Gibson SG fretboard flaw

[Eric G]

I just purchased a new Gibson SG "Worn brown" model yesterday.
I took it home and discovered a fretboard flaw.
There is a noticeable discoloration at the 7th fret between the 4th
and 5th strings. It extends a bit into the 6th and 8th fret as well.

The fretboard on this model is supposed to be made of ebony wood.
It's the model with crescent moon inlays.
I played a few of these guitars in other stores and the fretboards all
looked very dark, as ebony wood should look.

The fretboard on my guitar is dark but not as dark as the other
guitars I tried.

The "discoloration" shows a *much* lighter color wood. It's as if the
wood is rosewood and was colored/stained darker to make it look like
ebony.

I have a good hunch as to how the discoloration happened.
Could someone please tell me if I have a defective guitar or whether
what I have is 'normal' and not to be concerned about.

Thanks! Eric

[Steve Robinson]

"Eric G" <Eric@ether.net> wrote in message
news:3f3fbe4e.3018126@news1.sympatico.ca...

> I have a good hunch as to how the discoloration happened.
> Could someone please tell me if I have a defective guitar or whether
> what I have is 'normal' and not to be concerned about.

Normal. Not all ebony is black. It is often figured brown and still makes
good fretboards!

Steve.

[Nil]

On 17 Aug 2003, Eric@ether.net (Eric G) wrote in
news:3f3fbe4e.3018126@news1.sympatico.ca:

> The "discoloration" shows a *much* lighter color wood. It's as if
> the wood is rosewood and was colored/stained darker to make it
> look like ebony.

Rosewood has very large pores compared to ebony. Ebony is quite close-
grained and very smoothe. It the wood on this fretboard more open, or
closed?

I don't know the answer to your question, but I wouldn't be surprised
to find that the guitar was marketed with the word "ebony" being a
euphamism for "black", rather than reall ebony wood. Especially when
concerning a less-than-premium-priced instrument.

[Kerry Maxwell]

"Nil" <rednoise0@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:Xns93DA9C20F77CFnilch1@216.148.227.77...
> On 17 Aug 2003, Eric@ether.net (Eric G) wrote in
> news:3f3fbe4e.3018126@news1.sympatico.ca:
>

> I don't know the answer to your question, but I wouldn't be surprised
> to find that the guitar was marketed with the word "ebony" being a
> euphamism for "black", rather than reall ebony wood. Especially when
> concerning a less-than-premium-priced instrument.

I would be VERY suprised if Gibson was using the word *ebony* to mean
anything other than *wood from an ebony tree*.

From the Warmoth site:

*Ebony (Dispyrus Melanoxylon)

This is black ebony. Very hard, smooth and fast feeling that has a
bright, long sustaining tone. Chocolate brown or dark gray streaks are
not uncommon.*


Kerry M

[Nil]

On 17 Aug 2003, "Kerry Maxwell" <kmax58@earthlink.net> wrote in
news:vJS%a.27665$vo2.9851@newsread1.news.atl.earth link.net:

> I would be VERY suprised if Gibson was using the word *ebony* to
> mean anything other than *wood from an ebony tree*.

I suppose you're right, but I don't give marketeers credit for much
more than blurring the line between truth and perception as much as
possible.

> From the Warmoth site:
>
> *Ebony (Dispyrus Melanoxylon)
>
> This is black ebony. Very hard, smooth and fast feeling that has a
> bright, long sustaining tone. Chocolate brown or dark gray streaks
> are not uncommon.*

This is probably the real answer to the original question.

[Eric]

> Normal. Not all ebony is black. It is often figured brown and still makes
> good fretboards!
>
> Steve.


Thanks Steve. I appreciate your info. Eric

[Eric]

Nil <rednoise0@lycos.com> wrote in message

> Rosewood has very large pores compared to ebony. Ebony is quite close-
> grained and very smoothe. It the wood on this fretboard more open, or
> closed?

Nil I'd say the wood looks more close-grained than open. Eric

[Eric]

"Kerry Maxwell" <kmax58@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:<vJS%a.27665

> I would be VERY suprised if Gibson was using the word *ebony* to mean
> anything other than *wood from an ebony tree*.
>
> From the Warmoth site:
>
> *Ebony (Dispyrus Melanoxylon)
>
> This is black ebony. Very hard, smooth and fast feeling that has a
> bright, long sustaining tone. Chocolate brown or dark gray streaks are
> not uncommon.*

Ah. Thanks very much Kerry. This is good to know.
The streak is of a light milk chocolate color.

