#1950782 - 05/30/08 08:45 PM
I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
|
JipThePeople
Senior Member
Registered: 04/08/05
Posts: 196
Loc: Dallas, Texas
|
Offline
|
|
I have heard that applying boiled lindseed oil, followed by lemon oil is a safe and effective way to make a rosewood fingerboard darker. Anybody tried that or can recommend another way? This will be on an expensive guitar and I don't want to do anything permanent to it!
_________________________
"Increasing Success by Lowering Expectations."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1950784 - 05/30/08 08:58 PM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: JipThePeople]
|
Bluesape
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 06/13/05
Posts: 9169
Loc: Ottawa
|
|
Offline
|
|
I haven't heard of this technique. Which model guitar is it?
_________________________
Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1950786 - 05/30/08 09:05 PM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Bluesape]
|
JipThePeople
Senior Member
Registered: 04/08/05
Posts: 196
Loc: Dallas, Texas
|
|
Offline
|
|
2008 Ibanez JEM77BK and it has inlay work on the fretboard.
_________________________
"Increasing Success by Lowering Expectations."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1950864 - 05/31/08 05:05 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: JipThePeople]
|
GeoffB
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 11/05/04
Posts: 7468
Loc: UK East Midlands via Scotland
|
|
Offline
|
|
I'd just oil it (I use an old can of Liquid Gold) - dye eventually wears off and it looks terrible.
G.
_________________________
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix
Frank M:Back in the day you could have a trio with two people.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1950877 - 05/31/08 05:30 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: GeoffB]
|
caprae
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 11/28/04
Posts: 3350
Loc: Athens, Georgia, USA
|
|
Offline
|
|
I had a Schecter that had a kind of whitish look to it. All the Lemon Oil in the world wouldn't make it dark.
If you do use lemon oil get one without petroleum in it. I've emailed at least three guitar companies and they've all said use pure lemon oil. I usually buy the very small bottle from a health food store. It doesn't take much and that little bottle lasts years.
_________________________
Raise your children and spoil your grandchildren. Spoil your children and raise your grandchildren.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1950890 - 05/31/08 06:03 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: JipThePeople]
|
Caevan O'Shite
10k Club
Registered: 04/05/02
Posts: 14055
Loc: The Great Spirit's Handprint o...
|
|
Offline
|
|
You should be able to get satisfactory darkening results by using oil; here's a link to a thread on the "My Les Paul"-forum with some before-and-after pics using Fret Doctor fretboard-oil (there are also similar threads and posts on the "Les Paul Forum", as well, if you wanna go there and do search; I seem to recall better before-&-after example pics there):
Fretboard oil thread on "My Les Paul"-forum
I like either lemon oil that doesn't contain any petroleum distillates, solvents, or silicone, or better yet, that Fret Doctor brand fretboard-oil.
There's a lot of good info on the Fret Doctor 'site (not just sales-hype); here's an example quote from their 'site, followed by a link for ya:
"1. Linseed oil is more like a varnish than an oil. Because it forms a continuous film, it seals the surface of the wood like a varnish, but oils of plant origin may later slowly penetrate down to the wood. It can take years. It comes in many forms. The stuff from a hardware or art store is a paint variety, boiled or raw. Both of them stink. If you insist on Linseed oil, get the food grade from a health food store. This grade doesn't smell so bad. After multiple applications, nothing can penetrate it. If you use Linseed oil, take any rags or brushes that are used and dispose of them outdoors.
When left in a pile of rags, this stuff can spontaneously burst into flame. You then lose both your ax and your home. Squeeze the bottle and screw the cap on tight, minimizing any air space in the container."
"10. Lemon Oil, Almond oil, Walnut oil, etc., food grade, are probably O.K., but make sure they don't contain solvents like naphtha or other petroleum distillates. Solvents can weaken any adhesives used in instrument construction. Be aware that most "Lemon oils" are no more than lemon-scented mineral oil, as are most bore oils. Real lemon oil is quite acidic, with a pH of 3.7 to 4.2. It is an effective cleaner, but wipe it off when you are finished. Rosewood oil does not even come from the same plant that your fretboard wood came from, not even the same country! It is consists mostly of an aromatic solvent with a Rosewood oil scent added."
