Finish on the fingerboard

[HeadSouth]

Hey, I look for a thread on this but couldn't find one. If there is one, kindly redirect me and please excuse me for the new thread.

I recently got a Wishbass (I know, I know, everyone seems to HATE them around here...don't pick on me!) that I LOVE, and I ordered it without a finish, due to the fact that I read that Wishnevsky ain't to hot with finishes. So I'm getting someone to stain the body for me tomorrow. My question is, what does he do about the fingerboard? It's an ipe fingerboard, and I don't know if he's supposed to stain it along with the body, use some sort of special oil on it or something, I don't know. I don't want to end up with a sticky fingerboard or something, help!

Thanks.

[62bass]

You probably don't need to put a finish on the fingerboard except for looks. If I did, I'd wipe on a coat of something like Miwax Antique oil finish, let it oak in for a few minutes and then wipe up the excess. You don't want a thick, built up finish. Tru oil would work too as would half a dozen similar products.

If the guy doing the finish for you has some experience, he can make the call and will know what the final result will be.

I wouldn't use a stain on the fingerboard as it's too likely to wear through to bare wood. the oil finishes I've described will darken the wood slightly and bring out the grain. it could look nice.

Is it fretless?

[HeadSouth]

Thanks, this helps a ton. Yeah, it's a fretless four. I got him to scroll both of the horns on a "hyper" model, and make it striped with about six different kinds of wood. I think the guy that's doing this should know, why didn't I think of that?

Thanks!

[seventhson]

for fretboard, do a google search on dr. fretboard. people have been raving about this fretboard oil on the seymourduncan forums.