Does an unfinished maple fingerboard warp

[T. B. Player]

Hello makers!

A wood question here. I now have two 6 string basses with unfinished maple boards, and they're both giving me buzzing problems (significant) in the 16th to 20th fret range. Both are neckthrus. One is from Rondo, but the other is from luthier Mike Adler (one of his last ones), so quality of build isn't the issue.

Conversely, the maple board on my ancient Ibanez Roadstar guitar is gloss finished, and is still in great shape, as are the unfinished rosewood boards on my fretlesses and jazz guitar.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Z

 

[Son of Magni]

Assuming the fingerboard is attached to a neck, maybe the neck needs to be adjusted?

 

[ehque]

Unfinished? Isn't it very rare to have unfinished maple? Perhaps finished in a satin finish?

 

[T. B. Player]

Unfinished? Isn't it very rare to have unfinished maple? Perhaps finished in a satin finish?

Maybe they are finished in satin finish (a satin finish still looks unfinished to me, which is why I don't particularly like them for the necks or bodies).

I'm thinking it's humidity caused by a/c use. I always keep basses in gig bags on a stand to keep dust off them...but perhaps they should be stored differently?

Z

 

[Rocky McDougall]

If they are stored indoors in a air conditioned space, then the humidity should be low and that should not be your problem. Unfinished maple fretboard would be unlikely. Unfinished rosewood fretboards do not seem to warp more or less than finished maple. I assume you have tried to adjust the neck with the truss rod.

 

[SpiceBot]

+1 on truss rod, also check your string height. Sounds like you have a slight forward bow to the neck (truss rod too tight) and is causing the buzzing. Get that truss rod dialed in and you can also lower your string height just a smidge and make that neck lightning fast.

While you're adjusting those, it's a great time to set your intonation as well for when you're playing up in the stratosphere. Also, finish will not cause or prevent the wood from moving if it has not been dried properly (this process can take several years so it's an easy one to skip). Doesn't sound like that would be the case coming from an established luthier.