Cocobolo Oxidizes?

[musicispeace]

I have two necks with cocobolo fretboards, one for three years and the other for two now. They appear to be darkening somewhat with time. Anyone else seen this? Its fine with me, one was a bit orangish at first and now it is a bit more earthy and matches well with the guitar it will be going onto when I swap out necks. The other was the victim of crap slathered onto it when I told a tech not to put anything on the fretboard and the grain is emerging back but a bit darker than it was originally.

 

[Cagey]

It seems the more color-rich woods tend to do that. Padouk, Purpleheart, Bloodwood, etc. will all darken over time.

 

[musicispeace]

That darn nature, allowing woods to darken over time 

 

[Cagey]

Not all of them. For example, Maple maintains its hue pretty much until it rots, although the finishes used on it may have different ideas.

 

[AirCap]

Some oxidation can be attributed to the oil in the wood.

 

[Bob Hoover Ross]

I suppose this is moot, given that OP was describing a fingerboard, but a finish with UV inhibitors can keep cocobola pristine for decades. I have a Modulus bass with a cocobola top laminate under a clear gloss finish, and the color is just as rich and reddish as it was the day I took delivery of it...in 1988.

Of course, who wants a clear gloss finish on their fingerboard? unless you're a Rickenbacker fan...  :icon_jokercolor: