Ebony fingerboards

[jps]

I just came across this interesting video by Bob Taylor. Kudos to him.

[aceonbass]

John Hall once talked about not reissuing 4002's in part, because ebony could not be sourced to make the fingerboards. It's good to know the story behind this now. Recently Gibson's USA factory was raided by the feds because they had obtained a shipment of illegally sourced ebony. It's good to know that there are at least two US companies wanting to do the right thing.

[cjj]

Great video!

In reality, it's the function of the wood more than the color. It would seem though that there must be some way to take the wood that's not all black and stain/color it to look all black if that's really an issue...

[Len]

Awesome.

[johnallg]

Great video!

In reality, it's the function of the wood more than the color. It would seem though that there must be some way to take the wood that's not all black and stain/color it to look all black if that's really an issue...

+1

I thought that too, CJ, as I heard him explain and show the fretboard on his guitar. If the market is that finicky, just stain it dark. Will ebony, a very hard wood, take a stain?

[cjj]

Great video!

In reality, it's the function of the wood more than the color. It would seem though that there must be some way to take the wood that's not all black and stain/color it to look all black if that's really an issue...

+1

I thought that too, CJ, as I heard him explain and show the fretboard on his guitar. If the market is that finicky, just stain it dark. Will ebony, a very hard wood, take a stain?

I have actually seen, and I can't remember where, some kind of stain for ebony to make it look fully black. I have no idea if it works well, or has some sort of undesirable characteristics like fading or rubbing off...

Oh yeah, where else would ya look?
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_s ... Stain.html

And I wonder just how much really good, black wood might be in those inferior trees that were just being left to rot. On has to think there might be a fair amount that's actually high quality, just not the whole log, so not worth it in the normal pricing scheme...

[T.A.R.]

That video gives me hope, as Jeff said Kudos to him!

[jimk]

These are the kinds of stories I like to hear. Blessings on Bob Taylor.
JimK

[ajish4]

Wow, very informative. I THOUGHT Madagascar Ebony WAS still legal?

Here's a thought/question from a TOTAL layperson who knows ZERO about such things....Couldn't the new "COLOR" Ebony just be "DIED" or "Stained" black? Then, shot with clear coat as a viable option for the look, feel & tone Ebony players like?

I'm guilty, I love Ebony. I have a 92 Alembic Elan with a jet black Ebony fingerboard and I DO love the look, feel & tone I get.

Thoughts?

[cjj]

Here's a thought/question from a TOTAL layperson who knows ZERO about such things....Couldn't the new "COLOR" Ebony just be "DIED" or "Stained" black?

Umm... I thought that was what I was talking about...

[jps]

Here's a thought/question from a TOTAL layperson who knows ZERO about such things....Couldn't the new "COLOR" Ebony just be "DIED" or "Stained" black?

Umm... I thought that was what I was talking about...

No CJ, you were talking about dyeing the wood, TC is interested in dying the wood! I would have thought the wood planks were already dead?

[cjj]

Here's a thought/question from a TOTAL layperson who knows ZERO about such things....Couldn't the new "COLOR" Ebony just be "DIED" or "Stained" black?

Umm... I thought that was what I was talking about...

No CJ, you were talking about dyeing the wood, TC is interested in dying the wood! I would have thought the wood planks were already dead?

Oh yeah, you're right, silly me, reading the forum without my glasses...

[aceonbass]

A possible reason you don't hear about dyed ebony is that, without a sealer coat of some kind, it would probably wear off. Ebony is not a wood you would normally put anything on, except to oil it periodically so it doesn't crack. Clear coated ebony just looks awful (IMHO), and lacks the feel one normally likes.

[electrofaro]

Recently Gibson's USA factory was raided by the feds because they had obtained a shipment of illegally sourced ebony.

Recently??? Did I miss something? No judge has ruled that ebony was illegally sourced. Do you know all the details of the case or simply believe whatever the media serves you as truth? You take everything that Taylor videos states as truth? I don't want to start a very useless discussion, believe whatever you want. Sad to see people stopped thinking for themselves...

[ajish4]

LOL,

See what happens when you try to do too many things at once CJ?

But, great minds think alike anyway.