darkening a rosewood fretboard

[Golchen]

Is there any way to darken a rosewood fretboard? (without damaging it)

Also, what's the best stuff to use on a dry fretboard? Lemon oil?

[GreeneKing]

Yes Lemon oil is the stuff and it will darken slightly if the board is really dry. Don't saturate it though, little and often is better.

[henry norton]

You used to be able to get hold of 'eboniser' dye from luthier suppliers like Touchstone Tonewoods or David Dyke. It came in a little bottle, you dabbed it on and let it dry - instant darker fingerboard. Lemon oil will darken a fingerboard but it will also highlight the contrast between the light and dark parts of the grain as it tends to bring out the lustre and colour of wood, so it depends whether you want the board richer coloured or just darker.

[Clarky]

I asked exactly the same question a while ago. The thread might be useful [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24413&hl=darkening"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;hl=darkening[/url]

[Mr. Foxen]

I've found boards that have never been oiled can soak up loads of lemon oil, and get loads darker. I had one that had hung in a shop window and faded to grey, used danish oil on that, as reccomended by local luthier.

[Raggy]

+1 for lemon oil, it does seem to work. Little and not that often tho.

[bigjohn]

Again for lemon oil.

I've got a mate who uses tattoo ink to darken rosewood. That works too.