Moo's TLA-1 - My First Build

[Moo]

Great job on the headstock Moo.

With a maple fret board steel wool sanding whilst polishing up the frets will work. What did you have in mind for the finish? Were you going to cover it with a clear coat of something or just hit with lemon oil or wax?

Thanks Waz
Not sure about the finish. I've got some satin clear coat for the neck, would you recommend using that on the fingerboard, or go the wax/oil option? This is the first time I've built a guitar so I don't really know how you'd go about either... The other guitars I own don't seem to have clear coat on the fingerboard but I've played some that do which were nice too...

[wazkelly]

Thanks Waz
Not sure about the finish. I've got some satin clear coat for the neck, would you recommend using that on the fingerboard, or go the wax/oil option? This is the first time I've built a guitar so I don't really know how you'd go about either... The other guitars I own don't seem to have clear coat on the fingerboard but I've played some that do which were nice too...

Hi Moo, your choice how you finish the fret board. I have used Dingo Wax on a couple of Rosewood fret boards and lemon oil on another and whilst a bit more effort was required I would have to say that wax is better. This is how most rosewood fret boards are finished however with maple store bought ones are coated in some form of lacquer. If that is the feel and look you are after use the same stuff on the back & front of your neck but be prepared to clean the finish off each of the 21 frets when your are done. Upside is low on-going maintenance, downside is more prep work to get it ready to play. On my J Bass I used Tru Oil with about 6 coats on the fret board as they go on quite thin.

Using wax or lemon/orange oil on maple fret boards will require reapplications periodically, wax maybe not so often but be prepared to re-oil every string change or maybe every 2nd or 3rd if things still look and feel ok. Leaving maple this way can bring on a bit more of a grimy appearance over time too.