scratches in the freatboard?

crguti

Active member
In one of those 'mod the hell out of it' guitar project, the talentless self-proclaimed luthier that I'm started to leveling the frets with some light sandpaper. I covered the fretboard with transparent tape... big mistake, bcs I didn't notice that I didn't cover one part of the fretboard, so I scratched a bit the rosewood fretboard. :smash:


Lesson learned.... but, how do you erase/fix a scratched fretboard?
 
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Re: scratches in the freatboard?

If it was maple then repeat on the other frets and you have a relic job ;)

All jokes aside, what Greekdude said--very lightly sand and then oil. You may want to try the oil first and see if the oil doesn't hide enough to not have to sand.
 
Re: scratches in the freatboard?

How bad is it?

A Light scrape with a razor blade can do wonders as well
I have been reading the web about suggestions, and it seems that the razor blade thing is the way to go. I will try today and see what happens.
 
Re: scratches in the fretboard?

Re: scratches in the fretboard?

Sand with the grain

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
 
Re: scratches in the freatboard?

Maybe, maybe not. If you really want to get the scratch out, you might have to take some chances.

Personally I wouldn't sand it as that would actually make the surface less flat and take away wood you can never get back. Filling the scratches with a color matched wood filler even seems like a better idea than sanding.
 
Re: scratches in the freatboard?

Maybe, maybe not. If you really want to get the scratch out, you might have to take some chances.

Personally I wouldn't sand it as that would actually make the surface less flat and take away wood you can never get back. Filling the scratches with a color matched wood filler even seems like a better idea than sanding.

Yeah. No idea how bad it actually is without pictures, but if it's a cosmetic scratch (as opposed to a deep scratch that took away a significant amount of wood) I would use 0000 steel wool and oil

oh and SAND WITH THE GRAIN. lol
 
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Re: scratches in the freatboard?

That's looks rather superficial. For once, "that'll buff out" is actually a true statement. I prefer micromesh pads to steel wool, myself.
 
Re: scratches in the freatboard?

I scraped the scratches with a thin and sharp razor blade. Then I applied lemon oil on the fretboard and I gently massage the affected area eliminating all excess with a thin paper towel.
I was able to diminish all the imperfections that I stupidly did myself. I can barely see that there were some scratches on the fretboard, but under a strong light and careful inspection I can still see the scratches but now they are not obvious.

I was a bit scared but I think it ends up pretty good, but for sure I won't do it with an ebony fretboard which is more polished than rosewood.
 
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Re: scratches in the freatboard?

Maybe, maybe not. If you really want to get the scratch out, you might have to take some chances.

Personally I wouldn't sand it as that would actually make the surface less flat and take away wood you can never get back. Filling the scratches with a color matched wood filler even seems like a better idea than sanding.

I like the idea of the filler. Would it still let the wood breath? I have tried this on some occasions and I liked the result, however I am not so sure if adding a water based substance to wood is better than removing a thin layer of wood. The question is general, since the problem of the OP is a very superficial one, nothing to worry about.
 
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