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Post subject: Pawn Shop Offset Special fretboard
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 3:43 pm
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Hello all,

First post - so please forgive any breaks with board procedure...

I finally got hold of a Pawn Shop Offset Special today (MIM) after putting a deposit down a few week's ago. I needed to replace my MIM Telecaster Thinline which went west earlier this year due to some marital/ financial issues that you don't need to hear about. Anyway, as much as I loved the Thinline I didn't want to go for anything too similar to what I had before, and after trying out various instruments including a Gibson Les Paul Studio (forgive me) I was very taken by the PSOS. I love almost everything about this guitar - the weight (I have back issues, another reason a Les Paul would have been a bad idea!), the shape (subjective as that is), the tone obviously and in particular the pickups which frankly are, in my opinion, exceptional. The tremolo system, so far, seems fairly reliable too and may even convert me from my usual reluctance with such things, and the simple controls suit me well (I had a vintage Jaguar about a decade ago, and after accidentally discovering a 'no noise at all' setting halfway through a gig, one tone and one volume will do me nicely thank you very much!).

The only issue I have, which I didn't notice when I previously tried the guitar out in the shop, is that since getting it home today and giving it a more thorough going over, the maple fretboard seems a bit 'sticky' - not in terms of actually sticking to my fingers like the floor of a bad pub, but in terms of noticeably slowing movement down/ making things just a bit more work than it seems as if they should be.

I'm used to rosewood boards, so is this just something I need to get used to? Or is it due to the (I believe) urethane finish? If so, is there anything I can do about it, and is it worth it - plus are there any risks to doing so? I have seen some posts elsewhere suggesting taking sandpaper to the board but I'm a bit nervous about doing such things to a brand new guitar. Also, on a related note, are there any special considerations I should take in cleaning the board (which may help in itself, evidently enough) given I haven't dealt with a finished maple example before?

I know that's a lot of questions, but basically if anyone has any experience with finished maple boards on Fenders, even better if it's the same model but not necessarily, please do let me know. I would be very interested to hear.

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Offset Special fretboard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 1:05 am
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4240
Cleaning a maple fretboard with urethane finish is simple, the finish tolerates just about any cleaner/solvent imaginable. Choose a guitar cleaner from your favorite brand (Fender's set here), or go the old school way (Zippo fluid and a cotton rag).

That cleaning may also help with the stickiness issues you're experiencing.
And, you might want to pay attention to how you press the strings - no need to try and push them through the fretboard, just surf gently on top of the 6130 Medium Jumbo frets.

One important thing: give yourself and the guitar some time before doing anything drastic. A year ain't too much.

If eventually time, cleaning and fingerwork training won't help:
It's possible to matt or high shine the fretboard urethane, but in that case you might be wise to consider using a good pro for the job.
And then, of course, there are some players who just prefer one type of fretboards - both rosewood and maple have their addicts. So, the last ditch attempt is a new neck. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Offset Special fretboard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 4:33 am
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Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2016 2:25 pm
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Very helpful indeed, thank you.


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