IB5 - First build

[rbruce]

Hi all,

First build here and just starting out. Been admiring a lot of peoples work here.

I have all the bits ready to go for the IB5 build, pulled the kit out of the box and noticed the fret board has what appears to be some scratching on it:


Can the Rosewood fret board be sanded back and "restored"?

Thanks.
Rob

[wazkelly]

Hi rbruce, welcome to the forum.

Is that engineered rosewood or the real deal? Hoping real stuff as those scratches should come out with some gentle 0000 steel wool sanding in the direction of the grain, ie from nut to bridge. Do not sand across the grain as that may create more dramas.

Cheers, Waz

[rbruce]

Thanks Waz,

It's the one that comes standard with the kit, so I believe the engineered Rosewood. Assuming that means it can't be buffed out then - time for a replacement perhaps.

Thanks,
Rob

[wazkelly]

Thanks Waz,

It's the one that comes standard with the kit, so I believe the engineered Rosewood. Assuming that means it can't be buffed out then - time for a replacement perhaps.

Thanks,
Rob

If you are located in OZ there is a fair chance it could be Rosewood as the restrictions are mainly when crossing international borders, therefore if you are overseas it would definitely be the engineered stuff. If so, just work on it gently as some folks have seen bits (almost chunks) come off when removing masking tape, which leads me to the next bit.....wax or seal engineered fret board before taping up.....I know it will be hard to get masking tape to hold but better to deal with that than unexpectedly remove some of the surface. In fact, if I was working on engineered rosewood I would seal it with a lacquer like they do on Rickenbackers where Tru Oil would be my choice. Genuine rosewood is ok to use fret board wax or treat with lemon oil.

[rbruce]

In Victoria, so maybe the real stuff then. I'll check with Adam and see what it is.

Thanks - appreciate the help.

Rob

[Fretworn]

It’s engineered rosewood. You can see the layers when you look at it closely. You can still gently sand the fingerboard with very fine sandpaper and then 0000 steel wool. Then oil it with your fretboard oil of choice before you think of masking it to do fret levelling. This seems to help prevent damage from masking tape etc.