you can buy it for $13/lb.

I don't touch the stuff, myself. Bloodwood has good janka and stiffness for fingerboard usage.

Right on with the pricing, Matt extra special custom pieces excepted. I was offered a barrel full of blocks for $5.00 a pound but turned it down. It can be acquired for as little as $2.00 (or less) per pound purchased green by the cubic meter directly from the mills in Africa.

http://www.righteouswoods.net/pink_ivory.html is $12-14 a pound and Tropical Exotics in Carlsbad is $10-15 a pound and so on and so on. Over priced and over rated in my experience especially since the pretty color photo degenerates to a reddish brown.

[erikbojerik]

Bloodwood. I've never tried either for fretboards, but I've handled both in the ruff. Seems like bloodwood has more density and spank in it than pink ivory.

The bloodwood I've worked with is as heavy & dense as gabon ebony.

[Larry Davis]

Originally Posted by erikbojerik

Bloodwood. I've never tried either for fretboards, but I've handled both in the ruff. Seems like bloodwood has more density and spank in it than pink ivory.

The bloodwood I've worked with is as heavy & dense as gabon ebony.

Very astute observation. Specific Gravity (SG) of bloodwood is nearly the same as either Gabon or Mac ebony species average and given the knowledge that physical properties can vary plus or minus 20% within any given species it would be possible to find individual bloodwood actually denser and heavier than ebony.

[tribal3140]

[quote=
and Tropical Exotics in Carlsbad is $10-15 a pound and so on and so on. .[/QUOTE]

call and ask again.
when I was visiting mitch in january when they first got the shipment there wasnt anything big enough to do a fretboard, all shorts.
you can buy it from importers for BD/ft half the price of ebony