However, unlike ebony and rosewood, maple does require a finish to protect it from the effects of humidity (unless you opt for roasted maple, see below! A finished maple fretboard will have a thin gloss or coating over it, giving the wood a smooth and polished appearance and a bit of a sheen. I love Tru-Oil on maple necks. Then use a cloth . 1). ColorTone Fretboard Saver (2) $18.19 ColorTone Waterbase Guitar Finish, Satin Top Coat . Description. So, be sure to aim for a thin, smooth finish and unless finishing a maple fretboard you can safely leave most other fretboard materials unsealed, provided you regularly maintain the fretboard to prevent it from drying out, leading to problems such as loose fret wires and at worst cracks appearing. Maple wood is light in color. Since I have 2 guitars with a rosewood fretboard, I don't have to think about potential damage to the finish of my fretboard. 18. Moderator. The guitar neck has been given an oil-based finish. The furniture oil that is left behind will replenish the oil lost from the surface of the wood and help retard further losses. Add warm water until the color isn't too strong when wiped on your piece of scrap maple. Find a Strat or Tele with a maple fretboard, and feel of it, look at it. If not, you can treat the wood because nobody wants to play a torn-out, grimy-looking guitar after some years. 6 yr. ago Epi LP GREENBURST! The fretboard and back profile maybe finished in the same material. Fender Licensed Strat neck by Allparts. Just clean it occasionally. So it was that ebony, rosewood, and maple were the primary choices of fretboard woods for the greater part of the 20th century. Last edited: Jan 31, 2014. an ash/maple strat will usually sound brighter and clearer than a typical alder/rosewood one which usually has a smoother treble response and more midrangy and slightly warmer voice.i own two 54 reissue strats made of ash and maple and they really have their own personalities which differs quite a bit from my alder/rosewood ones.the tone This video describes my technique for applying a boiled linseed oil finish on a guitar neck. DrKev. Unlike other options such as ebony or rosewood fretboard, maple wood ones need some kind of sealant to help maintain the wood's shape. . C.F . Maple has smaller pores and thinner grain lines. Build your own personalized guitar using DIY guitar kits. Some are very common, others are quite exotic. Last edited: May 14, 2016 Z zivilars New member Joined Aug 4, 2014 Unfinished maple fretboards are essentially raw wood and require an oil based fretboard cleaner for cleaning and conditioning. I wonder if there is any difference between rosewood . Go play a recent Ibanez Prestige or Fender American Deluxe Satin to see how "unfinished" it feels. This isn't enough to discourage those whose want to use it . Finished maple can be cleaned with any standard (commonly available) fretboard cleaner. In the case of the maple neck, all you are feeling is the finish, and if it is a lacquer finish, yeah, it's gonna have more drag. #4. There are plenty of finish options for its fretboards. But they also need special care when it comes to cleaning, as these woods react differently than other types of wood do with certain chemical cleaners. It's 100% natural and contains NO lemon oil or acidic properties because maple fretboards don't like lemon oil or other acidic based oils. Their boards are unfinished (at least, the non-Classic models). While there are advantages such as being less expensive when no finish is required and the fact that the roasting process brings out a beautiful caramel color in the wood. Vintage tinted the wood, then applied about 12 coats of Tru-Oil and buffed by hand. The Mighty Mite MM2904 Telecaster replacement neck is constructed of maple with a rosewood fingerboard fitted with 22 medium frets. A well-played maple neck will eventually show signs of wear, and many guitarists desire this effect. As said above, maple fretboards have to be covered in finish, because of the light color and because maple isn't really that hard. However, it all comes down to the basic composition of the wood. They literally integrate the fingerboard into the same wood piece that . I have a couple of maple fretboard electrics, a 74' Fender Strat and an Explorer shaped walnut bodied guitar I built about 27 years ago, but I am more comfortable with rosewood. 