Fingerboard problem on Trib. l2500

Joeymarshmallow · #1 03-03-2008, 10:44 PM

I'm the proud new owner of a tribute l2500 and couldn't be more pleased tonally, but aesthetically I'm a little disappointed as of now. The fingerboard seems to be covered in some sort of plastic that looks to be holding the inlays in. On the third fret it's "bubbling" (there's a visible air pocket and it's chipped away at one spot by the fret. What is it? Can I get it fixed? At First I thought it might be a protective covering that's meant to be taken off eventually, but it's a hard clear material and I don't want to do anything irreversible.

honeyboy · #2 03-04-2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeymarshmallow

I'm the proud new owner of a tribute l2500 and couldn't be more pleased tonally, but aesthetically I'm a little disappointed as of now. The fingerboard seems to be covered in some sort of plastic that looks to be holding the inlays in. On the third fret it's "bubbling" (there's a visible air pocket and it's chipped away at one spot by the fret. What is it? Can I get it fixed? At First I thought it might be a protective covering that's meant to be taken off eventually, but it's a hard clear material and I don't want to do anything irreversible.

I hope you can return your bass because that sounds like the CNC machine went abit haywire.

sunbeast · #3 03-04-2008, 06:35 AM

On all maple fretboards, there is some sort of clearcoat finish- this is the case with any manufacturer. Without it, the wood would start to look discolored over time and could also lose some integrity- maple doesn't respond well to the oil from your fingers, thats just a fact about maple. So don't remove the finish! Sometimes, there will actually be a layer of thi clearcoat over the frets as well- this will wear away naturally as you play the instrument.

Joeymarshmallow · #4 03-04-2008, 06:42 AM

Well there's a little chunk chipped off and it just kind of looks crappy, would it be possible to remove it and refinish it somehow?

**Chef** · #5 03-04-2008, 07:22 AM

Sounds like a clear coat problem.
If it's new, you can take it back.
If it's a used purchase, you could put a dab of nail polish, model airplane paint, polyurethane from ace hardware...anything there.

Or just leave it.