Thanks for the swift reply Murray, I see what you mean about wear
on the fretboard, would any other wood than ebony or rosewood be
suitable for this?

I guess that what I'm trying to do is have a try at building some
type of instrument cheaply, using what bits I have lying around
instead of paying out for expensive woods, fittings etc.
(What a cheapskate, eh)?

I don't suppose whatever I build is either going to
look good, or play well, or sound very sweet, It would just be
nice to have a go, and maybe knock a tune out of whatever I end up
building.

I have read such a lot of good information and advice on here and
other sites that it's just stirred up the old creative juices again.

I do have a couple of books,

David Russell Young: The steel string guitar
Ronald Zachary Taylor: Making early stringed instruments

to help me, but for a first attempt would rather try to do it
without the expense of specialised woods, etc.

Once again, many thanks indeed for the reply.

Cattail 0~