3). Only unfinished maple fretboards need oil-based cleaners. Finished Maple Finished maple wood is definitely a better raw material as compared to unfinished maple wood when it comes to fretboards. An unfinished maple fretboard would need oiling every six months to keep it hydrated. Clean the fretboard: Use fine steel wool to remove stubborn gunk from Rosewood/Ebony/Pau Ferro fretboards, and apply lemon oil to re-hydrate. don't require a hard finish. Maple fretboards typically have some finish (MyaMoe uses Tru-oil). A finish will ruin the feel. Walnut wood is a stable wood, and does not easily dry out, warp or crack. A microfiber cloth with help spread the oil around, but a paper towel will absorb it right off the fret. Maple. Finished Board, Unfinished Frets Maple is a beautiful wood. Over time the oil dissipates and can be replaced with fretboard oils/conditioner. With unfinished fretboards, the feel is all about the wood. Lemon Oil is very fine to get the old grime out of your unfinished Maple Fretboard. You can choose your own hand orientation, tonewood type, hardware, fretboard inlays, headstock shape, binding options & more. The guitar fretboard provides articulate, precise notes with a low tight end and good bite. I used the Canary as it is one of the few woods you can leave unfinished and still be covered under the Warmoth warranty. Bridge 3-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through- Body Tele with Brass Saddles Tuners . Maple doesn't need a finish, structurally. Ernie Ball does recommend to use orange oil on their maple boards. Medium "C" shape profile. The fretboard was worked by me then treated with Fret Doctor. Drastic pricing difference depending upon if the fretboard is hard maple or silver maple Finished maple fretboards will make it more difficult to manage string bending The upkeep on maintenance for unfinished fretboards is more intricate and involved Quick summary of Rosewood fretboards Maple is just really easy to stain with dirt and grime. Use Dewaxed Shellac for Your Best "Clear" Finish On Curly Maple: Before - curly maple board sanded to 220 grit, just before being finished with dewaxed shellac: After - with 3 coats of dewaxed shellac: Of all the basic clear topcoats you can choose from, dewaxed shellac provides a surprising chatoyance that you just don't get with other finishes. T-Style Body / 2 pc. To remove this glossy buildup, rub the back of the neck with 0000 steel wool. The best wood types for fretboards are dense, hard and stable. I find that laquered maple fretboards are more difficult to get around on than rosewood or ebony since the finish has more friction than the unfinished surface of . That is a legit comparison of the wood - otherwise, you are only feeling the difference in the finishes. Compare two Charvels with rosewood and maple fretboards that only have a light oil finish and see what you think. The neck is like your favorite . Murphy's has orange oil in it, if I recall correctly. If you want to have a darker maple fretboard, flame roasting will add character to it. Unfinished maple fretboards are essentially raw wood and require an oil based fretboard cleaner for cleaning and conditioning. Summary In general, maple fretboards do not need fretboard oil. A thin satin or light tint gloss finish leaves this tonewood looking as natural as possible. Re: Best sustain: maple or rosewood fretboard Beyond that, with maple and ebony both being dense woods, you're as likely to find as much variation between two like-species as you are between two boards of each species. Remember, only use 0000 steel wool. I noticed that Kala is saying on their site that they discontinued importing ukuleles with rosewood fretboards as of July 1st, and that they are instead importing ukuleles with walnut fretboards. Then add little drops of full strength brown and red to "amber" it. Sealed Maple - even on a HSS Strat (not a single coil at the bridge) the sound tends to be bright. 