Finishing a maple fretboard that is allready fretted

[cigi]

Hey guys,

I'm thinkin of "building" (read assembling) a bass.

I would like to have a neck with a maple fretboard and finish it myself. I understand that a maple fretboard needs a finish, because otherwise it would get damaged to easily.

Is it possible to finish a maple fb when the neck is allready fretted without having frets full of finish?

And if it's possible, what's the best way to do it?

Thanks,

Cigi

[zenman]

I've never done it, but Dan Erlewine, in his book "Fret Work Step by Step" describes a technique for doing just that. Basically he just waxed the frets, then finished the board, then ran an exacto knife along each fret, & then scraped the finish off of the frets.

The book is available from Stewart MacDonald and the process may even be described somewhere on their website?

Good luck,
Dennis

[SDB Guitars]

to my knowledge, all maple board Fender necks are finished after fretting... you just scrape the finish off the frets. Use a razor to cut right along the edge od the fret so you don't damage the finish on the board, then just scrape it off.

Alternately, you can level and dress your frets after finishing, and it will abrade the finish off as you level.

[gfried84]

Rather than scrap the frets I actually tape over each fret with blue tape. I press the tape on the fret firmly and score around the edges of the frets pulling of the excess leaving only the metal fret wire taped. It works well and eliminates any chance of slipping and marring your fingerboard.


Gary

[cigi]

I allready thought of finishing it and scraping the finsh of.

I feared i'd damage the fb.

But apparently it's possible if you're carefull.

Thank's for the tips!

[Jensby design]

Originally Posted by SDB Guitars

you just scrape the finish off the frets. Use a razor to cut right along the edge od the fret so you don't damage the finish on the board, then just scrape it off.

And to think I just play mine for ten minute and the finish fell off the frets maybe thats because finish doesn't bond to metal very well

bond . . . James Bond