Fret Doctor-brand fretboard-oil 'site
_________________________
~Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite~
_ _ ___ _ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1950904 - 05/31/08 06:59 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
|
JipThePeople
Senior Member
Registered: 04/08/05
Posts: 196
Loc: Dallas, Texas
|
|
Offline
|
|
Wow, thx for all the great feedback.
_________________________
"Increasing Success by Lowering Expectations."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1950922 - 05/31/08 07:26 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Strategery]
|
Eric Van Buren
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 3866
Loc: Metro Detroit, MI
|
|
Offline
|
|
Play it in smoky bars for decades and let the tar do its thing. 
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1950923 - 05/31/08 07:27 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Strategery]
|
Bill@Welcome Home Studios
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/23/03
Posts: 7419
|
|
Offline
|
|
The reason that someone suggested linseed oil, is that one version (and I don't remember if it is the boiled or the unboiled) will darken with age and exposure to light.
Personally, I'd leave it alone.
Bill
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1951029 - 05/31/08 01:00 PM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
|
Caevan O'Shite
10k Club
Registered: 04/05/02
Posts: 14055
Loc: The Great Spirit's Handprint o...
|
|
Offline
|
|
Personally, I'd leave it alone.
Bill
You don't occasionally lightly oil or otherwise condition your rosewood or ebony fretboards after every so many cleanings/restringings, Bill?
I dn't exactly go crazy with it, but I do use a little oil on the 'board a few times a year...
_________________________
~Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite~
_ _ ___ _ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1951136 - 05/31/08 07:27 PM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
|
*** Shoes ***
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 03/12/04
Posts: 2059
Loc: The Shield's Edge, Canada
|
|
Offline
|
|
I have oily paws and between that and sweat my fretboards have all darkened over the years. For that matter.. my maple strat neck is covered with black goo and discoloration where I've peeled through the finish all over the place.
So... you could lend me the guitar for a while and it will inevitably come back made to order!
Oil is likely the best bet but be careful that it's used sparingly lest you damage the wood. Hopefully it's bound because the tendancy for dry wood to sponge up what ever you apply may screw the neck finish and color.
Be extra careful with that and good luck.
_________________________
I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1951145 - 05/31/08 08:16 PM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: *** Shoes ***]
|
Bill@Welcome Home Studios
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/23/03
Posts: 7419
|
|
Offline
|
|
I meant in terms of trying to intentionally change the color. Yes indeed, a little lemon oil is a good thing for cleaning and protecting the wood.
Bill
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1951163 - 05/31/08 09:08 PM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
|
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
10k Club
Registered: 05/23/00
Posts: 12740
Loc: NY Hudson Valley, USA
|
|
Offline
|
|
You don't occasionally lightly oil or otherwise condition your rosewood or ebony fretboards after every so many cleanings/restringings, Bill?
I don't exactly go crazy with it, but I do use a little oil on the 'board a few times a year...
I've put some "lemon oil" (the synthetic stuff) on my fretboards on a few occasions...
...but I've sorta' stopped doing it, as I tend to wipe down the neck AND fretboard with Dunlop guitar polish...and that seems to keep the wood happy.
The "lemon oil" never would absorb real easy...and I had to rub and rub and rub...and then most of it seemed to end up back in the rag!
And now...having several Hags with their Resinator™ fretboard (which is wood, impregnated with acrylic resin)…there’s no need to even worry about it, as it’s a very stable surface.
My other guitars with the Rosewood fretboards just get some polish…though if I see it looking a bit too dry…I’ll still use some “lemon oil”….
_________________________
miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1951302 - 06/01/08 07:19 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
|
Caevan O'Shite
10k Club
Registered: 04/05/02
Posts: 14055
Loc: The Great Spirit's Handprint o...
|
|
Offline
|
|
I meant in terms of trying to intentionally change the color. Yes indeed, a little lemon oil is a good thing for cleaning and protecting the wood.
