Darken Rosewood Fretboard?

[son of frog]

Quick question.

Is there a product or polish / varnish etc. that i can use to darken the rosewood tone on my fretboard without making it glossy / slippery?

The kind of colour i'm looking for it that of the tone commonly found on the original 1962 P Bass fretboards... maybe just achieved through age or wear, but it looks really nice, almost an ebony colour!

see here...

[url="http://www.themusiczoo.com/images/4-07-10/American_Vintage_62_Precision_Bass_3_Tone_Sunburst_V191951_b.jpg"]http://www.themusiczoo.com/images/4-07-10/...t_V191951_b.jpg[/url]

and

[url="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150190916347273&set=a.10150190916002273.305115.20355427272&type=1&theater"]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=101...e=1&theater[/url]


Cheers.
-Frog!

[Lozz196]

Lemon Oil will certainly darken a rosewood fretboard, not sure about glossy/oily feel though (but as its called Oil possibly so).

[DanOwens]

I've found that buffing a lemon-oiled fretboard will bring it up in a shine but once the oil has soaked into the wood it's just a darker colour (rather than a glossy finish).

[ikay]

Take a look at Fret Doctor fretboard treatment - [url="http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm"]http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm[/url]

Can only order online from the US but delivery is amazingly quick (mine was anyway). This is intended for nourishing and preserving natural wood instruments. It penetrates the wood and is much longer lasting than lemon oil. Use sparingly and wipe off any excess, it doesn't leave any oily residue. It's great stuff will bring up and enhance the natural depth of colour of your fretboard.

However, I suspect the only thing that really looks like a vintage slab of brazilian rosewood is exactly that!

[Noisyjon]

If you want to go really dark try this:
[url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fingerboard_cleaner,_stain_and_oil/Black_Fingerboard_Stain.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=6207"]http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_suppl...=3&xsr=6207[/url]

[son of frog]

[quote name='ikay' post='1241953' date='May 23 2011, 05:55 PM']Take a look at Fret Doctor fretboard treatment - [url="http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm"]http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm[/url]

Can only order online from the US but delivery is amazingly quick (mine was anyway). This is intended for nourishing and preserving natural wood instruments. It penetrates the wood and is much longer lasting than lemon oil. Use sparingly and wipe off any excess, it doesn't leave any oily residue. It's great stuff will bring up and enhance the natural depth of colour of your fretboard.

However, I suspect the only thing that really looks like a vintage slab of brazilian rosewood is exactly that![/quote]

That looks like great stuff, Will give Lemon oil a go first and if not dark enough after a few applications will go for this.

Edit: Just realised how good value that stuff is too... 10 USD shipped...!



[quote name='jonthebass' post='1241984' date='May 23 2011, 06:24 PM']If you want to go really dark try this:
[url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fingerboard_cleaner,_stain_and_oil/Black_Fingerboard_Stain.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=6207"]http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_suppl...=3&xsr=6207[/url][/quote]

Maybe not that dark...

Edited May 23, 2011 by son of frog

[BigRedX]

[quote name='jonthebass' post='1241984' date='May 23 2011, 06:24 PM']If you want to go really dark try this:
[url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fingerboard_cleaner,_stain_and_oil/Black_Fingerboard_Stain.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=6207"]http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_suppl...=3&xsr=6207[/url][/quote]
From the Stewmac web site:
[quote]Cannot ship by air or outside the U.S.[/quote]

[xilddx]

[quote name='son of frog' post='1242026' date='May 23 2011, 06:52 PM']Maybe not that dark... [/quote]
They do other colours too! [url="http://www.fiebing.com/Dyes.aspx"]http://www.fiebing.com/Dyes.aspx[/url]

I also want to do this.

[BigRedX]

From the Fiebing website:

[quote]Fiebing only ships within Canada and the United States of America[/quote]