The Richlite Debate

lespaul1970 · Jan 20, 2019

Hey all- I know this has been discussed on here many times before but just wanted to throw my thoughts on Richlite boards out here- and always curious to hear others opinions too.
So- as of a couple months ago I was one of these "a Les Paul Custom should always have an ebony fretboard" people. When I heard Gibson was using Richlite, I cringed and thought "well...I'll never own a newer Custom again"..
Anyways... I own a '96 Custom and love it, but a friend bought a 2018 and hardly plays or uses it- so has loaned it to me to "test run" so to speak. I gotta tell you- I'm almost starting to think I like the feel of Richlite better than ebony! Or at least just as well. Very fast and the tone is awesome IMO. I know the general worry is how long will these boards hold up, and I guess since it's still relatively early in the game, only time will tell. But as for how the tone and playability of a guitar with Richlite goes- I'm now converted and sold!! Post away on your experiences- even if they're negative- again- this is just me. Others probably hate the stuff! Thanks everyone!

Steve Craw · Jan 20, 2019

I have Richlight on my acoustic and am fine with it. I'm thinking about going with bigger frets, and a wondering if there is a problem re-fretting.

Gannet · Jan 21, 2019

My '16 Lucille ES-355 has it, and it's fine. It looks good, feels good, sounds good. Would I rather have 1950s wood all the way through? Sure. But those days are gone, and if you can't afford an original, then the new production guitars are what there is. The good news is, they're fine.

Tim Plains · Jan 21, 2019

Nothing against it but I don't think I'd ever buy a richlite model. You wrote very fast and tone is awsome. I'm sure it's a good player but I highly doubt it does anything for sound. Two guitars built exactly the same can sound very different. I'm not sure how you can attribute any tonal diffence to just the fretboard material.

AA00475Bassman · Jan 21, 2019

Id play Richlite I might prefer Ebony & thats just because its not available on new LPC's

Uncle Gary · Jan 21, 2019

If I had my "druthers", I'd rather have ebony, BUT if it's a choice between Richlite or no LP Customs at all, I choose Richlite.

mlaw · Jan 21, 2019

I have a 2016 ES-355 with richlite and Martin acoustic with their synthetic fretboard. I also have a 1969 ES-355 and an early 2000's R4BB, both with ebony. Honestly, I don't think it matters, except for historical accuracy. I love my modern 355, one of the best guitars I own.

Zentar · Jan 21, 2019

I think Gibson used richlite so touring musicians could travel across the big pond with the LPC without CITE issues at customs check.
Richlite outperformed Gibson's expectations. It is another example of a good design change made while Henry was ceo.

Thundermtn · Jan 21, 2019

I bet that's what he was after, making sure that .ooo1% of Gibson users could fly overseas where their tour management couldn't figure something like that out.

Cav · Jan 21, 2019

I owned a 2014 LPC silverburst and currently own a 2016 LPC vintage silverburst. The two have richlite. I’m more than happy with it. The feeling is very comfortable and not that far from ebony.

I had two 57 Custom with ebony. And As they are Historics guitars, it’s normal they have an ebony fingerboard.

But to me, on « standard » LPC, there isn’t any issue putting richlite on them.

lespaul1970 · Jan 21, 2019

Tim Plains said:
Nothing against it but I don't think I'd ever buy a richlite model. You wrote very fast and tone is awsome. I'm sure it's a good player but I highly doubt it does anything for sound. Two guitars built exactly the same can sound very different. I'm not sure how you can attribute any tonal diffence to just the fretboard material.

Totally agree- "Two guitars built exactly the same can sound very different." - I've done side by side comparisons with guitars that are identical material, even built in the same month and year, and there was a huge tone difference between them. IMO, the wood on the fretboard definitely comes into play with the tone. My ears say Ebony is brighter and Rosewood has more warmth to it. I would say Richlite is very close to Ebony. Again- just one more reason the material has won me over. All just my opinion though...

Zentar · Jan 21, 2019

Thundermtn said:
I bet that's what he was after, making sure that .ooo1% of Gibson users could fly overseas where their tour management couldn't figure something like that out.

Feel free to express your opinion about Richlite.

Thundermtn · Jan 21, 2019

Feel free to stop injecting HJ into every thread, he's ancient history.

Zentar · Jan 21, 2019

Thundermtn said:
Feel free to stop injecting HJ into every thread, he's ancient history.

You're on my ignore list now

Zentar · Jan 21, 2019

BTW Henry is still a Gibson employee. I think he did a fabulous job getting Gibson back to making proper LPs. I think Henry did more for the LP than Les Paul did

Thundermtn · Jan 21, 2019

Dr. Green · Jan 21, 2019

hate it

and here is the thing - Bob Taylor corners the market on Ebony - uses it on all his guitars - then turns around and talks about how endangered it is - but Gibson has to use Richlite ?

WHATS UP WITH THAT ?

Tommy Tourbus · Jan 21, 2019

On a budget guitar OK. On an extremely expensive custom shop guitar...a model that's a classic and is synonymous with ebony fretboards, I mean it is THE Gibson model that ebony is associated with...NO WAY! Can't believe anyone besides Gibson reps and dealers are making an argument for

Now if we are talking Epiphone Les Paul Customs priced at $499 - $799, then by all means yes.

mjinli · Jan 21, 2019

Had a 2007 Classic Custom with an ebony board and a 2013 Custom Florentine with a richlite board. Honestly preferred the feel of the richlite board, but I'm also a heathen who likes lacquered maple boards.

Dr. Green · Jan 21, 2019

Tommy Tourbus said:
On a budget guitar OK. On an extremely expensive custom shop guitar...a model that's a classic and is synonymous with ebony fretboards, I mean it is THE Gibson model that ebony is associated with...NO WAY! Can't believe anyone besides Gibson reps and dealers are making an argument for

Now if we are talking Epiphone Les Paul Customs priced at $499 - $799, then by all means yes.

:applaude

"I mean it is THE Gibson model that ebony is associated with" - Tommy T

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