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Nov 26, 2024 - 11:03:25 AM
136 posts since 5/4/2010

Just ordered a piece for an upcoming project. from the specs it seems it should work well and I like the look. The neck, pot, and resonator will be Quarter Sawn White Oak. The fretboard headstock overlay, binding, and possibly some inlay Will be the African Padauk.

Nov 26, 2024 - 12:35:32 PM

6162 posts since 5/29/2011

I believe it was Luthiers Mercantile that used to sell padauk fingerboards. I have used it in the past but not for fingerboards. It is not that hard to work with but it can dull your tools. Keep that in mind when working with it.

Nov 26, 2024 - 3:22:04 PM
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16086 posts since 6/2/2008

Recording King has been using padauk for the fretboards on the RK 35 and 36 for quite a while.

I believe katalox is another alternative to rosewood and ebony.

Nov 26, 2024 - 4:27:55 PM

207 posts since 3/3/2008

Nov 26, 2024 - 6:42:35 PM
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Players Union Member

kwl

USA

666 posts since 3/5/2009

No, but I've used it for the back and sides of a mountain dulcimer. It's nice wood.

Nov 27, 2024 - 3:00:52 AM

220 posts since 7/14/2017

I've built a ukulele with padauk.

It's not much harder than mahogany, so fingernail divots will appear fairly fast. The colour fades to brown with daylight, so bear that in mind.

The sanding dust is bright pink and stains everything it contacts, so you'd want to complete all the shaping before you attach the board.

Also I seem to recall that unfinished padauk stained my fingers, at least until the surface oxidised, so the board might need a coat of finish to protect the player's hands.

Nov 27, 2024 - 12:19:05 PM

136 posts since 5/4/2010

quote:
Originally posted by euler357

Yes
cockrumstudios.com/cockrum-banjo-0001


That's ann awesome looking banjo . I will be using Ricard tuners on mine as well.Thanks for the pic !

Nov 27, 2024 - 12:27:27 PM

136 posts since 5/4/2010

according to the hardness chart it should be substantially harder that Mahogony. That said, my last banjo has Mahogony for the fret board with stainless frets and it seems to be wearing quite well. ie not at all yet. I do keep the nails trimmed though. My plan is just an oil finish on everything so hopefully I won't have a problem.

Nov 27, 2024 - 7:31:28 PM

3430 posts since 2/18/2009

I've used it a couple of times and it seemed to work fine. It's not as hard as ebony or jatoba, to me it feels more comparable to rosewood or zebrawood or persimmon or hickory.

Nov 30, 2024 - 7:24:16 AM

Fathand

Canada

12477 posts since 2/7/2008

I built a guitar from Padauk, sides, back, bridge, overlay, and fretboard. Padauk has a 1710 lb. janka hardness. About twice as hard as mahogany, maybe 20% harder than rock maple which is common on Fender fretboards. .

It was a pain to bend sides, 3 broke. The grain is very open and takes a lot to fill the pores, cracks/splits easily. It is certainly hard enough for a fretboard and is a beautiful wood.

If you want a harder red fretboard, look at bloodwood.


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