Which woods darken over time?

[Loomi]

I'm well into planning build #2(a bass this time) and the only decision I have left to make is the fingerboard.  I'm planning on a naturally masked quilted maple top body with black dye and a matching headstock veneer.  I want a light colored fretboard to contrast the body/headstock.  I had pretty much decided on Goncalo, but then I came across a post today(can't find it now) with before and after pics of a Goncalo neck and how dark it got.  The next best choice looks like Canary.  Does Canary darken like Goncalo?  I've also considered Bocote and possibly Pau Ferro.. how do they age?

 

[SlartiBartfast]

One thing to note about Pau Ferro is that there can be a lot of variation in color to begin with. If you go with PF, you might want to consider going with a unique wood choice. As far as how it darkens, I don't really know... Have you considered maple?

 

[Cagey]

Actually, while the woods you mentioned will change over time, it's minimal. The ones that have a pronounced change are those with heavy tannin content such as Padouk, Satine, Mahogany, and Purpleheart. Mahogany isn't really a good fretboard wood, and the other three have some rather striking colors to them so they don't match up easily with a wide variety of finishes. I mean, how many things will purple match? Although, what am I saying? You're doing black dye... against a black dyed quilted body and headstock, I'll bet any of those would look great. A Satine (Bloodwood) 'board would really look nice, and it feels like Ebony. Super-dense, no wild, distracting figuring... yeah. I like that idea. Not very light, though, if you really had your heart set on that.

 

[Loomi]

One thing to note about Pau Ferro is that there can be a lot of variation in color to begin with. If you go with PF, you might want to consider going with a unique wood choice. As far as how it darkens, I don't really know... Have you considered maple?

If I did go Pau Ferro I would likely do Unique Choice as you mentioned.  As for maple, I forgot to mention that I don't want to do maple because my first build has a maple neck and I want to go unfinished this time around.

Actually, while the woods you mentioned will change over time, it's minimal. The ones that have a pronounced change are those with heavy tannin content such as Padouk, Satine, Mahogany, and Purpleheart. Mahogany isn't really a good fretboard wood, and the other three have some rather striking colors to them so they don't match up easily with a wide variety of finishes. I mean, how many things will purple match? Although, what am I saying? You're doing black dye... against a black dyed quilted body and headstock, I'll bet any of those would look great. A Satine (Bloodwood) 'board would really look nice, and it feels like Ebony. Super-dense, no wild, distracting figuring... yeah. I like that idea. Not very light, though, if you really had your heart set on that.

In the old post I saw earlier today it looked like the Goncalo darkened up a bit.  I'll try to find the post again tomorrow.. it should be in the browser history on my work computer.  I was thinking lighter color for the contrast to the body while at the same time giving the natural mask something to flow into.  I'll try throwing Bloodwood and some other woods into my GIMP mockup and see what it looks like.

 

[Loomi]

This is the thread I was talking about:  http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=10233.msg150491#msg150491.  In just a year the headstock on Marko's guitar darkened quite a bit. 

 

[Cagey]

Interesting. I went digging around the 'net and some woodworking and reference sites talk about it darkening slightly, but only over extended periods of time. Prior to this, I've never heard of it changing color. I did learn the stuff is hard on tools. Didn't know that, either. Also, it's popular for flooring because it's so dense/durable.

 

[Cracka G]

Bloodwood (Satine) darkens considerably with continued contact with skin oils.  I have a set of bloodwood plugs for my 00ga ear piercings.  They turned dark brown after several months of daily wear.

 

[line6man]

Here is what ~250-300 year old Bloodwood looks like. (Took this picture of some furniture at a museum.)

 

[keeper006]

Not to sound boorishly blunt, but honestly the answer is- all of them.

 

[jackthehack]

I have a couple of builds with canary necks and all my guitars live in a room with serious sunlight; canary coloration appears to remain constant, neither lightening or darkening over time.

Indian Rosewood DOES lighten considerably over time...

 

[keeper006]

I have a couple of builds with canary necks and all my guitars live in a room with serious sunlight; canary coloration appears to remain constant, neither lightening or darkening over time.

Indian Rosewood DOES lighten considerably over time...

I guess the key there is exposure to sunlight. Mine never see it, and my oldest rosewood neck is almost black.

 

[Loomi]

I have a couple of builds with canary necks and all my guitars live in a room with serious sunlight; canary coloration appears to remain constant, neither lightening or darkening over time.

Well, I ended up going with canary so I'm glad to hear this.  Goncalo will have to wait for the next build.

I guess the key there is exposure to sunlight. Mine never see it, and my oldest rosewood neck is almost black.

This build will likely never seen sunlight.  Other than stage lights about once a month it'll be cased up at my band's practice space.