Double Bass Another black dye question for a fingerboard on a DB....

[Hopkins]

Thanks. Cant believe I missed that..

No problem, those stains work better for softer woods like pine or poplar. Hard oily woods would not work so well, even maple tends to be a bit splotchy.

 

[Fast Freddie]

...You don't say what bass you have. If you are ever planning to upgrade, then having done a DIY dye job may compromise the resale value.

Perhaps...but I'm good. Honestly, I'm confident and I doubt my work will ever be compromised as a result of my efforts. This being an Engelhardt I tend to feel that it's really about the look and playability not myth or value. Perhaps it's not as valuable or mythological as a carved classic. But I'll put it up against anyone's and it stands its ground. It's beautiful, well constructed, sounds unbelievable and I set it up tediously to my liking. All of my friends that play bass are always wowed with the playability. I'm not a luthier. But I have twenty years of advanced woodworking skills. Dying the FB black will give it a balanced look. Now I can save my Ebony blank for an emergency since they're becoming so expensive and rare. Whoever thought of using Jatoba wood for musical instruments was a genius IMHO. As far as upgrading, 35 years in the arts and I still have the same basses. That's how much I love my instruments....so as the great Charlton Heston once said, "....from my cold dead hands". LOL!

 

[Fast Freddie]

I am not a DB luthier, but I am a electric guitar and bass builder. I have used Fiebing's to blacken some poor quality ebony fretboards that I received recently and it worked well beyond my expectations. That being said, I am not sure how it will work on a wood like Jatoba which is a redish brown color to start with.

Good to know! Hopefully Jatoba wood will work with the dye despite it's naturally beautiful reddish tone. I already have Fiebings Leather Dye. But my curiosity knows no bounds and I'm looking into all possibilities. I have a Jatoba test subject before I go into the FB. So I'll be updating this post with a pic or two in time. So far, Fiebings is leading the pack.

 

[RiZzBot]

No problem, those stains work better for softer woods like pine or poplar. Hard oily woods would not work so well, even maple tends to be a bit splotchy.

I see on Ebay that there are different types of Fieblings dye, which one would you suggest?
Kelly's Fiebing's Cobbler Professional Grade Leather Dye 4 oz Black | eBay

Fiebing's Acrylic Leather Dye Flexible Leather Paint 2 Oz | eBay

Fiebing's Shoe Boot footwear Handbag Belt Saddle Leather Dye 4 oz w Applicator | eBay

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[james condino]

Jatoba looks great in its natural color, but f you must "paint" it, just mix a little bit of lampblack or black aniline dye with shellac as a bonding agent. That is all that the overpriced fancy repackaged fingerboard specialty mixes are .

 

[Hopkins]

Good to know! Hopefully Jatoba wood will work with the dye despite it's naturally beautiful reddish tone. I already have Fiebings Leather Dye. But my curiosity knows no bounds and I'm looking into all possibilities. I have a Jatoba test subject before I go into the FB. So I'll be updating this post with a pic or two in time. So far, Fiebings is leading the pack.

I see on Ebay that there are different types of Fieblings dye, which one would you suggest?
Kelly's Fiebing's Cobbler Professional Grade Leather Dye 4 oz Black | eBay

Fiebing's Acrylic Leather Dye Flexible Leather Paint 2 Oz | eBay

Fiebing's Shoe Boot footwear Handbag Belt Saddle Leather Dye 4 oz w Applicator | eBay

Sorry for all the questions.

This is the one I use, I am still on my first bottle that I bought 3 years ago. I have no idea what the difference between this one and the Cobbler's dye would be. I would stay away from the acrylic one

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Yes. Door number three. I just bought two quarts of the Feibing's U.S.M.C. Black and it works the same. Apply and let it dry. Then follow up with oil if you like.

 

[Fast Freddie]

Here is the result of my test: The test piece on the left is Ebony, the one on the right is Jatoba dyed with Fiebings.

 

[james condino]

it may well work fine for darkening leather and wood, but just the sight of that Fiebings bottle sends me into ptsd flashbacks from basic training almost 30 years ago.....!!!

 

[Fast Freddie]

it may well work fine for darkening leather and wood, but just the sight of that Fiebings bottle sends me into ptsd flashbacks from basic training almost 30 years ago.....!!!

LOL!!

 

[GretschWretch]

it may well work fine for darkening leather and wood, but just the sight of that Fiebings bottle sends me into ptsd flashbacks from basic training almost 30 years ago.....!!!

Dunno about that. Thirty years ago the bottle would have been glass. Nowadays . . . plastic. Meh.