Finish on fretboard

[scrotiemcboogerballs]

Hi all. Nearly finished my first build. The neck I bought years ago from warmouth I think. It’s had some tape on it and has discoloured irregularly. I presume it has a fine light finish on the whole neck, but I’m not sure. Would that be likely? I can’t remember the brand but it did say licensed by fender on it. Because of the discolouration, I want to sand the fret board. What should I use to finish it? I do have some wipe on poly but presumed that it would just rub through pretty quickly. I’d like the finish to darken it a little if possible, to be closer to the roasted look. Anyway, what do you think?

Oh and another question. My saddles are pretty much maxed out. I must have set the bridge a little too far forward. Are there slightly shorter versions available that I can replace them with? Otherwise I thought I would just shorten the springs to give an extra mm or so of adjustment.

 

[Rick]

Last I thought about this, Warmoth would dip the neck in something before it's shipped, but it's such a thin diluted thing that you can ignore it. Why do you want to sand the fretboard? Why did you put tape on it? Only advice I have on sanding is go easy. In the pick it looks OK to me, I wouldn't do anything. Unless you haven't put a finish on, then you need to do something.

 

[Tretgeraet]

I'm not an expert, but the headstock shape doesn't look like Warmoths.

As to the finish, I agree with Rick, I wouldn't sand it either. It sounds like the discolouration is from different exposure to UV-light and in that case will fade on it's own.

 

[supertruper1988]

I cant say without more pics but yes, that Tele headstock is not the Warmoth Tele headstock. with tape on there for a long time, it can discolor a finish. I would first try to clean it with some kind of light finish cleaner from Dunlop or meguiars mist and wipe for guitar finishes.

 

[TBurst Std]

It looks like USAG but no brand.

 

[MackDaddy1962]

Try some lighter fluid or Naphtha to clean it before doing anything else. If that clears it up, then you can asses what you want to do to darken it. You might get away with just doing some Tru-Oil or Howard's Feed & Wax (the latter of which I don't know if it'll darken or not.. maybe.)

Nice look'n Git-Fiddle!

I just read a few articles on, believe it or not.. steel wool & vinegar! Soak 2 steel wool pads in a jar of vinegar for a few days, use "the juice" to wipe on to darken wood. Wow. That's a new one one me.

Edit: Doh! Don't do that. Looks like it stains wood BLACK. Still a cool process, but not what you're looking for.