dying ebony fretboards

[scuffle]

Hi guys,
I have a gentleman that wants a jet black ebony fretboard on his guitar but as the black Gaboon ebony is nearly engangered and illegally logged I REFUSE to use it. Ive actually had people not with me because I told them I wont use the african ebony

So anyway...I have heard of people using black dye to get the ebony to the desired jet black appearence. Does this work on the Macassar ebony? and also does dying the wood have any effect on playability?

[simso]

Black leather dye works well

[dshaker]

Yup, leather dye will work fine. Stew-Mac sells Fiebing's black leather dye as their fingerboard stain. And, yes, I don't want to use real African ebony, either. Its ecological status is too fragile and, in addition, it expands and contracts too much to really be a good fingerboard for guitars. I am using figured walnut for my guitar fingerboards.

[Dennis Leahy]

Maybe Kim and some others that have explored Australian timbers for fingerboards (or maybe the Spittle-man himself) and can tell you which local, non-endangered - or even threatened - wood, will make good fingerboards (Gidgee, etc), and then which ones of those will accept a stain.

Macassar Ebony: "This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation."

Dennis

[scuffle]

its all good now. I talked him into a wenge fretboard I wasnt very keen on dying the timber. I feel like it would change something other than looks...

thanks for all the help guys!

[demonx]

I just wouldn't dye the ebony full stop. As you've done, find a board they do like, don't take a near extinct timber like Macassar and ruin it.

I had a customer last year wanting me to build a guitar for them out of some old growth stuff I have hidden away. I agreed, we laid down the specs etc and then he decided he wanted me to paint it black. I turned down the build. I told him I'm not wasting this timber on a painted guitar, it was clear coat or choose something else.

I kept the customer, he got his colored guitar, although it's not black, its a distressed finish and made from all African Mahogany. He's happy, I didn't sacrifice the old growth timber for the sake of a sale.

Point of the story, don't waste good timber just to keep a customer.

This is what he got - imagine doing this to old growth timber.... no way.

[kiwigeo]

+1 Most of the ebony I use on my classicals has some grain in it as it doesnt detract from the look of the wood. Personal taste of course and if the customer is dead set on no figure in the ebony then whack the dye on.

[Gsanbrook]

I have used the Fiebings dye, but did not care for the hue it left. I did not look natural to me. Like a freshly shined pair of black shoes. But this is just MO. I have come to like the look of African ebony just wiped real well with mineral oil.

[scuffle]

yes i wasnt to fond of dying a timber to be a different colour. Im glad he went for a wenge fretboard instead.

I must say I dont really understand the obsession with the jet black ebony. I find it boring to be honest :/
I love timber with colour and streaks and character.

[Mike Thomas]

I understand that a highly respected American violin maker and restorer uses Clairol black hair dye to add darkness to streaky ebony. It is more translucent than leather dye, allowing some hint of the underlying variation in colour to show. A search on the Maestronet Pegbox forum is likely to turn up some useful information.

[Crafty Fox]

I saw a report somewhere last year about Bob Taylor buying a Cameroon ebony mill with the intention of using and promoting/supplying all the usable ebony harvested regardless of the colour.

[charangohabsburg]

Yes Ken, I remember. IMO it is worth seeing and hearing it again:


youtu.be/

[scuffle]

thats mainly what turned me off ebony. I couldnt believe the amount that was getting wasted. Literally rotting on the ground

[demonx]

Just watched the Taylor video. For anyone that didn't already know, it should bring things into perspective.

I've been using the Cameroon ebony for years. That is what is pictured on red the guitar I posted earlier. Sure the stuff is "colored", but after you wax it like I do, or just oil it like some others do, it looks mostly black anyway.

One other thing I've observed over the last couple years is the Cameroon ebony is being milled shorter and thinner than board blanks traditionally are, leaving less wastage and maximising the amount they get out of the logs