A little more background on the purchase. The "salesman" who was
working with me was quite inexperienced, to be kind. I decided to take
the guitar after playing it for 5-10 minutes or so. I wanted him to
put it away in a safe place while I looked at other Gibsons I was in
the market for. So he hung it back up on the ceiling.

As the store was closing I had to remind him several times to ring up
the sale. I want the guitar! I had a Gibson 135 in my hands and
glanced over to see him 'polishing' up the guitar. I never asked him
to. By the time I put back the 135 the SG was in its gig bag. I didn't
take it out again until I got home.

So in my mind, the streak could have either been there originally and
I missed it completely (it's hard to miss now!) or he put it there by
'polishing' it with something he shouldn't have used. Eric

[Weasel]

Help me get through my cynical days....

-=weasel=-


"Eric" <junk5833@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:778a13e2.0308172145.1c7f1fe3@posting.google.c om...
> "Kerry Maxwell" <kmax58@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:<vJS%a.27665
>
> > I would be VERY suprised if Gibson was using the word *ebony* to mean
> > anything other than *wood from an ebony tree*.
> >
> > From the Warmoth site:
> >
> > *Ebony (Dispyrus Melanoxylon)
> >
> > This is black ebony. Very hard, smooth and fast feeling that has a
> > bright, long sustaining tone. Chocolate brown or dark gray streaks are
> > not uncommon.*
>
> Ah. Thanks very much Kerry. This is good to know.
> The streak is of a light milk chocolate color.
>
> A little more background on the purchase. The "salesman" who was
> working with me was quite inexperienced, to be kind. I decided to take
> the guitar after playing it for 5-10 minutes or so. I wanted him to
> put it away in a safe place while I looked at other Gibsons I was in
> the market for. So he hung it back up on the ceiling.
>
> As the store was closing I had to remind him several times to ring up
> the sale. I want the guitar! I had a Gibson 135 in my hands and
> glanced over to see him 'polishing' up the guitar. I never asked him
> to. By the time I put back the 135 the SG was in its gig bag. I didn't
> take it out again until I got home.
>
> So in my mind, the streak could have either been there originally and
> I missed it completely (it's hard to miss now!) or he put it there by
> 'polishing' it with something he shouldn't have used. Eric

[Nil]

On 18 Aug 2003, "Weasel" <weasel@bakerstreet.com> wrote in
news:vk0s4l3rpmcfe9@corp.supernews.com:

> Help me get through my cynical days....

Nice XTC content!

[Robb Scott]

In article <Xns93DB5A17B3646nilch1@63.240.76.16>,
Nil <rednoise0@lycos.com> wrote:

> > Help me get through my cynical days....
>
> Nice XTC content!

I just got the remastered "Skylarking"...what a great album that is,
among my top five from the 80s.

/-/-/-/-|-\-\-\-\
The One True Robb
\-\-\-\-|-/-/-/-/

[miker]

> So in my mind, the streak could have either been there originally and
> I missed it completely (it's hard to miss now!) or he put it there by
> 'polishing' it with something he shouldn't have used.

Not only is ebony sometimes streaked, but guitar manufacturers will
sometimes use an "ebonizing" finish to uniformly darken the wood. That
finish could be removed purposely or by accident. Dunno what Gibons practice
is in this area.

[Eric G]

On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 11:29:41 -0500, "miker"
<miker4nospamok@mindnospamokspring.com> wrote:

>> So in my mind, the streak could have either been there originally and
>> I missed it completely (it's hard to miss now!) or he put it there by
>> 'polishing' it with something he shouldn't have used.
>
>Not only is ebony sometimes streaked, but guitar manufacturers will
>sometimes use an "ebonizing" finish to uniformly darken the wood. That
>finish could be removed purposely or by accident. Dunno what Gibons practice
>is in this area.

