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Specifically the stuff that Stew Mac sells. Do any of you use it on your fretboards? Does it actually work or does it get rubbed off in time anyway? I've got a customer who wants the blackest of black for his bridge and finger board and while I do still have some nice black ebony boards they are cut too the wrong scale length. All my blanks are streaky.

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Su ... Stain.html

I've used it with great results.

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Chris Alvarado
www.ChrisAlvaradoLive.com
www.Driftwood-Guitars.com

the stuff I use from StewMac is actually leather dye and it works fine

Great. Thanks for the replies.

Here you go - a very small bottle goes a long way

https://www.amazon.com/Fiebings-50-2046-BU-P-Leather-Dye/dp/B00XOXGUM2

Ed

I like streaks and light areas in my ebony... it's more interesting...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

I know, me too!

The Fiebing's dye is not India ink, BTW--it's an alcohol based dye, with a slight bluish cast. Works perfectly to make black shellac. It doesn't come off on your fingers. It seems color fast in the medium term--don't know about the long term.

Another alternative for fretboards is black hair dye.That works very well, but has a limited shelf life. I've had the same bottle of Fiebing's for nearly 30 years and it still works the same as it always did.

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

"The Fiebing's dye is not India ink, BTW--it's an alcohol based dye, with a slight bluish cast"

I've used it on cheap light colored wood violin fingerboards. I didn't like the bluish cast. Maybe it isn't as obvious on ebony.


"I've got a customer who wants the blackest of black for his bridge and finger board"

African blackwood turns jet black with the application of mineral oil. It might be easier to find than black ebony these days.

^ He wants ebony specifically but that's good to know.

Sorry if this diverges from your original question but...
Gilmer just put up some more Malagasy Ebony finger boards. That stuff is as black and fine pored as any ebony you will find. The ones I have bought from them have no streaks whatsoever. It ain't cheap at $15 more than a Gaboon board, but after buying dye, having it shipped, applying it and then risking the possibility of it coming off, it isn't that much overpriced either. It's going to be older stock too, as it isn't imported anymore too, and I doubt it will get any cheaper.
Just another one of many solutions.

Yeah, if I had a customer asking for the 'blackest of black' fretboard & Bridge, sounds like they really know what they want. I would just spend the extra money and buy them. Up charge of course.

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Pat

Thanks Tim. Yes he would be very willing to pay for it. Didn't like the dye idea too much but it is common practice too.

I'll look into it for sure.