Wenge fretboard cracks?? PICS

[ArturoOsito]

So I just got this used german warwick and I was stoked on it...but the fretboard has tons of cracks!

The pic is a closeup, but it looks like that pretty much all over the fretboard. Is it just dryness? Is this common with wenge?

I've already applied two coats of fastfret oil and put it into the case with a humidifier (though it's just a soft gigbag, it's what it came with). Does this look serviceable, or should I return it?

 

[carlis]

According to a renowned luthier (who makes the white and black "tiger" basses...), these are open grains rather than cracks, and they look quite normal.

I used to have similar concerns on my ebony fingerboards but ... as long as it doesn't affect the playability it won't be a problem at all.

 

[Jaldegren]

Yeah, wenge has big open grain. It looks completely normal to me. The warwick i used to own looked just like that.

 

[ArturoOsito]

Hahaha wow, really? Well that's good news...how funky, I've never heard of an "open grain."

 

[IronLung1986]

yea my german warwick has the exact same look. nothing to worry about!

 

[Toptube]

I had an Ibanez with a neck that had 3 pieces of Wenge and two pieces of Bubinga. The Wenge looked just the same.

 

[pedroims]

That's normal on a wenge neck. Its a very open grain wood

 

[Jeff Scott]

Hahaha wow, really? Well that's good news...how funky, I've never heard of an "open grain."

How long have you been alive and playing bass?

 

[placedesjardins]

I saw that all over a fretboard of a Warwick FNA. I just thought it was natural like the age rings on oak.

 

[WarwickOfficial]

Wenge does have open grain as a characteristic. Instead of fastfret, we recommend Dunlop Formula 65 for the fingerboard, and the Warwick Wax for the rest of the natural oil finish. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

 

[ArturoOsito]

Well this is very encouraging to read...I've only ever had ebony and rosewood fretboards, so this was very alarming to receive. What a wild wood!

 

[WarwickOfficial]

ArturoOsito, Not to worry! Wenge is a wood in a class by itself! It does look very dry, so be sure to moisturize...and don't hesitate to let me know if you've got any questions. Best regards,

 

[Rickett Customs]

Definitely not cracks, as was stated many times above, it is the typical grain structure of Wenge.

 

[GBassNorth]

It's fine, just hit it with formula 65 between string changes or a couple times a year and you'll be ok. Wenge always looks like that - but trust me, it sounds much better than it looks.

 

[Tonegasm]

Normal.

 

[Webtroll]

Looks normal to me

 

[ArturoOsito]

Haha.....we can close this thread, I just apparently didn't know how wenge works. Although this will be good for any other wenge noobs out there...

 

[the wako kid]

ArturoOsito, Not to worry! Wenge is a wood in a class by itself! It does look very dry, so be sure to moisturize...and don't hesitate to let me know if you've got any questions. Best regards,

it makes me smile that bass companies have people like you lurking on TB,making sure that everyone is satisfied with their products. warwick has made my day.

 

[Webtroll]

I wonder what wenge would feel like if a grain filler were used then sanded flat. Maybe like tighter grain woods only heavier?

 

[WarwickOfficial]

it makes me smile that bass companies have people like you lurking on TB,making sure that everyone is satisfied with their products. warwick has made my day.

the wako kid - Thank you for the kind words! We appreciate and support our customers, and in this age of networking we feel its a great way to connect and share, but also listen...and in the end, strive to make the very best products we are able to. Best regards,