ESP ebony vs Jackson ebony

[xenophobe]

Umm... I hate to burst all of your bubbles, but you can't turn lower quality ebony into high quality graphite-esque jet-black ebony just using dyes.

From what I understand, ESP has been hoarding high-end wood for quite some time. A friend joked to me about how they have a special black ops team that procures it. In any event, they still have a supply of that grain-less jet black stuff that you can't get here anymore.

[john.w.lawson]

My 89 soloist is black and streak-less..

[slayer]

My 2 old Carvins from the 80`s have sweet ebony boards, all black and smooth. All of my Jacksons I use to own were the same and my Dean EVO Deluxe as well. I got really lucky for sure.I don`t want streaked ebony or a lot of pores in it. Black and smooth baby!!

[DonP]

I looked into that fingerboard dye I linked to at Stew Mac and I'm wondering what it can do for a guitar I have with a rosewood board. Folks who bought and reviewed the product claim it will blacken up rosewood very nicely. The one guitar in question would just look better to me with a black board.

I did this to my Kramer Baretta 404FX - last guitar I purchased a couple of months ago. It was a black guitar with a lighter rosewood fretboard. I used the dye and it turned out great. It did color the MOTO dots a little, but made them look like pearl than plastic (for the better). Of course the clear coated sides didn't absorb any dye and still look a little like, sort of like natural binding.

[RacerX]

I did this to my Kramer Baretta 404FX - last guitar I purchased a couple of months ago. It was a black guitar with a lighter rosewood fretboard. I used the dye and it turned out great.

Make with the before & after pics

[roodyrocker]

I don't think the fact that the ebony is naturally dark makes it a higher quality ebony. It's just that everyone wanted the jet black stuff before for looks and unfortunately it is being depleted. If you watch Bob Taylor's video above he explains how they would cut down many trees looking for the dark stuff and just leaving tons of streaky ebony lay there. Just sayin' don't confuse color of ebony with quality.

[DonP]

Make with the before & after pics

I knew I shoulda kept my mouth shut

Your imagination will need to be the "before pictures". I'll just say I have WAY too many black guitars with rosewood fretboards.

[Hellbat]

I believe GTWFITS should suffice for this thread.

[DonP]

I believe GTWFITS should suffice for this thread.

Yeah right

[Whoopu2]

If it's not jet black, I don't want it.

Yes, I'm a picky asshole with little care for the environment.

[Force]

My trans blue DK2 needs this done, the rosewood is diabolically light & grainy.

It's amazing how much variation there is in boards from the same model line.

[j2379]

its wood it varies. Especially rosewoods.

My trans blue DK2 needs this done, the rosewood is diabolically light & grainy.

It's amazing how much variation there is in boards from the same model line.

[Cygnus X1]

I love the looks of ebony but I always go back to tight grained rosewood as my true preference.
Ebony feels cold and lifeless on my fingers.
Almost like graphite or something?

Odd, but true.

[Devotee]

It's not exactly hard to make ebony as jet black and glasslike as ESP's. Some coats of dye and oil or lacquer on top will do wonders.

[BLOOD SPLATTER]

Umm... I hate to burst all of your bubbles, but you can't turn lower quality ebony into high quality graphite-esque jet-black ebony just using dyes.

From what I understand, ESP has been hoarding high-end wood for quite some time. A friend joked to me about how they have a special black ops team that procures it. In any event, they still have a supply of that grain-less jet black stuff that you can't get here anymore.

This!!


LOVE my ESP....& have been quite surprised by several LTDs too!!