Micarta

A composite of fabric or paper bonded with resin, developed as an insulator and used on some fretboards and nuts.

Micarta began as an electrical laminate and is made in many forms, the versions used in guitars being fine-weave cloth or paper set in phenolic resin. It is tough, stable and easy to machine, and because it sands and polishes well it takes a fretboard radius without trouble. It is commonly described as producing a softer, slightly muted sound than a wooden board, since the resin-rich material damps vibration rather than carrying it. Players who like it value the consistency and the immunity to humidity; others find it tonally flat and dislike the slightly slick feel under the fingers.

Example: An instrument with a Micarta board is effectively immune to seasonal swelling, which is why the material appears on outdoor and budget guitars.

typical use: Fretboards, nuts and shims on some instruments.

Micarta

See also