21 frets Maple neck, sanded, unfinished and ready to spray Veneer rosewood fingerboard 7.25" radius Nut width 1-5/8" Heel width 2-3/16" Tuning Peg. Use a dry part to buff out the polish. And this can create friction as you play. Ready to start your DIY guitar project? You can clean an unfinished maple neck or fretboard by rubbing it with a fine 0000 steel wool. Unfinished and Finished Guitar Necks for Replacements or Builds. Rosewood, ebony, etc, should just be oiled up with something like lemon oil so that it "moisturizes" the wood but doesn't dry and harden. Therefore maple fretboards are the most at risk to any lemon oil-based products. This means that any maple fingerboard which has received a glossy finish can feel a little too sticky or unnatural for some players - however . Maple wood isn't anywhere near as naturally durable as Rosewood fretboards. It is a natural oil-based product, so you don't have to worry about lemon or petroleum, or any other potentially damaging . An unfinished fretboard would be a rosewood or ebony fretboard, something where the actual wood is exposed, with no coating (finish) on top of it. Sand it, then just spray everywhere, very quick. Great for replacement! wood being so brittle that the insides of the holes are much more prone to strip out versus a standard kiln . It will have some sort of a hard, smooth coating (finish) to protect the wood. A finished vs. unfinished fretboard wouldn't matter to me one way or the other. For example, Maple fretboards are almost always finished, since Maple wood can rot and decay quite easily. Roasted maple necks cost a bit more than an unfinished maple neck, but are cheaper than a maple . On Strats (and most production guitars) maple will generally be finished with a coat of laquer, whereas rosewood is generally unfinished. On an unfinished fretboard it could seep under the frets and could cause problems. 250 IQ. I asked the customer service about using the wonder wipes on the backside of the unfinished maple neck. Jan 14, 2010 #5 tlw Tele-Meister Joined Oct 17, 2003 Fender's only reason for using them was to save money. Use as little as possible; you just want to put a slight gloss on the surface. Once the fretboard is clean, wipe the entire surface with the oil dampened cloth to seal it. It will have some sort of a hard, smooth coating (finish) to protect the wood. Standard 25.5" scale. . Their guitars were a hit, and maple became one of the new leaders in fretboard woods. As Spud says, it's totally ok to use it there as . 3). Logged. This is especially important for older vintage guitars that have an 'unfinished neck' that lacks a 'laminated . . When you think it's right, test it on your scrap maple & put on the clear lacquer. Final Words Maple fretboards are a beautiful addition to your guitar and can add some interesting flavor to sound. A finished maple neck has some harmonic content that is eaten by an unfinished rosewood fretboard. Ebony and Baked Maple are close, but I think the Ebony is fairly even low end to high end, while the Baked Maple tends to accentuate the high end. Glossy maple fretboards have been finished with a thin protective sealing coat. ).So you are in effect playing the coasting that covers the fretboard, rather than the wood itself! It is 30% softer than Maple wood. Finishes can wear out on a fretboard. 2021 Fender Custom Shop 1952 Telecaster Ash Body Relic White Blonde. Polish the guitar's body: For poly-finished (gloss) guitars, spray guitar polish onto a soft cloth and wipe down. Maple is very easy to finish, and on an all maple neck it makes sense to have uniformity in the appearance between the fretboard and rest of it. 1-5/8" at the nut. Which fretboard materials is easier to maintain? This will leave the neck feeling smooth without that sticky sensation. We offer more than 40 guitar kit body shapes. Remove the strings prior to cleaning the maple fretboard. You can view all the kit shapes from our Custom Shop. The original neck was a Warmoth Pro, standard maple, '59 Roundback with 6130 frets and a clear satin nitro finish. Gun Stock Finish Gun Stock WAX clean the neck, apply the oil, wait about 2 hours, wipe the neck with dry cloth, apply the wax, leave it on for 1 hour, wipe the neck with another dry cloth. Finished maple fretboard enables fast action Doesn't require too much care and maintenance Cons Note bending is difficult because of the finish When the finish wears, the wood starts to absorb dirt and oils Pros and Cons of Rosewood Fretboard Pros Great for string bending, perfect for blues music Bold color makes you stand out from the rest Cons On the other hand, if my goal was simply a guitar with "traditional" tone and response, as opposed to the "modern" sound, then I'd want the structure to give me that and aesthetic . Ultra Light Swamp Ash / Rear Rout / Filtertron Bridge / S Neck Pickup (#GIN-1034) $ 279.99 Select options. Raw maple fretboards are typically oil finished by the manufacturer, so any compatible, non-abrasive fretboard treatment from our shop will work. Haven't tried it on any other wood yet, and I haven't had a maple/maple neck to try it on. Similarly, I would not use maple for the same reason. Some are finished, others are not. are naturally oily and require no finish. Kind of like chocolate vs vanilla. 