Best source for pre-slotted ebony mandolin fingerboards

[Joey McKenzie]

I am getting ready to replace the fingerboard on a very nice F-5 style mandolin made in the 1970's by George Smith of Portland Oregon. Looking for good quality ebony with accurate slotting and not too thin (I've heard a few complaints about thinnish fingerboard blanks). Would love to hear the sources you builders and restorers are using if you buy your boards pre-slotted, radiused, etc. Not sure yet if I'm going flat or slight radius, but would like to buy from someone who does both. Thanks a bunch!

[Skip Kelley]

Joey, Stew-Mac has them readily available.

[Vernon Hughes]

I've used stewmac boards for years. Very nice.

[Marty Jacobson]

I make my own these days, but the ones from Stew-Mac and LMI are both perfectly nice in terms of wood quality and accuracy.

[brunello97]

I make my own these days, but the ones from Stew-Mac and LMI are both perfectly nice in terms of wood quality and accuracy.

I don't do a lot of this kind of work, so take my advice fwiw. I second Marty on the LMI boards, which I've used a few of. Using one right now to replace the fretboard on a Leland canted top mando. I am expecting good results.

BTW, I checked an LMI ebony board fret spacing against that on my 1898 Vinaccia bowlback and they were an exact match. Dead on. Which is something not to be found with numerous other old Italian mandolins I have owned. Raised my confidence in both parties.

Mick

[peter.coombe]

I make my own now, but I have used Stew Mac, LMI and Randy Allen.

[John Morton]

I persuaded LMI to slot guitar boards from both ends, to get 2 mandolin boards from each. You do have to check length, scale and # of frets carefully.

[Marty Jacobson]

I persuaded LMI to slot guitar boards from both ends, to get 2 mandolin boards from each. You do have to check length, scale and # of frets carefully.

That's a good point. LMI will do custom work, whereas with Stew-Mac, you get what they have in their catalog.

[Bernie Daniel]

I have purchased both mandolin and mandocello fret boards (both 24.75" and 25" scale & 26 frets) in rosewood and ebony from LMI and they have always been "perfect". Also mention as did John Morton in post #7, LMI will work with you and do almost anything within reason. They will not put a radius on a mandolin fret board though -- board is too small for their jig I was told.

[Dale Ludewig]

Bernie, I haven't checked but maybe that's why John had them do two mandolin boards from a guitar blank- to get a radius.

[AcornHouse]

LMI is my goto for all fretboard slotting. They now have it computerized so that they can slot to any scale length, a great boon for my Mandola build. You get to choose your wood, and they slot it for only $9.

[John Morton]

Bernie, I haven't checked but maybe that's why John had them do two mandolin boards from a guitar blank- to get a radius.

Correct, that was an added bonus. As Marty pointed out, LMI responds to special requests. In my case the mandolin boards were just long enough for the 19 slots. I specified the smallest distance from the nut to the first slot, which was .125". I was a bit miffed when they arrived with .25" spacing, but I squeaked by with that. You might get them to look through the pile for a longer blank.