How to remove a mark on ebony fretboard

Flip

I've recently bought a Coban kit that includes an ebony fretboard Mahogany neck. I noticed a slightly lighter staining on the ebony covering one or two frets and wondered how best to treat it. This is the fifth Coban kit I've made and I'm generally very satisfied with their product. They're very helpful and, in fact, I would have sent the kit back had I not already started work on the body.

I don't want to risk sanding it out so treatment seems to be the option.

I'm considering Crimson's cleaner-restorer (overpriced like most of their stuff I'm sure), Fender restorer, or even black wood stain. May I ask your collective opinion and advice, please?

WezV

watch this first


and if the pale bit still bothers you, buy this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiebings-Professional-Oil-Dye-Black/dp/B008ROPJXE/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=fiebings+leather+oil+black&qid=1620717667&sr=8-1


rub it on to raw wood.  Let it dry.   give it a good rub down with fine wire wool to remove excess and clean up inlays... finally seal it with a light coat of any finishing oil, rubbed in and buffed off

it can get everywhere so be careful 

Flip

Thanks WezV.

I feel quite humbled. It's a very compelling video and strangely find Mr Taylor as listenable as Mr Martin (and I also once met his grandfather at Nazareth).

Although I've never considered owning a Taylor, I do own a Gibson 335 from 1978 and a Martin HD28V from 2006 as well as a Martin LX1 ('plastic' except for the soundboard with which I'm very happy. so I'm certainly going to start by completing the build with the marks as is and decide afterwards if I'm going to take your second suggestion.

Thank you so much for the help.

WezV

it is a good vid.   makes you wonder how much usable wood has been wasted over the years for a bit of natural colour variation

The dye I linked to has been used by many manufactures for years. Many boards still had streaks even when stuff with colour variation was being rejected.



you may find it darkens with use to the point you don't notice it anyway

Flip

I've already had confirmation from Coban that it's genuine ebony so frankly, I'll 'wear' any marks with some sort of pride now I know the situation and already found supporting confirmation from other major manufacturers.

Thanks for your info and help.

Rabs

WezV said:

it is a good vid.   makes you wonder how much usable wood has been wasted over the years for a bit of natural colour variation

The dye I linked to has been used by many manufactures for years. Many boards still had streaks even when stuff with colour variation was being rejected.



you may find it darkens with use to the point you don't notice it anyway

Yeah its crazy to think how much has been wasted just because people wanted as black as possible... A mad world we live in.. 

Theres an update to that video now too..  He is doing a great thing here..

normula1

Crazy that in my ebony a bit of colour variation was seen as bad but desirable in so many other species. The amount of waste was a real eye opener.