I've got a Jazz bass on the way here with an Ebony fretboard that has a bunch of brown streaks in it...While I'd rather the fretboard be all black, its not really a deal breaker or anything for me, and while I've since found the same model elsewhere that has an ebony fretboard  that is all black, it's not worth the time and effort to go around exchanging things.

I've just never really seen Ebony with brown coloring before, as I was always under the impression that an ebony fretboard will always be black.  I've done some reading and realize the reasons for this, but just curious how others feel about their Ebony...would this amount of brow coloring bother you? 

Macassar ebony often looks like that... I like it.

That looks like Macassar Ebony which in my opinion is some of the most beautiful wood. I had a Macassar Ebony Spoiler which was probably the most beautiful bass I've ever owned. The only reason I got rid of it was that it was a four string and I don't play four string anymore. There is ebony with white streaks as well.

A very small pertentage of ebony is actually black - and the only way to tell is to cut the tree.  For at least a century the varigated trees were just left to rot; that's why Bob Taylor got into the ebony business, and is trying to promote acceptance of varigated ebony in the guitar world.

Peter

I have a bass with Macassar Ebony fretboard and I really like how it contrasts with a solid body color. I get the impression that it may have been more common with older Alembics. 

A lot of ebony fingerboards are often dyed to utterly black, as the completely naturally jet black wood is scarce.  You can buy the stuff from StewMac.  It's a cosmetic choice.

The MIJ Yamaha BB's I had all had those 'chocolate stripes' running thru their fingerboards, and I loved the way it looked.   Y R M V  . . . . . . .

If there is supposed to be a picture in the first post of this thread, I'm not seeing it.

Here is an Alembic with a Macassar Ebony fingerboard.

Quote from: David Houck on November 25, 2017, 03:30:38 PM
If there is supposed to be a picture in the first post of this thread, I'm not seeing it.

Here is an Alembic with a Macassar Ebony fingerboard.

David, that is gorgeous. Maybe my next Alembic...

That is gorgeous!

My 6-string Europa has streaks similar to yours in the fretboard. When I asked Mica about it I was told the same thing that club members have told you, that only a limited amount of ebony is totally black and that the wider the fretboard the more likely it is to have stripes in it.

Keith that is one beautiful Rogue!

As previously stated, Macassar is often found with brown streaks, especially closer to the heart wood of the tree. Gaboon is what I use for part of the keyboard instrument that we build. Streaks in Gaboon often tend towards gray or silver, but the truly deep black stuff is usually Gaboon. It is getting tougher to find and was added to CITES schedule II recently. You'll be seeing less of it. Thanks, Gibson.