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I thought this was discussed somewhere on the forum but couldn't find the topic. Anyway, I would like to make all my fingerboards with Ziricote or Macassar Ebony. Do you think the plain fingerboard is too much (i mean just too much figure on the eye) or, if i use the fingerboard stain I have seen, will that just diminish the natural wood streaking or just dull it some?

Just noticed I am a senior member...You wouldn't expect sucha dumb question from a senior member would you?

Frank,
I think Ziricote and Macassar make great fingerboards. I would add the if it were me, I'd use the same material for the bridge. To my eye, this gives the guitar a more consistent look.

Go for the natural look, We all chase fine looking wood with plenty of figure, so let the wood shine through on the fingerboard.

My opinion anyway RussellR38555.5681481482

I recently tried dying "not perfectly black" boards jet black... I really didn't care for the look. It was too flat.

I think from now on if I want JET black I will just search for the perfect piece of ebony....

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Frank, congratulations on your Aarp status.
The Fiebing black oil stain carried by StewMac really does work to turn things black. I wouldn't want to hide, though, the beauty of Ziricote or Macassar. They are simply too beautiful in their own right. Used judiciously, they can really set of an instrument made of tamer woods.
Also, I would not recommend knocking over an open bottle of said dye onto the wife's white Formica counter tops. The cleanup of that oil spill will halt forward progress for the rest of the afternoon.

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

if one uses a highly figured wood for a fingerboard i would think it was because one likes the figure. if you don't like it, don't waste the wood or the money using it, use ebony or eir.

if you want black you will wait a long time to find true black ebony these days. the dye works fine; if you want a bit of shine you can buff it, or you can use a bit of wax.

takes a bit of doing to get the dye off the fingers too.crazymanmichael38555.3778935185

Frank, I have been using macassar for my fingerboard, headstock and bridge. I just happen to like the look better than jet black ebony. I just finish it natural and let the wood speak for itself.

I say do what you like, unless you have a customer requesting something specific.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Frank, I have to agree with Brock here, I too used the black dye - got it from SM. I used it on a fairly dark Macasser Ebony Board, and to my eyes, it looked fake, flat, dull, and so black that it looked unnatural. I sanded it off and went natural!

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