Mulga – Dressed – Fingerboard

Mulga fingerboard blank, dressed to a true reference face. Dense, self-oiling Australian acacia with ebony-comparable hardness and wear resistance. Limited stock, ships Australia-wide while stocks last.

Mulga (Acacia aneura) from the arid woodlands of central New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia. Deep chocolate to near-black heartwood, natural oils that carry through the section, dressed to a true reference face. The Australian fingerboard timber most players mistake for ebony.

Built for fret slots and a long playing life. Density and hardness sit in the medium ebony band, the species wears well under strings without a top coat, and holds fret-slot walls cleanly over years of playing.

Why Mulga

Mulga is one of the hardest timbers in commercial use, and its natural oils make it self-lubricating in service. For fingerboard work, that combination is exactly what you want: the hardness takes fret slots without crumbling, the oils carry through to the playing surface without a top coat, and the wear rate under strings sits closer to ebony than to rosewood. Australian builders working with Mulga since the 1980s have consistently placed it on their shortlists as a domestic alternative to African ebony. Dressed to a true reference face, this stock is ready to mark out fret positions, radius, and bind.

Working Properties

• Hardness: Very hard. Among the hardest timbers in commercial use. Holds fret slots cleanly and takes long playing life in service.
• Grain: Tight, interlocked, fine texture. Radiuses to a smooth surface. Holds detail under sharp scrapers.
• Machining: Demands sharp tooling. Carbide bits and freshly stoned chisels for best results. Slot with a sharp fretsaw or CNC. Bond with epoxy or fish glue; the natural oils resist PVA.
• Surface: Supplied dressed with a true reference face. Ready to mark out fret slots, radius, and bind.
• Finishing: No top coat required. A light rub of lemon oil at string-change is plenty.

Shipping & Pickup

Ships Australia-wide via Australia Post or Aramex. Pickup from our Mulgrave NSW location Mon–Fri 9am–4pm, Sat 9am–12pm. Call (02) 4577 5277 or email sales@trendtimbers.com.au.

Limited Stock, Once It’s Gone

Mulga of fingerboard dimensions takes years to dry without checking. The stock we hold has stabilised over time before being dressed. Fixed quantity, no reorders. Listed under From the Stacks. When it’s through, the listing closes with it.