Bill
I just wondered what your thoughts were here, particularly as you have many vintage guitars. I know that some people who own and play vintage instruments are very reluctant to apply ANY kind of cleaner, polish, or fretbaord-oil to any part of their guitars, feeling that a little breath-fogging followed by a dry cotton cloth is all they need or want.
I've gotten much more relaxed over the years about how often I use any cleaner, polish, fretboard-oil, etc.; I used to do it every string-change (and that was sometimes every other week or even more often- just from playing at home!), and polishing up much of the guitar several times between stringing, as if it was a show-car. These days, I don't do any of that all too often, just occasionally as it seems to be needed...
_________________________
~Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite~
_ _ ___ _ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1951370 - 06/01/08 09:26 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
|
Bill@Welcome Home Studios
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/23/03
Posts: 7419
|
|
Offline
|
|
I've been using some sort of lemon oil since I started playing. I used to search for various 'all natural' types, but now Old English works just fine.
I usually wipe it on liberally with a cloth and let it sit, then using a toothborsh going against the grain I scrub, then wipe, then reapply and after letting it sit for a while, wipe thouroughly and polish it down to try to get as much residue off of the neck. Has worked for me since about 1963.
I used to be fanatic about that kind of stuff, but I got lazy when I had a luthier seeing my guitars all regularly, and he did the maintenance. Now that I'm doing it myself again, it gets done about once a year.... but I am playing much less, too.
I also noticed that when I started paying more attention to the environment, adding air cleaning and humidification to the spaces in which I and my instruments lived, they need care less often.
Bill
Edited by Bill@Welcome Home Studios (06/01/08 09:27 AM)
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1953578 - 06/05/08 10:00 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: JipThePeople]
|
open strings
Member
Registered: 03/27/07
Posts: 26
|
|
Offline
|
|
I have a Spector bass with a rosewood fretboard, and it looks like something was used to seal/darken the wood. I'm the first to own the bass, so it must have been a factory thing. Maybe the Spector people would tell you.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1953596 - 06/05/08 10:39 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
|
Billster
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 04/16/04
Posts: 5892
Loc: Wilmington, MA
|
|
Offline
|
|
I also noticed that when I started paying more attention to the environment, adding air cleaning and humidification to the spaces in which I and my instruments lived, they need care less often.
Bill
I've never oiled a fretboard. Cleaned them, but never oiled them. I've oiled cutting boards, but those get washed with soap and water, and guitar parts aren't abused like that. I don't go all Angus Young and sweat all over my guitars, but I do clean them after each use.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1953671 - 06/05/08 12:37 PM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
|
dave251
Gold Member
Registered: 09/04/00
Posts: 878
Loc: Lawrence KS
|
|
Offline
|
|
The best thing to darken rosewood is MANY MANY hours in a smoke filled barroom. Of course, your lungs will be as dark as the rosewood.
Linseed oil, rubbed in well with 0000 steel wool, being careful to keep the wool particles away from the pickups. Rub it all back out with a soft cloth....don't let it sit on the wood as it will get sticky. Tape over your pickups with masking tape...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1953756 - 06/05/08 04:30 PM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: dave251]
|
guitarzan6000
Senior Member
Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 88
Loc: Middle Tennessee
|
|
Offline
|
|
Lemon oil is not only good for the wood, it also cleans it and conditions it. Don't use it very often, it can possibly cause your frets to loosen....It is recommended by every Luthier book I have came across...I would say every third or fourth string change...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1953921 - 06/06/08 04:19 AM
Re: I Want to Make My Rosewood Fingerboard Darker w/o Dye
[Re: guitarzan6000]
|
Bill@Welcome Home Studios
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/23/03
Posts: 7419
|
|
Offline
|
|
why not just have the fretboard replaced with an ebony one?
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: myles_rose, A String, Bluesape
|
|
|
