staining or dyeing maple neck?

Swift713 · #1 01-14-2007, 09:23 AM

OK, has anyone ever stained or dyed a maple neck, or rather fingerboard? For some reason I just don't like the look of a maple fingerboard but I'm considering a fretless SX P bass. Everything on the rondo site is maple and I'm curios about the maple sound on a fretless, (similar to ebony?). Anyway, if anyone has any experience or wisdom regarding this it would be appreciated.
Thanks, Matt

wdinc01 · #2 01-14-2007, 09:59 AM

I don't really have experience to back this up on, but I've done a lot of reading.

Maple tends to have a brighter sound, quite opposite of ebony. I think rosewood would probably be closer to ebony. And I'm not sure staining a neck would change the sound, although it's possible.

MichaelScott · #3 01-14-2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdinc01

Maple tends to have a brighter sound, quite opposite of ebony. I think rosewood would probably be closer to ebony.

Ebony is way brighter then rosewood. Just as bright or almost as bright as maple.

Jazzdogg · #4 01-14-2007, 10:24 AM

When students complete our wood finishing course we ask for their comments. Virtually all of them say one lesson they'll never forget is how challenging it can be to stain maple - one of several blotch-prone species.

If you want to change the color of maple, there are only a few "easy" ways to do it, unless you have both pro equipment and experience:

Aniline dye
Tinted top-coat, e.g. colored lacquer (not reommended for a fingerboard).

You can check out information on dying here:
www.homesteadfinishing.com

Good luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift713

OK, has anyone ever stained or dyed a maple neck, or rather fingerboard? For some reason I just don't like the look of a maple fingerboard but I'm considering a fretless SX P bass. Everything on the rondo site is maple and I'm curios about the maple sound on a fretless, (similar to ebony?). Anyway, if anyone has any experience or wisdom regarding this it would be appreciated.
Thanks, Matt

ponticat · #5 01-14-2007, 03:39 PM

Changing the color of a fretboard and expecting a different sound would be like repainting your car and expecting a higher top speed.

Swift713 · #6 01-14-2007, 07:32 PM

I'm not expecting a different sound from a different color. I'm talking about getting a fretless with a maple fingerboard and dyeing it because I don't care for the look of a maple fingerboard. I am however interested in the sound of a maple fingerboard.

RAM · #7 01-15-2007, 02:21 AM

Jerzy Drozd has an option like this. If you look at this bass, the neck looks like wenge, but it's actually an option. Here's details and a pic...

http://luthiersaccessgroup.com/isdrozd38.html

MarkTAW · #8 01-15-2007, 04:29 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but maple is a harder wood than rosewood (and maybe ebony) and will be more prone to wear & tear from the strings.

Also, my 79 Sabre has a maple neck, but the finish has worn through in some places (notably around the 1st and 2nd frets). Finish will wear through, whereas other woods typically aren't finished, so they'll never wear through.