Interesting. Thanks for this tidbit of info. Chances are it was
always there and I just missed it. Eric

[Zorro_2K]

"Eric" <junk5833@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:778a13e2.0308172145.1c7f1fe3@posting.google.c om...
> "Kerry Maxwell" <kmax58@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:<vJS%a.27665
>
> > I would be VERY suprised if Gibson was using the word *ebony* to mean
> > anything other than *wood from an ebony tree*.
> >
> > From the Warmoth site:
> >
> > *Ebony (Dispyrus Melanoxylon)
> >
> > This is black ebony. Very hard, smooth and fast feeling that has a
> > bright, long sustaining tone. Chocolate brown or dark gray streaks are
> > not uncommon.*
>
> Ah. Thanks very much Kerry. This is good to know.
> The streak is of a light milk chocolate color.
>
> A little more background on the purchase. The "salesman" who was
> working with me was quite inexperienced, to be kind. I decided to take
> the guitar after playing it for 5-10 minutes or so. I wanted him to
> put it away in a safe place while I looked at other Gibsons I was in
> the market for. So he hung it back up on the ceiling.
>
> As the store was closing I had to remind him several times to ring up
> the sale. I want the guitar! I had a Gibson 135 in my hands and
> glanced over to see him 'polishing' up the guitar. I never asked him
> to. By the time I put back the 135 the SG was in its gig bag. I didn't
> take it out again until I got home.
>
> So in my mind, the streak could have either been there originally and
> I missed it completely (it's hard to miss now!) or he put it there by
> 'polishing' it with something he shouldn't have used. Eric


Do you think the salesperson would attempt to polish the fretboard with the
strings on the guitar ?

[Nate Lamy]

Eric@ether.net (Eric G) wrote in message news:<3f42f724.5474867@news1.sympatico.ca>...
> On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 11:29:41 -0500, "miker"
> <miker4nospamok@mindnospamokspring.com> wrote:
>
> >> So in my mind, the streak could have either been there originally and
> >> I missed it completely (it's hard to miss now!) or he put it there by
> >> 'polishing' it with something he shouldn't have used.
> >
> >Not only is ebony sometimes streaked, but guitar manufacturers will
> >sometimes use an "ebonizing" finish to uniformly darken the wood. That
> >finish could be removed purposely or by accident. Dunno what Gibons practice
> >is in this area.
>
> Interesting. Thanks for this tidbit of info. Chances are it was
> always there and I just missed it. Eric

In response to "what Gibson practice is", my understanding is that
Gibson does not dye its fingerboards. The ebony they use for
fingerboards for L-5, LP Custom and similar guitars is supposed to be
jet black, and any not-quite-black stuff that doesn't pass muster for
these guitars ends up on other Gibsons, usually LP Studios. This info
comes from an article on why Gibson LP Studios sometimes have ebony
boards and sometimes have rosewood boards. I forget the attribution -
maybe it was a George Gruhn/Walter Carter Q/A thing in VG? Anyone?

Years ago, when I had a replacement ebony fingerboard installed under
warranty on a Martin, I was asked by the authorized service guy if I
wanted the ebony board dyed to a uniform black, because it had a brown
streak. I left it as is, which to me adds a bit of character to the
guitar.

- Nate

[Eric G]

>In response to "what Gibson practice is", my understanding is that
>Gibson does not dye its fingerboards. The ebony they use for
>fingerboards for L-5, LP Custom and similar guitars is supposed to be
>jet black, and any not-quite-black stuff that doesn't pass muster for
>these guitars ends up on other Gibsons, usually LP Studios. This info
>comes from an article on why Gibson LP Studios sometimes have ebony
>boards and sometimes have rosewood boards. I forget the attribution -
>maybe it was a George Gruhn/Walter Carter Q/A thing in VG? Anyone?
>
>Years ago, when I had a replacement ebony fingerboard installed under
>warranty on a Martin, I was asked by the authorized service guy if I
>wanted the ebony board dyed to a uniform black, because it had a brown
>streak. I left it as is, which to me adds a bit of character to the
>guitar.
>
>- Nate


Thanks Nate for jumping in with this interesting info.
I guess it's the perfectionist in me that has trouble with the brown
streak. It can be seen too at times when playing, which may be
distracting.
I took the guitar into a local repair shop and the head tech guy
confirmed that the streak is natural and would have always been there.
He was more concerned about some frets not being smooth enough and the
nut which he said was made of plastic and should be changed (it looks
like bone to me, but I'm not an expert). Eric