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Post subject: How to get my fretboard smoother?
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:03 am
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Hi!

I just got my Fender Telecaster Vintage 52'. Really happy about it.

Im trying to get my fretboard a little "smoother", so it's easier to bend and drag my hand up and down the fretboard without my thumb sticking to the wood like glue.

It's a butterscotch blonde, so it's a Maple neck. Does anyone know what I could do? Maybe some oil?


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Post subject: Re: How to get my fretboard smoother?
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 11:19 am
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Ryden wrote:
I just got my Fender Telecaster Vintage 52'. Really happy about it.

Im trying to get my fretboard a little "smoother", so it's easier to bend and drag my hand up and down the fretboard without my thumb sticking to the wood like glue.


That sounds like it's the neck that's the problem, not the fretboard. If this is a "classic" vintage, it should already be slick, but if it's an American vintage, it likely has the satin finish.
Yeah, some wax/polish will "cure" it. So will wear. If you go for wax, make sure you get one free of turpentine or other solvents.

Shuffleboard wax, perhaps?


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Post subject: Re: How to get my fretboard smoother?
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:44 am
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I take it that your guitar is an American Vintage series with a Nitro Cellulose finish.

These can be sticky at first but it does wear off with time.

I tend to rub mine with a guitar polish when they get sticky and it goes away for a while, I know that some people lightly sand them with fine gauge wire wool to get rid of this.

I wouldn't oil the neck as the maple wont absorb the oil like rosewood does and I would be very careful of what wax you use as anything with Silicone in it will eat the Nitro finish.

A guitar polish will take the stickyness away and not harm the finish.


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Post subject: Re: How to get my fretboard smoother?
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 11:40 am
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Sanding it with really fine grit sandpaper works amazingly. it's the first thing I do when I get a new guitar

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Post subject: Re: How to get my fretboard smoother?
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 2:56 pm
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Sanding the neck won't help much if the Nitro is still off-gassing. A day later and you'll have the same issue.

Personally, I'd wipe the neck beforehand w/ a soft cloth slightly dampened w/ water (preferably distilled) and then wiped dry.

In between, I'd leave the guitar out of it's case to speed getting all the solvent out. I'm sure the issue will subside w/ time.

cheers!

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