rosewood fretboard question

Alright, so I bought a brand new bass guitar with a rosewood fretboard. And as it turns out the lower part of the fretboard (D and G string) is kinda whitish, yet the upper part (E and A string) looks completely perfect. Its almost as if it consists out of two separate pieces (which it doesn't). I don't know but it looks kinda dry to me. What to do? Can I clean it off? Rub it in with oil? Or is it just a bad piece of rosewood and should I return the instrument? I'm quite new to all this, so any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

Like I said, I'm quite new to all this so I'm not entirely sure I get what you're talking about. But if you're right, then I'm definitely in the corner with the folks who believe that sapwood is the trash part of the tree.

 

Yeah chalky is a pretty good way to discribe it. If it was all over the fretboard I maybe might've tried your guitar honey. But with me it's only the lower part of the fretboard, so I'm not sure if I can get it all evened out.

I'll try to post a picture later. Says more than a thousand words.

 

Ah yes sapwood. Works on an acoustic guitar. On an electric bass not so much IMO.

 

Not sure if I want to mess around with a brand new bass guitar. Especially if you have a 30 days money back garantee.

Here are some pics. Notice the difference between upper and lower part of the fretboard.





Looks pretty messed up to me. I guess my best option is to simply return it. It's getting frustrating though, it's the fourth bass in two months that's going back. I just want to start playing but those retailers keep sending me their inferior crap.

 

Hi, thanks for the reply. Is it worth the trouble to clean it off with a toothbrush or better send it back? Thanks.