An oak fretless fretboard?

[Temcat]

AFAIK, oak is a pretty hard wood, and is rather abundant. Why don't we see fretless fretboards made of it? Sure it will sound at least better than ebanol, no?

[renniw]

The oak I can buy here (Canada), the pores are very open. I wouldn't use it for fretless because of all the dirt that may come in the pores and make your fingerboard look dirty.

I've used oak fingerboard on 4 fretted basses and it sounds pretty good (to my ears). The fingerboard was finished with warnish (around 10 to 15 coats.) to fill the pores and protect the wood.

See here:

[Temcat]

Oh, I see. So, with a proper treatment/finish (perhaps a dark one) an oak fretess fingerboard would indeed be feasible?

[Mikey R]

Originally Posted by Temcat

Oh, I see. So, with a proper treatment/finish (perhaps a dark one) an oak fretess fingerboard would indeed be feasible?

Hey Temcat,

If you look up white oak on the Janka scale, it comes in at 1360.
White ash comes in a little less at 1320, same ballpark, and hard maple at 1450.

(http://www.sizes.com/units/janka.htm found with google)

I think Janka is right rating to use here - someone else may be able to correct me if Im wrong.

So if youre after a temperate wood for your fingerboard, hard maple may be a better choice, but even that would wear quickly.

My fretless has an unfinished rosewood board, and even with flats its starting to wear after only a few years.

[Temcat]

Originally Posted by Mikey R

Hey Temcat,

If you look up white oak on the Janka scale, it comes in at 1360.
White ash comes in a little less at 1320, same ballpark, and hard maple at 1450.

(http://www.sizes.com/units/janka.htm found with google)

I think Janka is right rating to use here - someone else may be able to correct me if Im wrong.

So if youre after a temperate wood for your fingerboard, hard maple may be a better choice, but even that would wear quickly.

My fretless has an unfinished rosewood board, and even with flats its starting to wear after only a few years.

Oh thanks! Very informative.

[Mikey R]

Originally Posted by Temcat

Oh thanks! Very informative.

This is only my observations, Im no pro! My fretless is a Wesley J with the frets taken off, so it may not be the best piece of rosewood