Richlite

The original color that quietly proved that Richlite was a great replacement for ebony on fingerboards for stringed instruments. Jet black like the best ebony available, inlays and frets pop visually against this fingerboard with no need to dye or stain.

Low maintenance, minimal shrinkage, and a density that is right in the middle of the range for ebony, there are only advantages to using Richlite on your next guitar creation.

Richlite fretboards are incredibly durable while maintaining an ebony look and feel. They are easy to maintain and withstand re-fretting without chipping. Richlite is a durable product requiring no special conditioning or cleaning product. It will not absorb or corrode from oils, perspiration or dirt.

This acoustically superior material offers a consistent density that is moisture acclimated and inherently stable.

Richlite machines with standard tooling, just like working with hardwood.

Richlite can be left with an unfinished satin finish or brought to a high-polish finish with buffing compound, as desired.

Fret slots can be cut with carbide cutters or diamond tooling.

NOTE: Due to the hardness of Richlite versus natural wood material, fret slots must be cut slightly wider.

All Richlite-to-wood mating surfaces must be sanded for proper adhesion (80 to 100 grit recommended). Some have found that using a polyurethane glue adhesive works well when attaching to your project. When sanded and polished with steel wool, black richlite looks and feels just like ebony. 

Handmade from many layers of high quality custom craft paper, Richlite’s surface texture comes from the natural variation in the way fibers lay within the paper. Composed of approximately 65% FSC®-certified or recycled paper content and 35% phenolic resin, Richlite’s color comes from a combination of the paper and the amber tone of the resin.

Hand made in the U.S.A. and FSC® Certified.