Silly fretboard question - Why arent they painted?

[GBassNorth]

Fender has been there and done that...
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Always liked the look of the SoCal Speed Shop strat but was concerned about wear and the eventual refret nightmare.

 

[Nic.]

Not a bass, but this Fender Strat comes stock with a painted fretboard:

https://reverb.com/item/165929-fend...ric-guitar-mirage-blue-to-green-str-allvc-btp
and in an iridiscent blue-green finish no less, so I imagine it can be done.

Also, I painted one of my DIY fretless boards black before epoxy-ing over. I figured since it's under epoxy it wouldn't affect the tone.
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I painted it metallic black first, then after that dried, I used painter's tape to mask out the fretlines (it was a DIY defret, so even under the black paint the lines were still visable) and sprayed on dark metallic purple lines. Then epoxy. It sounded great, but that's probably because of the epoxy and not the paint ​

 

[subdude67]

i painted 2 fretboards black a while ago, instead of masking the frets i just painted them as well using a fretboard guard Invalid Link Removed to polish them with fine steel wool after the paint had cured.
Maybe i have a very light touch but my strings only hit the frets, never the fretboard so the paint does not wear off. One of my current basses has a clear coated maple neck and there are no string marks on the fretboard itself.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Maybe i have a very light touch but my strings only hit the frets, never the fretboard...

This is how we should all learn to play, just enough pressure to make clean sound from fretting the bass. Better for the strings, better for the frets, better for yourself!

 

[strictlybass_ic]

I may be mistaken but aren't some fretless necks basically painted with ebonite, ebonol, or some other "ebony" material?

 

[Josh Thatguy]

i just remembered that Fernandes did a short run in these colors, and aqua, and dark blue, with painted 'boards

 

[awilkie84]

i just remembered that Fernandes did a short run in these colors, and aqua, and dark blue, with painted 'boards
View attachment 537677 View attachment 537678

This just gave me the idea for a Harley Quinn bass...

 

[Happynoj]

 

[lz4005]

I may be mistaken but aren't some fretless necks basically painted with ebonite, ebonol, or some other "ebony" material?

That's more of a stain or dye than a paint. Soaks into the wood rather than sitting on top.

 

[MaxJJK]

Dear Christ that's sexy.

 

[Happynoj]

Dear Christ that's sexy.

It belongs to a guy called Lex Sadler. I think he's on TB. Its a recreation of a bass that Stuart Zender used to own.

 

[zontar]

 

[Josh Thatguy]

It belongs to a guy called Lex Sadler. I think he's on TB. Its a recreation of a bass that Stuart Zender used to own.

LASERS. I want one with LASERS. Screw those l.e.d. lights..... gimme GREEN LASERS for fretmarkers! It'll be just like the nights of Blue Oyster Cult circa '76 or so, but X9 or more depending on the number of frets, blinding a few unlucky people in the audience by happenstance...
Yeah, I want some LASERS.

 

[GBassNorth]

So this is what you want on your bass...

 

[cnltb]

I don't need paint on fretboards. I don't want stuff on them (or on my instruments, for that matter) that I don't need.

 

[kenneffdupriest]

Because as we all know, covering your wood with stuff ruins the feel.

"covering your wood with stuff ruins the feel" I couldn't agree more.

Thnx for the link Jake, these will go well on my sticker bass.

 

[NeonVomit]

I wrote lyrics along the neck of my first bass in tipp-ex. It wore off eventually. I would not recommend this.

Great story.

 

[jd56hawk]

he did well here, but would anyone buy this to "really" play it?

I just started a band with a few biker buddies called Slaughterhouse. I'd play it and paint my Harley to match it!

 

[Deleted member 264575]

Silly fretboard question - Why aren't they painted?

Because it would color your sound.

Boogada Boogada Boogada, ha ha ha!

 

[GMC]

Play a Ric. The gloss on a 20 year old 4003 will look fresh if it's taken care of.

The problem with Rics is when a refret is required....needs a while fret board re-laquer. Which is why there's a load of old ricks about with really worn fret wire. No one wants to do a re-fret job on a Ric because it's so involved.