Refinishing a neck - Strip the maple fretboard?

[LowEddie]

1st post (sorry for the newb content).

I "refreshing" a bass for my first guitar project (I wanted to build from scratch but thought that I needed to get my feet wet first before I jumped into the deep end). I picked it up for $30 so if it doesn't go well then it will at least be a good learning experience.

The headstock logo says "Cimar by Ibanez" but if doesn't look like most of their other head stocks. I don't know when it was built and I couldn't tell you what finish it has on it (vintage tint, was shinny at one point)

Anyways, I'm going to strip the finish off of it and refinish it with something (yet to be determined).

I've been following other people's threads on restos but haven't gotten a clean idea as how to approach the maple fretboard (most I've read, people have rosewood/etc fretboards that they tape off).

Do I strip whatever is on it? Should I worry about the CitriStrip messing with the frets/black dot inlays? Once its ready how/what should I use to finish the fretboard; same as the rest of the neck?

Thanks in advance! Sorry for my long-winded-ness.
Eddie

edit: Here are a couple of pictures of the neck

 

[LowEddie]

I searched more an found the answers that I was looking for (on TB! Who would have thought).

 

[HogieWan]

what did you find and what are you planning to do?

 

[LowEddie]

I realized that the underlying question was how it needed to be finished. I found that maple fretboards need to be finished otherwise they'll stain from skin oil/etc.

from http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=537804

There is no question that you can get a beautiful finish from oil. However most Maple fretboards are finished in a super hard polyurathane. Even this will wear and peal in time and hard use. The thicker your finish, the more susceptable it will be to wear, especially with round wound strings. I would use the oil finish on the back of the neck and headstock but do the fretboard in "Real Polyurathane" not the stuff in areosol cans. Lacquers sprayed on fretboards are not durable. Maple fretboards cannot be left unfinished, they will become dark and stained very quickly. For an unfinished board you need something like Rosewood...

So being that I'd need to refinish it I don't see any issue in stripping the fb. I'll probably star stripping it this weekend along with the body. What I'm going to use to finish it is still up in the air

 

[HogieWan]

I've used Citristrip in the past. Put it on thick and be prepared to leave it 24 hours. If it dries, it is no longer working and the finish may harden again. Also, it may take a few applications

 

[Rocky McD]

Ideally you should remove the frets, level the fretboard, refinish it in a hard product and then do a refret. I am afraid if you strip the neck the frets will be loosened.

 

[LowEddie]

So on to tackling the finish question (this is a topic I still have much to learn about)

I want to have a similar finish to my Schecter bass; satin finish and quick. I'm planning on painting the headstock and have thought about Tru-oil for the neck (not the fretboard) since it seems to be an easy finish. I dont have the protective equipment to shoot nitro... I was leaning more to a poly.

Any suggestions for the neck and fretboard? Looking for a fast, satin finish.

Thanks!
Eddie

 

[HogieWan]

Looking for a fast, satin finish.

Minwax wipe-on poly