Why can't I ebonize my fretboard????

[Geeze]

Or buy another Jackson neck...

By the way @Dogs of Doom that laser thing is cool! I wish I'd had access to one last year.

Russ

 

[Dogs of Doom]

Or buy another Jackson neck...

By the way @Dogs of Doom that laser thing is cool! I wish I'd had access to one last year.

Russ

they're pretty pricey, for an entry level model ($3500 +/-). They are pretty dangerous, & you need to take a few safety precautions. The fumes can be brutal... You definitely do not want to get skin in the way of fire...

this guy goes through some of the considerations:

 

[PowerTube44]

Or buy another Jackson neck...

This is a neck-through.

 

[Edgar Frog]

I'd give it up before you fuck it up so bad you have no choice but to replace the fretboard. Take it for what it is and play the damn thing.

 

[fitz]

I just started an experiment. I cleaned two sections between frets thoroughly with the lighter fluid. I treated one with the India ink, and the other with Minwax True Black.

Scientific method - step 5: Analysis
So, what were the results of the testing?

 

[V-man]

Was med-lt rosewood

Kiwi black leather dye. If any wears from excessive play or cleaning, it takes 5 min to reapply.

 

[PowerTube44]

Scientific method - step 5: Analysis
So, what were the results of the testing?

I'm about to find out...

EDIT: The Minwax True Black is about 1-2% better than the India ink, but neither are acceptable.

Now to start over and try leather dye.

 

[PowerTube44]

Trying Kiwi black leather dye now. Good grief. I've stained things before and never dreamed that this would be so fucking difficult.

 

[Dogs of Doom]

told you, it's because the oil is in the pores...

The oil seals/protects the wood. It sees the dye as an invader & it protects the wood from invaders. You have to extract/remove the oil from the wood pores, or it will repel any liquid, including ink, dye, etc.

That's why the laser thing is so awesome. But, McGuire's makes oil finish lifters, but, it's tedious & messy.

there's stuff like this:

EXPERT Clean & Bright | Wood Stripper: Deck Stain Remover

This is our go-to Wood Stripper. Made with Sodium Hydroxide and an added Sodium Metasilcate boost helps to lift old old based stains, extreme organic growth and some water based coatings. A butyl booster can be added to remove tough water based stains. Sodium Hydroxide / Sodium Metasilicate...

restorativewoodproducts.com

 

[V-man]

Trying Kiwi black leather dye now. Good grief. I've stained things before and never dreamed that this would be so fucking difficult.

it applies like stain but dries like paint. It can be a bit tacky at first. That will “cure“ -be patient and add a second coat if needed. It also touches up well if any scrapes off during cleaning.

Also, q-tips help clean any stray coverage over inlays.

 

[hsb]

Dyes are mostly water, the oils in the board will repel the water in the dye and the dye, stain, etc will not hold.

 

[anitoli]

Yes, ebony does look awesome but is the other board material that bad? My V has Granadillio wood which has this orangy color which you don't really associate with a Gibson. Doesn't faze me but the reality is when i am playing it i don't see the FB anyways so it could be any color really.

 

[PowerTube44]

Yes, ebony does look awesome but is the other board material that bad? My V has Granadillio wood which has this orangy color which you don't really associate with a Gibson. Doesn't faze me but the reality is when i am playing it i don't see the FB anyways so it could be any color really.

Rosewood, in my opinion, looks "okay" on Strats and some other guitars. But on a neck-through Jackson? It's Ebony, Maple, or death.

 

[PowerTube44]

Well, it looks like (knock on wood, pun intended) the Kiwi leather dye is the one that'll do the trick. The one section I did seems to be holding up, so now I've done the whole board with it and letting it dry. I may lay on a second coat after all this trouble.

 

[fitz]

Well, it looks like (knock on wood, pun intended) the Kiwi leather dye is the one that'll do the trick. The one section I did seems to be holding up, so now I've done the whole board with it and letting it dry. I may lay on a second coat after all this trouble.

or this is all theoretical.

 

[Kinkless Tetrode]

I wonder about hair dyes?

 

[paul-e-mann]

Well, it looks like (knock on wood, pun intended) the Kiwi leather dye is the one that'll do the trick. The one section I did seems to be holding up, so now I've done the whole board with it and letting it dry. I may lay on a second coat after all this trouble.

If you really LOVE this guitar why not have an ebony fretboard installed.

 

[PowerTube44]

or this is all theoretical.

As usual, I never think to take any "before" pics. But image the typical, even-brown Rosewood board.

I'll get some shots when it's finished.

 

[V-man]

Yes, ebony does look awesome but is the other board material that bad? My V has Granadillio wood which has this orangy color which you don't really associate with a Gibson. Doesn't faze me but the reality is when i am playing it i don't see the FB anyways so it could be any color really.

My V has a gran board and if it was not for the very attractive figure, the color would have aggravated me to doing something about it. The fact that it is gradually darkening with oil is enough for me to let it work itself out. Old (dark) rosewood OTOH can blacken. A lot of the 80s explorers make you have to confirm whether it was rosewood or ebony as both were used and it is hard to spot in pics

Then there is the issue of propriety. ”brown” looks better than ebony on natural finishes and certain bursts. But it is downright ugly and cheap on black guitars. The trademark of a Jackson is sharkfin inlays over an ebony board. Nothing says “Piece of shit ‘Fiero kit Ferrari” cheap” like a Jackson with sharkfins over fucking rosewood. TBH, I’d never have gotten it in the first place for that reason… maybe with the lone exception the guitar was both so good, and so good a bargain that I could have the FB replaced for the money saved.

 

[PowerTube44]

The trademark of a Jackson is sharkfin inlays over an ebony board. Nothing says “Piece of shit ‘Fiero kit Ferrari” cheap” like a Jackson with sharkfins over fucking rosewood. TBH, I’d never have gotten it in the first place for that reason… maybe with the lone exception the guitar was both so good, and so good a bargain that I could have the FB replaced for the money saved.

This. Brown rosewood just looks "wrong" on a neck-through Jackson. Period. This model typically sells for about $600-700 used, and I got it out the door for $400.00 even. It's the "Yellow Crackle" finish.

It's exactly this one:



The only thing I disliked was the brown rosewood fretboard. I knew I could blacken it. I just didn't think it would be quite the hassle it's been.

But it looks like the Kiwi dye is finally doing the trick.