Cracks in the neck, problem or no problem?

[redwood]

Ah!! Clean those frets! Heh. As others are saying, looks to be just in the finish.

Clean the frets?!? Those strings have been on that bass for 10,000 hours of playing. When would he get the chance?

 

[Slevage]

It's minor finish checking.

My 1976 brown Stingray came down with a severe case down the neck and body when I left it in my van on a cold New England night. I sold the MM for a G&L 2k when they came out.
My old Stingray is out there somewhere.
I saw it for sale on a vintage site about 10 years ago- checked finish and brass thumb rest.

 

[AaronVonRock]

Clean the frets?!? Those strings have been on that bass for 10,000 hours of playing. When would he get the chance?

The strings have been on there since 2017 which is when I bought the bass used. Never thought about cleaning the frets. Didn't even notice they were dirty until people mentioned it on this thread.

 

[dabis]

I have a Lakland P-bass that hasn't gotten much playing time over the past 3 years. I took it out of its soft case today and noticed some pronounced cracks (or maybe splits/scratches?) on the neck that have gotten worse.

I played the bass for about 30 minutes and didn't notice anything out of sorts. Is this just purely cosmetic and nothing to worry about? Or is it something that will it potentially get worse and have unwanted effects on playability and sound?

FYI: I live in a tropical climate that has no significant seasonal changes in temperate or humidity. The bass is in a hot and humid climate all the time.

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50-y/o maple board, that's super solid as the hardest rock.

It spent time in a gigbag in a trunk in well below freezing temps recently. Once indoors was uncomfortably cold to hold; tuned and played with no trouble as always. Hopefully it'll be another 50 years before I bother to take another close look from the front, and if I can still play I'll bet very heavily it'll be perfectly fine.

And likely so will yours be, OP.


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Oh please, show us your instruments, not only the fretboards!

 

[SteveCS]

I have wrinkles in places I can't see but I know they are there I just know it.

All I have to offer you is some fine-grit wet-n-dry...

 

[jamro217]

When I read the thread title, I immediately thought of the Ric 4001 truss rod booboo cracks. Incorrect adjustment led to cracking, sometimes separating the fretboard from the neck. Ugly stuff, but easily (and effectively) fixed by gluing it back in place after loosening the rods. Can't really complain, though. Wouldn't have been able to afford the avatar pic fretless otherwise. Can barely see the repair on this one.
No, what you've got there is yer basic, garden variety finish crack. Yessirree, Bob. That's wot she is allright. A little bit 'o' sandpaper (not to be confused with Bit'o'honey) and you'll fix er up all fine an' dandy. Just like new...