Fender J Bass fretboard cover problem

R

Rbv

Oct 13, 2022
15
15
781
#1
I just bought a Fender 75th anniversary J bass last week. I found there’re some kind of dirt on the side of the fretboard, I thought that’s probably my sweat and I just tried very hard to get it out, but it turns out to be a thin layer covered on the sides, now I’m really regret of this.

So I wonder what is this layer and if this is a big deal, I really don’t wanna damage my new bass.

Cheers fellas
 

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#5
It seems like there is a layer of something only covers the side of it. It’s more obvious when seeing it under light. I tried to take more pictures of it maybe they’ll help. I hope I didn’t hurt the wood or lacquer.
 

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#6
Dave W said:
Unless I'm looking at the wrong bass it's finished in poly not lacquer.
Besides, they wouldn't have put lacquer on a rosewood fretboard.

It's hard to tell from the picture what is going on.
Click to expand...

Sorry I’m new to talkbass and I still can’t figure it out how to actually reply. If you can see this, I’ve attached more pictures and descriptions, maybe they’ll be easier to see. Cheers mate!
 
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#8
I have very good eyesight, but I have to admit, I'm not able to identify any wood or finish issues in your pictures. Is it possible that there is a natural wood grain pattern on the edge of the fretboard that you are noting?
 
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#9
Warpeg said:
I have very good eyesight, but I have to admit, I'm not able to identify any wood or finish issues in your pictures. Is it possible that there is a natural wood grain pattern on the edge of the fretboard that you are noting?
Click to expand...
No it wasn’t like this.
I noticed there were something looks like dirt on that spot, I thought that’s usual because you know, sweat always remain on the fretboard so I tried to scratched it off but it didn’t came off easily, and I just keep scratching it with my nail, it finally came off like a little piece of plastic texture and that just concerned me that I just did something stupid.

It’s like the side s were covered by plastic and now it’s gone for that spot, I just don’t know what that is, I hope that’s not significant to the fretboard
 
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#10
Rbv said:
So I wonder what is this layer and if this is a big deal, I really don’t wanna damage my new bass.

Cheers fellas
Click to expand...

This is NOT a "big deal". Play it, enjoy it, and love it. If it bothers you that much, take some super-fine (1500+ grit) sandpaper and sand the edge of your fingerboard.
 
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#12
It's just some clearcoat. can you feel if the area is rough or not?

Also as said, if needed use some fine sandpaper and rock it out!
 
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#13
Jeremy Crockett said:
This is NOT a "big deal". Play it, enjoy it, and love it. If it bothers you that much, take some super-fine (1500+ grit) sandpaper and sand the edge of your fingerboard.
Click to expand...
Now I'm looking forward to the inevitable fight between the 1k grit fans and the 1.5+ people. There should be a pool for how many pages that will run before it's closed.

Call me a barbarian, but I'd go with 1k. I'm afraid I won't live long enough to do anything useful with finer grits. YMMV. Though in this particular case I wouldn't touch it at all. The damage is so trivial that any attempt to "fix" it stands a good chance of making it worse. With sandpaper in particular, keeping the scratches confined to where they should be can be like herding mice.
 
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#18
I can see what you are talking about, but I am also in the "don't worry about it" camp. The fretboard wood is porous and won't be entirely uniform. If it really bothers you you can take it to a tech or something for a little touch up of the finish, maybe, but I wouldn't worry about having "damaged" the wood or the instrument nor would I worry about it getting worse.
 
#19
Its a ding, happened at the factory, happened at the store, happened with the last person who touched it, happened in shipping, who knows, but...

It is nothing, especially since it on the side of the neck with which your hand has the least contact.

Yes, I know, your eye will be instantly drawn to it when you hold your bass, as if a flaming ember had landed on it and started a smothering fire...but you will very likely never feel it when you play, and unless you are a guy who needs to look at the neck while you play, it should basically cease to exist in practical terms.

If it bugs you, sand it out yourself, if you know what you are doing, if not, take it to someone who does, if it really bothers you.

If you play out at all with that thing, it is going to get dinged. Ya know people actually pay big busks to get road worn basses; look at that ding like a honestly earned freebee.
 
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