Im currently repurposing a 20s Slingerland tenor as a leather-head 5 string frailer (dont worry it will be reversable). I am trying to use as much of the original design on my new neck, like 5 piece construction and copy the head shape and inlay pattern. The old fingerboard appears to be poplar or something similar that was died black. Curious what sort of options I have for something similar. Criterion are:
1) available for a reasonable price preslotted 25.5" scale
2) will ebonize to a uniform black or really dark brown color
3) will hold 5th string spikes
4) (ideally) is something that would have been at least a possibility in the 1920s
suggestions?
Have you looked at Richlite?
Buckeye Banjos has these “Blackwood” fretboards that could be worth checking out: buckeyebanjos.com/fretboards
I'm no expert so take my research lightly, but preslotted can hold you back since 25.5" isn't as common as Gibsons popularizing a 26.25" scale. I saw this one at first but it's 24 frets so it wouldn't work (ebay.com/itm/385147098174). Then I saw this one that's 22 frets, but it's radiused so it wouldn't be accurate to the time (ebay.com/itm/306748636898).
Your best bet might be commissioning a luthier to create one of the right size (stonebanjo.com/customize-your-...retboards). The better wood from that website would probably be maple because it would take the black stain the easiest. The other woods are stronger/more dense and could be last longer if that's what you'd want more but is harder to stain, and maple is already one of the most popular. Poplar is a lot softer than Maple.
quote:
Originally posted by ancient tonesHave you looked at Richlite?
Yes, but they do not sell them pre slotted any more. I have slotted them myself but it takes a long time for me to do a good job, I rather spend the extra money to have one already cut
I would be surprised if the old board was poplar because the poplar I've used (for other projects) is really soft. It wouldn't stand up to steel strings or even fingernails. Is there a different variation of poplar used in instrument making? Could the original board be dyed maple?
Zachary Hoyt has listed on his website necks, rims, and some other parts. He is a nice person to work with and is quality minded. I would ask him about it!
I second the recommendation to contact Zach Hoyt. Zach is very easy to work with, and willing to accommodate special requests.
Edited by - srrobertsiii on 05/15/2026 12:11:19
Can I ask what is wrong with ebony? Sounds like you want all the qualities of ebony but not the real deal. Just curious.
Ebony wouldn't have been used on a Slingerland banjo. Most likely, the fingerboards were made out of pressure dyed maple.
I agree with the others, check with Zach Hoyt.
Stewmac has ebony and rosewood slotted. Just saw them while looking for something else. I suppose you saw these already?
Allied has a large selection of board materials, some are pretty black, and it says they offer cnc services for slotting. The cnc link didn't work, I'd just call them and ask.
alliedlutherie.com/collections...gerboards
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