Godin always used Richlite for A8 fretboards?

**Sevelos** · Feb-28-2019, 1:35am

I have a Godin A8 mandolin that I bought new on 2015.
I just now read that Godin is using Richlite for the A8 fretboards.

Does anybody know if my A8 from 2015 has an Ebony fretboard or it has Richlite?

**Tavy** · Feb-28-2019, 4:43am

If you can't tell, does it matter?

**multidon** · Feb-28-2019, 9:25am

Google is your friend. According to a Peghead Nation article from 2015, the fretboard is ebony. To be absolutely certain, look at the “wood” through a pretty powerful magnifier. Like a10x jewelers loupe. Ebony will show tiny pores, Richlite will not show anything of the sort.

**Sevelos** · Mar-01-2019, 10:48am

Thanks Multidon, this article from Peghead Nation indeed seems to be what I wanted and I guess ebony was the material used for the A8 fretboards at my time of purchase.
I also magnified a picture of the fretboard as you suggested, and it is really not very smooth - it has a lot of thin longtitudal scratch-like marks. However, I am not sure that this fact is completely conclusive regarding the material, as there are pictures of cutting boards on the web made from Richlite, which are manufactured with all sorts of pores and marks on them.

Tavy - yes it matters to me. First, because while ebony proved itself for hundreds of years to be an excellent material for fretboards, I don't know how Richlite reacts to direct sunlight, humidity, being hit, scratched, cold, etc. Second, for me at least, using ebony or richlite is like wearing real or fake jewelry. While they may look the same, the feeling while wearing them is totally different

**multidon** · Mar-01-2019, 10:03pm

I have a Martin guitar with a Richlite fretboard, and I think it’s quite nice. It is a very stable and nice material for fretboards. But, I have read that when exposed to high temperatures, it expands more than wood. That could be a problem at an outdoor summer performance. Also, I understand that it has to be attached to the neck with epoxy, regular wood glue would not work. That could be a problem if it ever needed to be replaced. And apparently the jury is still out when it comes to re-fretting. It might be a great martial, but it is not equivalent to ebony.