Graham Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 My G&L has a lacquered maple fretboard and it occoured to me the other day that I haven't a clue why - is there some tonal or playability advantage or is it just aesthetic? If it is just aesthetic it's a shame as I prefer the look of maple necks without the lacquer and it must cost more to make a guitar with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Maple without protection goes browny-grey from the pushing down of strings. It eventually turns into this grotty halfwayhouse between maple and rosewood which looks like compressed fingernail dirt. While I'm sure the decision is purely aesthetic, a pristine new unlacquered maple board won't stay pristine for long. Eventually it'll look like this: Mmmm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 That bottom picture actually has quite a lot of character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 [quote name='charic' timestamp='1328097199' post='1521647'] That bottom picture actually has quite a lot of character. [/quote] Hey, each to their own. To me, maple that looks like anaemic rosewood at first glance is just plain wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 More relevant to fretless, but this is from the blurb for the Pedulla Buzz: [color=#0000FF][font="Verdana"][size="2"]"Its polyester-finished fingerboard is glass-smooth, giving the Buzz its distinctive voice, while protecting the ebony from the rigors of performance and round wound strings"[/size][/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mylkinut Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 I quite like the feel of a lacquered neck. I know alot of people don't, but to me it feels like glass. Smooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 [quote name='charic' timestamp='1328097199' post='1521647'] That bottom picture actually has quite a lot of character. [/quote] ...smeared all over it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 Cheers guys, i would like to own a bass with a non-lacquered maple board one day, presumably there's a way to get them clean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 [quote name='charic' timestamp='1328097199' post='1521647'] That bottom picture actually has quite a lot of character. [/quote] Nah !! Give me the lacquer any day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 [quote name='Graham' timestamp='1328115087' post='1522081'] Cheers guys, i would like to own a bass with a non-lacquered maple board one day, presumably there's a way to get them clean [/quote] Nope. Unless you like sanding it down once a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSix Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Yep - the dirt and grime from your fingers gets into the wood grain so the only way to 'clean' it is to sand off the surface layer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Psssttt... try oil finishes and wax instead... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.