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Phenowood

#4
I don't know for sure, because they don't really ever say, but I'm guessing it's similar to richlite, due to Zon's description of phenowood being multiple layers that are compressed with resin, plus referencing its development in the 50's, points to it being a form of richlite. Necks - Zon Guitars

In this thread, composite boards are discussed with some good info. :)
Rocklite: The Latest Synthetic Ebony For Fingerboards
 
#7
PatriceJ said:
I know this wont help you, but,just for knowledge, I see Zon mentioned for the Phenowood, but it is Vigier Guitars that, in 1981/1982 created this name.:bassist:
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Thanks for that - always appreciate information! :)

This has me wondering... how do you know this? And how is it that your username is Patrice J? :D

Are you Patrice Vigier? Because if so, thank you so much for joining our little community, and I'm in awe! :D
 
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#10
My understanding is that "phenowood" is actual wood--usually birch laminates--impregnated with a phenolic resin. It is essentially the same stuff that Roscoe calls "Diamondwood", and Curbow called "Rockwood". (I'm a longtime Curbow player, which is how I found out about the stuff...)

The original producer that I'm aware of, Rutland Plywood, is now out of business. I don't know if anyone else is making it, but you might contact Zon or Roscoe to find out.

Ebonol and Richlite are different, more like plastics. They're often used for fretboards in place of ebony, but I don't think they have the strength or stiffness for a whole neck. You might have a look at Bruce Johnson's thread on another ebony substitute, Rocklite, for more information: Rocklite: The Latest Synthetic Ebony For Fingerboards
 
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#12
mikezimmerman said:
My understanding is that "phenowood" is actual wood--usually birch laminates--impregnated with a phenolic resin. It is essentially the same stuff that Roscoe calls "Diamondwood", and Curbow called "Rockwood". (I'm a longtime Curbow player, which is how I found out about the stuff...)

The original producer that I'm aware of, Rutland Plywood, is now out of business. I don't know if anyone else is making it, but you might contact Zon or Roscoe to find out.

Ebonol and Richlite are different, more like plastics. They're often used for fretboards in place of ebony, but I don't think they have the strength or stiffness for a whole neck. You might have a look at Bruce Johnson's thread on another ebony substitute, Rocklite, for more information: Rocklite: The Latest Synthetic Ebony For Fingerboards
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Yes, I don't have much direct experience with Phenowood, Diamondwood and Rockwood, but my understanding is that they are made with a similar manufacturing process as Richlite, but with more wood and less resin. Where Richlite (and Garolite and Bakelite) are made from layers of wood fiber paper, Phenowood is made from thin sheets of birch veneer. Sort of a super plywood with many more layers and extra resin. More wood-like than Ebonol, but not as much as Rocklite. I believe that Phenowood has enough resin in it that it is fairly gummy and smokey to machine.
 
#13
Bruce Johnson said:
Yes, I don't have much direct experience with Phenowood, Diamondwood and Rockwood, but my understanding is that they are made with a similar manufacturing process as Richlite, but with more wood and less resin. Where Richlite (and Garolite and Bakelite) are made from layers of wood fiber paper, Phenowood is made from thin sheets of birch veneer. Sort of a super plywood with many more layers and extra resin. More wood-like than Ebonol, but not as much as Rocklite. I believe that Phenowood has enough resin in it that it is fairly gummy and smokey to machine.
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Rockwood/Phenowood does behave a lot like a "super plywood" since it was made of laminates in layers (1/16" or so thick?) and did retain the underlying wood fiber/grain structure. Doug Somervell, who worked with Greg Curbow, did indicate that it was kind of challenging to work with, but it made amazing necks!

I have to go back and re-read your post, but isn't the wood in Rocklite ground up? That might maintain the feel and workability, but maybe not so much the stiffness?
 
#14
mikezimmerman said:
Rockwood/Phenowood does behave a lot like a "super plywood" since it was made of laminates in layers (1/16" or so thick?) and did retain the underlying wood fiber/grain structure. Doug Somervell, who worked with Greg Curbow, did indicate that it was kind of challenging to work with, but it made amazing necks!

I have to go back and re-read your post, but isn't the wood in Rocklite ground up? That might maintain the feel and workability, but maybe not so much the stiffness?
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Yes, Rockwood/Phenowood is really like a cross between high grade plywood and carbon fiber composite construction. It's made like carbon fiber composite, except using thin birch veneer as the reinforcing "cloth" instead of woven carbon fiber cloth. I'd expect a neck made completely from Phenowood would be very close to a carbon fiber composite neck in mechanical properties. Strong, stiff, heavy, expensive. A tap tone like a block of plastic. It's a composite with real wood embedded in place of black cloth. Definitely stronger and stiffer than real wood. It's probably about half plastic.

Rocklite hasn't revealed too much about their process, but they say it involves grinding up wood into long threads or splinters, then arranging them in-line and in layers in a mold with resin. A more complicated process than Phenowood, and with much less resin. The Rocklite products are much closer to real wood in mechanical properties: strength, stiffness, weight, etc.
 
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