Ebonize a Fretboard
- Thread starter UnderTheFlame83
- Start date
beaubrummels
Well-known member
2 pages in I'm going to ask a potentially dumb but practical question: It's a bolt-on neck. Why not just get a neck that has the fretboard you want?
UnderTheFlame83
New member
If I can find one of the earlier Baretta Special necks that actually used darker rosewood I would. Don't see them for sale unfortunately.
mistermikev
New member
I build guitars... and as such I run a lot of wood through a planer. One of the things I do with figured wood, when running through a planer... is to take a damp rag and wipe down the surface of the wood. this is a common practice to prevent snipe on a planer with super figured wood. When you do this... all you are doing is getting the very top surface of the wood damp. Generally this top layer is removed by the planer in a pass... we're talking 1/64" of wood. If you don't let the board sit... held down to the planer carrier board with double sided tape... for at least a day... often times you will find that the wood will bow/curl. This phenomena is pretty much common knowledge among wood workers. if you add any amount of moisture to wood it can cause a change in tension. you would have to be one sweaty dude to put as much moisture on your fretboard from sweat as you would from applying a thorough color coat to it... perhaps you sweat like that, I don't - but if I did I would wipe it off as soon and as much as possible. Either way... use your india ink... knock yerself out. Just saying... having seen a thousand times how much wood can move... after being thoroughly dried and tested... even here in AZ where the air is super dry and evap happens in seconds... i would not risk adding anything water based to any part of my guitar. Could also cause fret sprout. a change in moisture in the air can literally cause the sm thing and is well known among anyone who has set up a guitar at different times of the year. So with that in mind... I would suggest an alcohol based carrier... as that will not risk adding moisture. If you don't think that is a reasonable suggestion - ok. We disagree. Nothing wrong with that and I respect your right to your own opinion.
Obsessive Compulsive
New member
Balinese artisans use shoe polishing compound diluted in gasoline to stain their wooden carvings.
UnderTheFlame83
New member
I got this 
UnderTheFlame83
New member
I have a couple of these Kramer Baretta Specials and decided to leave the white alone. Its stock and will stay that way. Instead, I have a little project in mind for the black one. Ordered black Gotoh tuners, graph tech saddles, and black Gotoh strap buttons for it. I will stain the fretboard on it. Since I have the trem decked I see no point in upgrading it, or the pickup, and I have no issues with the stock nut. Should look great once it is all blacked out.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Cool that know they offer true black now; didn't know that.
The ebony one sometimes requires going over it a second time.
The ebony one sometimes requires going over it a second time.
UnderTheFlame83
New member
Yeah I saw the ebony one, too. There was a peice of wood comparing all the different colors and true black was darker than ebony.
