Why so few ebony fb Fender necks?

[eots]

I don't own a Fender bass at the moment but was considering any type of franken - jazz for my next project. With the black hardware treatment I'd like and non-earthtone color body, I don't like brown (rosewood) fingerboards nor would maple blend well either.
Why isn't ebony (black) used even a tiny bit on Fender-spec necks (fretted)? I know I could go the warmoth route but then the $$ start to add up faster.
Even Carvin used to use ebony exclusively on their fb's. Is it that rare or non tonal ? Black just goes with more things than brown does? I'm not into an all black bass but a brown fb on a black bass is just wrong

 

[stedtale]

I assume you're talking ebony on the fretbord, and that's a good question. one that I don't know, and it's too early for me to have a smart@$$ comment to it.

 

[Rickett Customs]

I don't exactly know if this is true or not,
If they use CNC's to press the frets in, that is perhaps the reasoning behind it.( Ebony is more probable to chip...Etc, than rosewood or maple.) PRS (I believe) does the same, they steer clear of ebony fretboards because they use CNC's to fret their necks.

Any body want to chime in and second or confirm this 100%

 

[3toes]

I was always under the impression that ebony gave an even more mellow/darker sound than rosewood. Maybe some manufacturers just aren't into it.

Aren't upright fingerboards almost always ebony?

 

[stedtale]

Aren't upright fingerboards almost always ebony?

yes, or "ebonized" rosewood...I think. ebonzed is a nice way to say "dyed black".

 

[eots]

Many fretless' fingerboards are ebony but I tried the fretless (Carvin lb75af) thing and do okay simulating a fretless sound on my fretted bass So frets are where it's @ for now.

 

[Chasarms]

There are at least a couple of reasons that ebony is used less than other woods.

One, it it is comparitively expensive, especially gaboon and some Madagascar ebony which are the naturally black woods. A fingerboard blank of ebony might cost twice what a rosewood blank would cost. In fact, a lot of the ebony used is these days is actually Asian ebony that is dyed black. Asian ebony is similiar in durability, but it is striated with light color.


It is also very hard to work with. Ebony is extremely dense and hard. It can be pretty rough on most all tooling.

Ebony is an exceptional wood for fretless instruments (including the double bass) because of the durability, but for a fretted neck, it is probably overkill. With a fretted neck, it is probably used more often for aestetics than for function. That said, it is may be seen as not worth the expense for most makers.

If you want a very durable fingerboard in solid black, you might consider a phenolic board. I have one on my Modulus and it looks great.

 

[eots]

yes, or "ebonized" rosewood...I think. ebonzed is a nice way to say "dyed black".

Can a rosewood FB be dyed black without issues or would it have to be sealed to keep sweaty fingers from pulling it out again?

 

[kobass]

Another option, but certainly not a low-cost alternative...

www.mosesgraphite.com

 

[Chasarms]

Can a rosewood FB be dyed black without issues or would it have to be sealed to keep sweaty fingers from pulling it out again?

Rosewood is very oily. Anything applied topically would penetrate slowly and not very deep into the wood without very long and repeated application. It would be VERY difficult to dye the fb black once it was one the bass and get a pleasing and lasting result.

Much of the "ebonized" stuff is actually painted more than dyed. It will flake off with wear. The ideal way to truely dye the wood would be to submerge it in dye before machining.

 

[artfahie]

My "Tony Franklin" fretless" (Fender) has an ebony fingerboard (fretboard, whatever). Ebony will give you a harder sound than Maple, and Maple will give you a harder sound Rosewood... the woods have different densities. My fretless "Wendler" has a maple board for a more acoustic sound than I would have gotten should I have chosen the ebony alternative.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Ebony is an exceptional wood for fretless instruments (including the double bass) because of the durability, but for a fretted neck, it is probably overkill. With a fretted neck

Why would an ebony fb be overkill when a phenolic fb isn't

it is probably used more often for aestetics than for function. That said, it is may be seen as not worth the expense for most makers.

There really is a tonal characteristic factor to ebony

 

[eots]

Not interested in fretless. Just noticing that used Fender spec necks with black fingerboards are rare to non-existant.
Tone is non issue, can get what I want w/ pups.

 

[Steelix]

yes, or "ebonized" rosewood...I think. ebonzed is a nice way to say "dyed black".

| see, what about Mikeal Jackson?

 

[spade2you]

On top of being harder on tools and more espensive, it can really expand or contract. Usually it's not the most suited for basses with single expansing truss rods.

 

[stedtale]

| see, what about Mikeal Jackson?

I'm not sure who that is.

 

[gre107]

I imagine that it has to do with the combo of expense and production (cnc limitations)

 

[tkozal]

To quote my favorite Luthier:

"Because Ebony fingerboards crack, even on big dollar Les Pauls"...

or on non LP's

:

 

[mikeswals]

I never thought anything looked funny about it...

 

[thombo]

i have heard of some luthiers not liking ebony b/c the dust is slightly toxic, causing health problems due to prolonged exposure over time. that could lead to big problems (lawsuits) in a mass production factory!
i <3 ebony!