21 vintage frets with 7.25" radius fingerboard. 7. This is true for "Rosewood necks" . If you have a two piece neck, Unfinished Maple Back Profile with Rosewood Fretboard. Unfinished maple will feel natural - like an untreated piece of wood. Maple fretboards will be finished. The latter was finished by Warmoth in their clear satin finish. What is unfinished fretboard? Satin or matte finishes are very comfortable, but can become somewhat glossy over time. Use an oil-based fretboard cleaner for unfinished fretboards. how do u maintain each of the freatboard materials thanks And they recommend Murphy's Oil Soap for cleaning them. (I don't like finished maple fretboards -- Fender -- at all, and the very expensive electric I own with a beautiful figured unfinished (oiled) maple board sucks up dirt and oil. Maple is a light-colored wood, and these fretboards come in a variety of finishes. With that said, most people tell you that you shouldn't put a hard finish, even a simple one one like linseed or tung oil, on any fretboard other than maple. The reason is that maple fretboards include a "clear coat" finish meaning they are the most delicate compared to the darker rosewood and ebony. Make sure to tape your fret bars and pickups before proceeding. If your maple fretboard is finished with a coating on it,. . Gloss finishes are not as smooth as Satin or Matte finishes. Visit http://www.eguitarplans.com/ and buy a . Cleaning A Roasted Maple Fretboard. If you like brighter tones, you're better off with a roasted maple neck. The Dunlop Ultimate Lemon Oil is an amazing choice. An unfinished fretboard would be a rosewood or ebony fretboard, something where the actual wood is exposed, with no coating (finish) on top of it. One has an unfinished Canary neck with Pau Ferro fingerboard and the other a maple neck with ebony board. 2). In general, oil is not necessary at all on a maple fretboard. Yours, unless it is a very strange example of a fender, wont have a finished . On a finished fretboard, whether it's on a one-piece maple neck or an open-grained wood like Brazilian rosewood, the final result is largely based on what the guitar manufacturer uses for the finish. So, Maple fretboards are almost always finished. Does a maple neck need a finish? many times the back profile ends top fretboard will be done in different finish materials. This subject is being talked about in another thread, but I think it deserves its own. Fender Custom Shop 1952 Telecaster with Hand-Wound Pickups Journeyman Relic White Blonde. Since the 1970's Mighty Mite has manufactured custom and replacement guitar parts for luthiers, repairmen, and guitarists who can't wait to hot-rod their Fender. About a year later, I decided the 6130 frets just weren't for me, and ordered a Vintage Modern / Clapton with 6150 frets in unfinished roasted maple. Feb 28, 2013. Tonally, I would think walnut would be pretty good stuff for a fretboard. Renouncing the usual addition of a separate fingerboard, Fender's first guitars had the frets embedded directly into the neck wood. Use a damp cloth to clean Maple fretboards. Show your support! It's much, much cheaper to use a solid one-piece maple neck and fretboard than to take the time . My Ricks (both maple and rosewood, finished) have that high end sparkle, or even some percussive "spankiness" that I prefer. Wipe each fret with a clean paper towel. So a harsher lemon oil is not suitable for maple necks as it can soak deeply and sit there for years. However, a rosewood fretboard only needs oiling every 12 months. The flame/quilt appearance is created by alternating areas of softer and harder wood and that can make it less stable and more sensitive to seasonal changes. An unfinished maple fretboard will require more frequent cleaning and conditioning depending upon how often it is played. To Sum Up, Here Are The Top 3 Takeaways From This Post. If the board is "finished", then there's no need to oil it at all. The color of the neck is richer and warmer, depending on your preferences. The roasted maple neck is about as stable as a maple neck with a finish, but smoother to play on. . Otherwise, you could be left with a worn, grimy-looking fingerboard after a few years. Unfinished