hi forumites

There are some thin dark-coloured marks on the edge of my maple fretboard(on my 72 telecaster). By edge, I mean right at the part on the side of the fretboard, sort of on the angle, so they're not facing up from the fretboard, but more at an angle, towards my face when I play. My cloth doesn't seem to be able to remove them. They are also on the other side, but only slightly. This is not everywhere, but a couple of places down the neck. Anyone know what they are, what they're caused by, and what I can do to remove them? I have a gibson vintage reissue restoration kit, with fretboard conditioner, guitar polish(for nitrocellulose finishes unfortunately), and low abrasion metal cleaner. Would that help?

Thanks, and Happy New Year

_________________
"reach for the sky and aim for the moon, for if you miss you will end up among the stars"

Zoom MS50G
72 tele dlx RI
2011 standard strat
Blackstar HT-5R
Taylor Big Baby

http://www.youtube.com/user/Almungo/videos?flow=grid&view=0

Can you post some pics? We might be able to better diagnose the issue if we can see it.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

OK, don't laugh, the marks look quite small in the pictures. But it's obviously not part of the design, so I thought, if I can get a handle on what it is and whats causing it now, then I can do something about it before it becomes a problem.

It's hard to photograph it well, because it is difficult to focus the lens on the marks, not the strings or background or something else.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/73034506@N ... /lightbox/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/73034506@N ... /lightbox/

If you can see, on the 9th fret, there is some kind of mark there. Have a look on the links if the pictures here are too small.

Thanks

_________________
"reach for the sky and aim for the moon, for if you miss you will end up among the stars"

Zoom MS50G
72 tele dlx RI
2011 standard strat
Blackstar HT-5R
Taylor Big Baby

http://www.youtube.com/user/Almungo/videos?flow=grid&view=0

looks like the finish is wearing down to the wood at the edges , my 94 usa strat is like that only worse , cheers
Alan

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That black dot is a fret marker, dude!
Just kidding...


+1
What little I see looks like normal wear & tear to me.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

"It's called wood grain. Don't worry about it... "

Exactly. Those are "medullary rays" and every piece of maple has them somewhere. They form at right angles to the growth rings. On a quartersawn neck they'd be on the fretboard, the rear of the neck, the front and back faces of the headstock -- everywhere except the sides of the neck. On a flatsawn neck there'll just be one or two narrow rows of them, and sometimes they're on the treble side where you can't see them while holding the guitar in playing position. But if you look closely, you'll always find at least one row of them on a maple neck.

To me, they're the prettiest part of the grain.

Thanks for all the replies everybody. So it's nothing to worry about then? Thats good to know. Thank you.

_________________
"reach for the sky and aim for the moon, for if you miss you will end up among the stars"

Zoom MS50G
72 tele dlx RI
2011 standard strat
Blackstar HT-5R
Taylor Big Baby

http://www.youtube.com/user/Almungo/videos?flow=grid&view=0