How hard is it to get a guitar with a colored fretboard?

[Onceler]

I painted the fretboard of my Charvel the colors of the Zodiac (like a lotus wand)and had the symbols in gold but never got to play it because of some things happening in my life, I was wondering why there are no colored fretboards they all look the same.

 

[Rastus]

High quality guitar fretboards have bare wood with inlays. Painting them isn't a good idea.

 

[silverpig]

The paint would likely rub off all over the strings and your fingers and it would mess up the sound.

You could maybe get away with a stain, but most fretboards are made of rosewood or ebony, which are already pretty dark.

 

[Wyndru]

Dean guitars were doing this at one time, I'm not sure if they still do though.

 

[uclaLabrat]

I painted the fretboard of my Charvel the colors of the Zodiac (like a lotus wand)and had the symbols in gold but never got to play it because of some things happening in my life, I was wondering why there are no colored fretboards they all look the same.

Because no painted guitar (neck or otherwise) could ever look better than a quilted maple top and ebony or rosewood neck. Fact.

 

[lxskllr]

You could maybe get away with a stain, but most fretboards are made of rosewood or ebony, which are already pretty dark.

That might look nice on maple. I like the look of natural wood, and colors that hint at it. My favorite guitar finish is sunburst, followed closely by golden blonde.

 

[Fausto]

Not sure if thread is serious.

 

[Saint Nick]

Not sure if thread is serious.

Seriously. What kind of guitar has a PAINTED fret board? WTF. I am sure it plays like shit!

 

[Saint Nick]

Dean guitars were doing this at one time, I'm not sure if they still do though.

Holy shit those are ugly.

 

[Wyndru]

Holy shit those are ugly.

Yeah, they were actually in an "ugliest guitar" thread on another forum.

Looks like something CC Deville would play.

 

[Fausto]

Seriously. What kind of guitar has a PAINTED fret board? WTF. I am sure it plays like shit!

Hence, my skepticism

 

[Jesusthewererabbit]

If you painted it, then clear coated it with laquer, it would be fine. Paint by itself would scrape off the first time you did a bend. I actually painted on the fret markers on the last one I built, because I wasn't set up to do inlays at that time. I still wouldn't paint the frets, I love the look of my maple fretboards.

 

[Gibson486]

It's because it would be purely for look, but it would not be permanent. Also, over time, the clear coat would wear (look at older fenders) and the paint would be exposed and would create a mess. Over time, your guitar should be better, not worse off. So, if some company did make them, it would probably be on low end guitars.