one-piece maple with small headstock and truss adjustment at the heel. The finish wears off, and the fretboard gets to be very ugly. Using steel wool on a satin finish. ColorTone Aerosol Finishing Set for 2-Tone Tobacco Sunburst . #48 Lemon oil is slightly corrosive, and risks damaging frets, glue, and finish. Buff it with a clean, dry microfiber cleaning cloth. [/quote] Yeah that's it, I was Leary about getting an unfinished neck and Warmoth strongly urges people not to or it'll void any warranty, the satin nitro should be a relatively thin finish which should wear with time and play, I live in Florida where there LOTS of humidity and warpage concerns me. Previous Post. ColorTone Waterbase Guitar Finish, Satin Top Coat (3) From $42.49 More Options. If unfinished, though, you may have to arrange to have it treated. This rubbing will remove the dirt and even out the surface of your neck or fretboard. You don't want to damage your fret bars and you don't want the dirt to get stuck on your pickup. Here's a maple/RW neck for a customer build. 2-3/16" heel width. Flame/quilt maple isn't favored for necks because it has a less consistent density than rock maple or birdseye. The main differences will be in feel and in look. Lemon oil is also a cleaner but it shouldn't hurt a finish applied and wiped off. If you oil and clean it religiously, it'll be fine, but it's just not worth the effort when a thin satin finish isn't really noticeable. This should generally help you differentiate between the two. Fender licenses necks and bodies for replacement on Fender and . However, Walnut wood is too soft to be used to make the fretboard. . But, the oily tropical hardwoods (rosewood, ebony, Cocobolo, etc.) Dalbergias are naturally oily and maintain well with an oil, so it's . I put together two Warmoth Strats. Do a thorough job wiping each fret. Like with a finished maple fretboard, you should wipe it down with a dry cloth every few hours, but every month or two you should give it a good cleaning using 0000 steel wool to remove the "gunk". There are drawbacks when adding a roasted maple guitar neck. Remember, it won't look right until it's sprayed with clear lacquer. Board selection is primarily feel (finished vs unfinished) and aesthetics for me. This is true many times for Maple necks. Why is rosewood such a popular material for fretboard? ColorTone 3-Tone Tobacco Sunburst Spray Set (6) $114.96 $103.46. Since it is finished, it requires no treatment other than a wipedown. Most often, people incorporate Acer fingerboards into a guitar set up in this way: one-piece Acer neck. Wipe each fret hard with a paper towel: A little bit of oil on unfinished wood is a good thing, but oil on frets will kill your strings. 1. Unfinished fretboards are fairly common, especially when constructed with darker woods. I'd also be happy with bone for the nut and saddle, where the originals had ivory. If you have an unfinished maple fretboard, apply a thin line of fretboard oil (about the width of a cell phone charger cable) directly to the fretboard and rub it in with a paper towel. Maple is the most common wood to be finished as a fretboard. Lack of oil doesn't mean dry, that's a function of humidity. Wyatt said: . Raw maple fretboards are typically oil finished by the manufacturer, so any compatible, non-abrasive fretboard treatment from our shop will work. "Finished" would be like a Strat maple fretboard. . "Finished" would be like a Strat maple fretboard. Fretboards are made with a variety of woodsEbony, Rosewood, Maple, Bacote, Pau Ferro, and even Ziricote, just to name a few. Generally speaking, you can clean a Roasted Maple Neck And Fingerboard the same way you treat unroasted wood. Rosewood can be awkward to finish (needs grain filler, sealer, then top coat). #2. a finished fretboard is generally one that has been clear coated (typically done to maple fingerboards). Ideally, oiling this fretboard every 1-2 years is best practice, (although it may . 2). Rosewood etc. View full details PHR-1 22 Fret Rosewood Half Paddle Head Neck Joined Jul 8, 2006 Messages 6,345 Location . To me, the rosewood FB Ricks, unlike just about every other make, don't need more sparkle, chime and spank than their . I have been using it for a long time. A light tint gloss finish can give a natural look to this tonewood. Sealed Maple meaning Fender maple fretboards with finish on them. Maple, of Acer, is a hard, dense tonewood producing snappy, bright tones.