Staining a rosewood fretboard?

leftyguitarjoe · 06-06-2012, 07:57 PM

I'm thinking of doing a neat stain on the neck of my bass once the defretting process is complete. I was thinking of doing orange or red highlights to accentuate the 3TS finish on the body of the bass. I still want the majority of the fretboard to be close regular color. I just want the grain to pop in a different color.

Does this sound plausible? Can it look good or will it look like crap?

iron blast · 06-06-2012, 08:20 PM

Why no ebony stain?

MaxOfMetal · 06-06-2012, 08:23 PM

Unless the fretboard is extremely light in color (light not dry), you're not really going to see much color, especially oranges or reds which are similar to the brown tones already apparent in most all cheaper Rosewood.

When you go to the hardware store to look at stain, you'll notice they'll usually have a display or even show on the can what a certain stain will look like over dark and light colored woods.

Now, if you want to do something cool, mix together some different colored filler and use that when filling the fret slots. There was a guy on Talkbass some years back that filled in the lines on a Maple boarded P-Bass with bright blue filler/epoxy. Matched the basses teal color wonderfully.

aaron_rose · 06-06-2012, 08:31 PM

mix the dye with wood filler then scrape it across the grain let it sit for 5 mins then wipe it off with a t shirt or rag preferably something that wont leave little hairs on it, that's what i did with my guitar and it looks amazing and was fast and easy.

leftyguitarjoe · 06-06-2012, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron_rose

mix the dye with wood filler then scrape it across the grain let it sit for 5 mins then wipe it off with a t shirt or rag preferably something that wont leave little hairs on it, that's what i did with my guitar and it looks amazing and was fast and easy.

Any pics?

aaron_rose · 06-06-2012, 09:34 PM

My adventure with my first 7 string build.

not very good example maybe but trust me its the best way to get the woods grain to take color, u basically sink it into the open pores with the putty/dye and then when u wipe it off you get the color of the wood retained with the pores being colored, not sure if that's what you had in mind but its all i got :/

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06-06-2012, 07:57 PM	#1
leftyguitarjoe Correct-handed Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Newark, DE Posts: 2,225 Thanked: 183 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Staining a rosewood fretboard? I'm thinking of doing a neat stain on the neck of my bass once the defretting process is complete. I was thinking of doing orange or red highlights to accentuate the 3TS finish on the body of the bass. I still want the majority of the fretboard to be close regular color. I just want the grain to pop in a different color. Does this sound plausible? Can it look good or will it look like crap? "Yeah, sometimes when you're cool, you spontaneously combust into a fireball of awesomeness" - RenegadeDave

06-06-2012, 08:20 PM	#2
iron blast Black Metal Overlord Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 738 Thanked: 4 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Why no ebony stain? Bassist in the Symphonic Black Metal band "Ethereal Blood" https://www.facebook.com/EtherealBlo...p_178091127385

06-06-2012, 08:23 PM	#3
MaxOfMetal Likes trem wankery. • Super Moderator • Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 21,171 Thanked: 89 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Unless the fretboard is extremely light in color (light not dry), you're not really going to see much color, especially oranges or reds which are similar to the brown tones already apparent in most all cheaper Rosewood. When you go to the hardware store to look at stain, you'll notice they'll usually have a display or even show on the can what a certain stain will look like over dark and light colored woods. Now, if you want to do something cool, mix together some different colored filler and use that when filling the fret slots. There was a guy on Talkbass some years back that filled in the lines on a Maple boarded P-Bass with bright blue filler/epoxy. Matched the basses teal color wonderfully. Need help with setting up a trem? Need info on your Ibby? Live in Milwaukee? Please feel free to message me. New Rules. Read Them.

06-06-2012, 08:31 PM	#4
aaron_rose more bigger Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Bellingham, wa, guitar enthusiest Posts: 315 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	mix the dye with wood filler then scrape it across the grain let it sit for 5 mins then wipe it off with a t shirt or rag preferably something that wont leave little hairs on it, that's what i did with my guitar and it looks amazing and was fast and easy. Http://www.soundcloud.com/DragonsTeeth

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06-06-2012, 09:34 PM	#6
aaron_rose more bigger Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Bellingham, wa, guitar enthusiest Posts: 315 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My adventure with my first 7 string build. not very good example maybe but trust me its the best way to get the woods grain to take color, u basically sink it into the open pores with the putty/dye and then when u wipe it off you get the color of the wood retained with the pores being colored, not sure if that's what you had in mind but its all i got :/ Http://www.soundcloud.com/DragonsTeeth

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