Coating a fretless neck for protection?

[moderatelyfunky]

I’m not sure this is the right place to ask, but a couple of posts in Scoops fretless fretted thread have me curious.

I have an NS CR Radius 4 fretless that I bought new and haven’t put too many hours on. I’ve spent more time with it this weekend than usual and I think it might be getting more regular practice time.

It’s strung with roundwounds and I plan to continue with them. I see the start of wear under the strings. It’s an ebony fingerboard.

Is epoxying the neck something I should consider for protection? Is that a service a typical luthier would offer?

 

[Scoops]

Generally speaking, round wounds don't generate significant wear on a fret less.

I don't use round wounds on my fret less basses, but there are others that have been using for years.

Before looking to coat your FB, see what other people have experienced.

Try over in the "strings" section as well

 

[moderatelyfunky]

I’m glad to hear that. I’d rather not monkey with it and it sounds like it’s not necessary. Thanks!

 

[WillyW]

I only use roundwounds on my fretlesses.

Practice vibrato correctly and there should be no appreciable wear.

Ebony is considered one of the better/harder woods for the fingerboard.

I have rosewood, ebony, roasted maple, zircote, purpleheart, and a couple coated boards on my two defretted bases (I think rosewood on both).

 

[moderatelyfunky]

Ah, cool.

Self taught here - does proper vibrato mean finger rolling from bridge to nut as opposed to bending the string across the fingerboard? I might be doing that.

 

[WillyW]

Ah, cool.

Self taught here - does proper vibrato mean finger rolling from bridge to nut as opposed to bending the string across the fingerboard? I might be doing that.

Yep!