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There's been some chatter about Fender moving away from rosewood boards online for a while, and it looks like there might be some truth in that.
What Is Pau Ferro?
What Is Pau Ferro?
Fender is switching to Pau Ferro fretboards
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As funny as it is, I always thought pau ferro was one of those super fancy woods that was reserved for super fancy customs, kinda in the same vein as blood wood or zebra wood etc.
It's just humorous to me that it will be featured on some average strats and teles, after all of these years of thinking it was so luxurious.
It's just humorous to me that it will be featured on some average strats and teles, after all of these years of thinking it was so luxurious.
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Me too.
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I think the exotic name makes it seem fancier than it is. It threw me too.
Kind of like how "agathis" sounds way better than "cheap basswood" haha
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It's a whopping 10 bucks more to get a Pau Ferro Board instead of indian rosewood from warmoth... Compared to ebony its cheap
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So if the Fender guitars don't have a Pau Ferro board on them, they could call them Less Pau Ferro guitars.
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There is no doubt, the only reason for switching woods is the amount of hassle it causes to the shipper due to the new Cites rules. I'm sure there are lots of guitars still crossing the border, but as the year goes on it will become harder and harder. I got my Greco after the restrictions, but received my guitar from Japan with no hassle no paperwork.. But this was back in February.
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Just remembered this, Pau Ferro is Bolivian Rosewood
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I'm not surprised, Bolivia and Brazil are right next to each other and both woods are considered rosewood. So it makes sense that there would be similarities
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Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Pau Ferro has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is a high rate of reaction among woodworkers, and the wood contains the very same sensitizing substances as those found in rosewoods (Dalbergia genus). See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. ( Wood Allergies and Toxicity | The Wood Database )
Seems that Pau Ferro, as a material, has the same advantages and disadvantages as rosewood. Generally not the sort of thing you want to work with unless you have a high-quality vacuum system to keep particles out of the air. My wife works in toxicology I recent years. I'll have to ask her what she can find out.
Seems that Pau Ferro, as a material, has the same advantages and disadvantages as rosewood. Generally not the sort of thing you want to work with unless you have a high-quality vacuum system to keep particles out of the air. My wife works in toxicology I recent years. I'll have to ask her what she can find out.
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Pau Ferro was a standard fretboard on Glenn McDougall's Fury guitars. Maple was the option. Pau Ferro has the same features as Rosewood imo. Little more orange in the grain. I prefer it for looks.
Nothing beats ebony for durability, but hey, if Ingwe can scallop his frets so deep, wear is obviously not even an issue on a fretted guitar.
Nothing beats ebony for durability, but hey, if Ingwe can scallop his frets so deep, wear is obviously not even an issue on a fretted guitar.
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I think Pau ferro has more color range than rosewood. My board is brownish pink but I've also see it a deep brown like Indian rosewood. It's considered an ironwood so I don't think you have to worry about it wearing out.
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double post
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I have hear of other places substituting it for instruments that would traditionally be made of Brazilian rosewood so I would say you are right sir.
Looks like the MIM standard series is going up another $50, maybe due to the Pau Ferrero boards?
Amazon Canada is beginning to take pre-orders for the 2018 MIM standard series:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B072N3QFJB/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB
Crazy that we're paying almost $1000 for a MIM standard nowadays, at least with the tax in Ontario.
Amazon Canada is beginning to take pre-orders for the 2018 MIM standard series:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B072N3QFJB/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB
Crazy that we're paying almost $1000 for a MIM standard nowadays, at least with the tax in Ontario.
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That price is crazy my MIJ strat was way less than 1k
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