Official Luthiers Forum!
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/

Fretboard colour
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=50816
Page 1 of 1

Author:  profchris [ Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Fretboard colour

Aesthetic advice please!

I have an interesting looking piece of oak which I'm thinking of using as a fretboard on a mahogany neck, for a tenor guitar. It's light though, like a maple fretboard. How do you all think it might work to the eye? (I'm happy it will work mechanically, including humidity expansion, though I guess it will show finger-wear dirt in time).

The mahogany may end up a shade or two browner, and the nut which separates headstock from fretboard, visually, will be a very dark brown. And if it helps, this goes on a black body with cedar top, so the top is a similar shade to the fretboard.

Attachment:
Oak fretboard.jpg

Author:  printer2 [ Mon Jul 16, 2018 8:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fretboard colour

I like it.

Author:  rlrhett [ Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fretboard colour

To my eye it is too close to the mahogany, but not a match. I think I would either fume the oak to significantly darken the color or choose something else.

Author:  Pmaj7 [ Tue Jul 17, 2018 12:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fretboard colour

Yeah, color is too close.

Author:  banjopicks [ Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fretboard colour

I like it and would do as you said and darken the mahogany to somewhat match the body. Let the oak stand out in contrast.

Author:  Heath Blair [ Tue Jul 17, 2018 4:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fretboard colour

What are you going to bind the body with?

Author:  Mark Mc [ Tue Jul 17, 2018 4:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fretboard colour

+1 for the opinion that they are too close in colour to each other. I think it is better to have some contrast. I also don't tend to like light coloured fingerboards, and find them hard to keep clean - but that is just a personal preference. So, my $0.02 worth of opinion would be to keep the mahogany colour and darken the oak.

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/