Fretboard Marks

[MrShphrd]

Hello all!

Hope this is the right place to post this question.
I'll start a build diary soon, but in the meantime I have a question regarding my tele fretboard

It's not been smoothed off too well before being fretted.
photos attached.
Beyond pulling all the frets and re-fretting completely, I wonder what the best way to try and tackle these marks would be?

Big cheers!

[Andy40]

A bit of light sanding with some fine grit should take them out. say 320 grit or 400. I doubt you'd take the radius out of the fretboard

I have cut a bit of ply with a 12" radius then i put double sided tape on the curve and put some fine grit sandpaper on that and sand the marks on the fretboard

[MrShphrd]

A bit of light sanding with some fine grit should take them out. say 320 grit or 400. I doubt you'd take the radius out of the fretboard

I have cut a bit of ply with a 12" radius then i put double sided tape on the curve and put some fine grit sandpaper on that and sand the marks on the fretboard

Thank you!
Will give this a go and report back. If unsuccessful, I might re-fret the thing, just because!
Cheers

[FrankenWashie]

Thank you!
Will give this a go and report back. If unsuccessful, I might re-fret the thing, just because!
Cheers

Refrets are so much fun, almost as much fun as stripping a fretboard.

[Andy40]

FW I think i'll have to PM you about stripping a fretboard mate. I dont like the one on the PRS-1H kit but I dont have the tools to do one from scratch.

[FrankenWashie]

FW I think i'll have to PM you about stripping a fretboard mate. I dont like the one on the PRS-1H kit but I dont have the tools to do one from scratch.

Yeah no probs Andy, from memory that was the kit with Cross inlays, yeah?

@MrShphrd, if you do decide to strip the frets, put some back bow on the neck first.
Make sure you get a good set of fret strippers, I’ve used the stew Mac ones, they go real well.
If you can’t get them, see what you can get from Australian luthiers supplies
Make sure you get some fret board protectors, or some thin copper or stainless steel shim to place over the board to prevent making further dings as you strip the frets off. (PBG sell these as a set of two fretboard protectors).

It will be far easier to dress the board surface without the frets, but then you will have to refret and relevel which can be a lot of work. Give Andy’s method a bash first and see how you go, your board may jut need a couple of little touch ups.