My 'Neck' of the 'Woods'!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bryan L Williams

Mr. Smith,

After much searching, I have not been able to find out how you finish your Ebony fingerboards. Do you use some type of oil?

There is no finish on the boards. Just fine sanded and then oiled. I would not call the oiling a real finish as Ebony is oily in itself. It just helps keep it lubricated to a degree.

I once read that the key to a good finish is in the sanding. Polishing wood up to the look of glass makes a world of difference.

[Ben Rose]

Can the morado fingerboard be ordered on higher end models like the GN or TN series?

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Ben Rose

Can the morado fingerboard be ordered on higher end models like the GN or TN series?

Just curious. Why would you want to do this?

[Ben Rose]

Thanks, Ken.

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Just curious. Why would you want to do this?

Because brown is the new black? Some of my favorite sounding KS clips on youtube have a morado fb, but oh how I lurvs the look of a 5 peice body. I won't know for sure until I try some.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Ben Rose

....Some of my favorite sounding KS clips on youtube have a morado fb....

Definitely would advise against using YouTube as a reference point. Simply not an accurate representatation of what your sound would be, with you playing, through your rig.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Ben Rose

....I won't know for sure until I try some....

Most definitely.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ben Rose

Can the morado fingerboard be ordered on higher end models like the GN or TN series?

Years ago it was what we used most mainly for the lack of good quality reliable ebony. Once we found a reliable supply, we started making them both ways with either FB before switching to Ebony as the standard for those models. All you have to do is Ask and we will make it with Morado.

[Bryan L Williams]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

There is no finish on the boards. Just fine sanded and then oiled. I would not call the oiling a real finish as Ebony is oily in itself. It just helps keep it lubricated to a degree.

What type of oil do you prefer to use on the Ebony boards?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bryan L Williams

What type of oil do you prefer to use on the Ebony boards?

Non solvent type mineral oil. Use as needed..

[Anton Hasias]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Non solvent type mineral oil. Use as needed..

I use on my fretted and fretless Smith basses, on the ebony fretboard, the "Smith classic wax polish" and the result was much better than only the lemon oil.

Best regards

[Tim Bishop]

Yes, the Smith Classic Wax Polish is excellent for the Ebony FB.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Yes, the Smith Classic Wax Polish is excellent for the Ebony FB.

I didn't mention the wax polish because not everyone has it. Still, in the shop we normally use mineral oil for maintenance or the wax polish. In the finishing we do put an initial coat of oil on the board when oiling the neck and body but just that one coat and then wiped off. That is just a sealer, one time.