Fingerboards

[Mac McElwain]

I'm thrashing around trying to find a good alternative to Indian Rosewood for fingerboards. I bet I'm not alone in this!

Does anyone have experience of using Mahogany?

I have some in my store and it's as hard as hell. Even looks the part.

Any views?

MAC 

[John]

I've had good luck with purple heart. I've used a vinegar and steel wool solution to turn it black. It would be interesting to see how well that treatment would wear as a fingerboard. Ultimately purple heart will turn a dark brownish color that would be an acceptable fingerboard color. 

It's very hard. 

[Mac McElwain]

Thanks John- very interesting. It's available here in NZ so I will try your vinegar trick. Thanks.