Double Bass NS Design NXTa: Richlite vs. Ebony - sound and feel comparisons?

[Randy Ward]

I'm wondering if anyone has played a newer NTXa with a Richlite fingerboard and been able to compare it with any NS design bass with a traditional ebony board. My gut tells me there may be no great difference in sound but perhaps Richlite has a different feel. I have owned electric basses with so called phenolic or ebonol fingerboards but in my case they were always on graphite necks so it would be difficult to compare sound.

While looking for information I found this ebonol discussion here (on BG side) and some richlite discussions at guitar forums and most seem to feel any difference is extremely minor, still I am still interested in any observations from EUB players here using NS Basses for reference:

Ebonol Fingerboards -- The Greatest Invention Of All Time!!!!

Ebonol Fingerboards -- The Greatest Invention Of All Time!!!!

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Thanks

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If I remember correctly Ebonol is not used by double bass luthiers. I think mainly because it is bad for the health when working on it (dressing) and probably also because it is hard to shape.

 

[Randy Ward]

Thanks DoubleMIDI,
Yes I think I had heard that too, but richlite supposedly can be tooled just like ebony and it is being used on a lot of guitars.

I'm actually OK with a synthetic fingerboard for a EUB, I think I would prefer it to 'ebonized' hard woods like on low end plys. I was just curious to hear from someone that has actually played on one. I guess I'd also be interested in hearing from luthiers that have worked with the material.

I was just sort of lumping richlite, ebanol, phenolic, micarta etc. together as they are all brand names or variations with improvements on 'bakelite' one of the earliest plastics (1907) that are being used in fingerboards now as a sustainable alternative to ebony. Richlite is made from recycled paper in a composite resin and is being touted as eco friendly by NS. Richlite is used as fingerboards in quite a few models of Gibson and Martin guitars as well as some banjos and mandolins so it is pretty common now.

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The new NXTas post 2014 or so have richlite fingerboards. This is from the Gollihur site:

*What is Richlite?

NS Design is committed to the need and responsibility to do what we can to protect our environment. Certain materials which have for centuries been part of the tradition of instrument making, are under increasing environmental and regulatory pressure. Among these is ebony. NS Design has been on a quest to find an alternative to ebony, one which meets high standards for performance, appearance and durability.

Beginning in November, 2014, NS Design began equipping NXT series instruments with fingerboards made from Richlite™, a natural fiber composite that was originally developed for aerospace and industrial applications. They have found that Richlite's structural, visual, tactile and sonic characteristics rival those of ebony, and that this material is very "friendly" to traditional tools and techniques used by luthiers in the maintenance and care of ebony fingerboards.

Please note that during the transition period, an NXT instrument you receive may have either an ebony or Richlite fingerboard. Also note that all model numbers and prices remain the same, regardless of fingerboard material.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

As you know, I sell the NS basses. So you may choose to take my opinion with a grain of salt, but I'm replying because the specific question was asked, and I'm in the position of having the chance to directly compare two identical basses; one with ebony, one with Richlite.

When NS Design was first rolling out the Richlite, they sent me a pre-production bass with it to evaluate and give my feedback on. We compared it to an in-stock NXT instrument, and found no differences in tone, playability, or feel. It looks just like ebony (at least to someone who doesn't have an unusual familiarity to exotic woods) and, if anything, has a far more consistent appearance, with a smooth, even black finish (while most ebony nowadays has at least a bit of lighter-colored grain or spotting.) So, it plays and sounds the same, looks better (usually) and is more sustainable. Kind of a win-win-win, IMHO.

 

[tfer]

If there's one company I trust to not play fast and loose with their product, it's NS Designs.

My NXT has an ebony fingerboard, as proven by the lighter striping in it, but I'd trust NS to find a quality replacement, and would trust it implicitly.

 

[Randy Ward]

Thanks guys; I was already mostly convinced to get one but this information helped. I had seen some ragged synthetic fingerboards on old fretless BGs but guessing that was perhaps a combination of an old version of fingerboard formula and round wound strings. After the tax return arrives, barring finding a cheap used CRT, I'll be making a purchase through Mark Gollihur.

 

[Michael F Clef]

I'm loving my new nxt5. Ebony fingerboard. Sorry. Now I Can't help chiming in on a NS Designs thread.