Katalox

[Jimbow]

How "hard" is katalox? Would it be suitable for an unlined, unfinished fretless board?

 

[wilser]

How "hard" is katalox? Would it be suitable for an unlined, unfinished fretless board?

it's pretty hard. I would use it on an unlined, unfinished fretless.

 

[eleonn]

All the katalox blanks I've seen had nice figuring so as Wilser said I would left it unlined but if you want some marks to show where you are at playing you can try something like this

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[msherman]

Yes, it is fine for a F/B and is similar to ebony. I am building a bass with katalox for a TB member at the moment.

Check with Todd (tribal) as he has some.

 

[MNbassist]

try cocobolo

 

[Jimbow]

All the katalox blanks I've seen had nice figuring so as Wilser said I would left it unlined but if you want some marks to show where you are at playing you can try something like this

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It will be unlined.

 

[eleonn]

It will be unlined.

Well yeah ...almost

 

[Jimbow]

Well yeah ...almost

Well, no. It will be unlined. I'm not putting those mini-lines in like in the picture you posted. It will be unlined.

 

[eleonn]

Oooh I got you. You were talking about your fretboard. I thought you were talking about the posted picture that's why I said almost referring to those little lines.

Definitely an unlined fretboard is the way to go with a figured wood as a FB.

 

[Jimbow]

Yeah. Those little lines are cool though if you want it to be lined. Personally, I don't think it's any harder to play an unlined.

 

[FBB Custom]

katalox = swartzia = very hard

I'd do it.

 

[Jimbow]

Is the white sapwood any softer? Part of the board I'm looking at is sapwood, where the E string would be.

 

[tribal3140]

same density
sap and heart.