Strings scratching fretboard

[bakerster135]

N.B. Mods - wasn't sure whether to put this here or in Repairs & Technical...Please move if inappropriate! 

Hi all, I'm looking for a bit of advice. Basically, I bought a lovely Jazz a few months ago. The bass is in remarkable shape and, after a light fret dress at The Gallery, it's playing remarkably well. 

After playing it the other day, however, I caught the fretboard in the sunlight and noticed wear from the strings rubbing against it.

The scratches are light and mainly around the first few frets on the lower strings, but I just wanted to get some advice on whether this is unusual? I've always predominantly played basses with maple fretboards and never noticed similar wear... 

The frets are the medium jumbo type, but very little wear. I'm also pretty sure I don't have an overly aggressive left hand technique. 

Also use DR Sunbeams (nickel) strings. 

Would appreciate some help and advice on this. 

Cheers, 

Al

Edited October 29, 2018 by bakerster135

[Chiliwailer]

Possibly, its from a time when the truss rod was too tight and the strings were more 'flat' to the board? That could explain why it's up by those frets. That's all I can come up with. 

Anyway, a gorgeous bass like that should be wearing flats  

 

[bakerster135]

Thanks, Chiliwailer, but I'm under the impression that this has occurred during my ownership...Definitely a reasonable amount of relief in the neck overall too so I'm not sure that's it. 

I really bought this bass with the intention of playing and recording it so flats just wouldn't be an option for me, unfortunately, but I'm going to need to reconsider if there's potential for any serious fretboard damage 😕

[Chiliwailer]

It might be worth asking the Gallery if there is a slight twist in the neck up there? It’s quite possible. 

Do you think you maybe need to try some softer rounds? 

[Chiliwailer]

Same thing can be found on this bass...

http://andybaxterbass.com/details.php?id=1416

 

[bakerster135]

13 minutes ago, Chiliwailer said:

It might be worth asking the Gallery if there is a slight twist in the neck up there? It’s quite possible. 

Do you think you maybe need to try some softer rounds? 

Yeah, think I will ask them. I would've thought Sunbeams are quite soft as far as rounds go? 

 

7 minutes ago, Chiliwailer said:

Same thing can be found on this bass...

http://andybaxterbass.com/details.php?id=1416

 

Yeah, I'd seen that. Mine's not quite as bad as that one, though I imagine it wouldn't take too long for mine to get like that if I carry on... 

[Burns-bass]

I’ve seen this before. It’s not necessarily play wear but can happen if the string are pressed against the board for a long period of time in a soft case resting against something else, or if they are banged against the board (bass fell over perhaps?)

I see it as another piece of history, but if it were a clear board I would have been disappointed too.

If it’s minor wear then it’ll come out with the appropriate fretboard oil.

 

[bakerster135]

11 minutes ago, Burns-bass said:

 

If it’s minor wear then it’ll come out with the appropriate fretboard oil.

 

Thanks, yeah, I'm going to try a touch of mineral oil and see if it helps

[chris_b]

You're pushing the strings into the fret board. You don't have to press down that hard on the string to make the notes.

[BigRedX]

How hard are you pressing on the strings to get them to touch the fingerboard?

I'm a pretty ham-fisted player but even I can't manage that feat!

[bakerster135]

18 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

How hard are you pressing on the strings to get them to touch the fingerboard?

I'm a pretty ham-fisted player but even I can't manage that feat!

🤣 Quite. Yes, just to confirm (after some self-reassuring checks just now...), this is definitely not the cause! I wish I had 1/10th of that strength in my left hand fingers!

[therealting]

The wear may have appeared there from a time when the bass was stored or shipped with slacked-off strings perhaps? Under low tension, the string is more likely to be able to make contact with the fretboard from a fret height. 

[Musicman20]

19 hours ago, chris_b said:

You're pushing the strings into the fret board. You don't have to press down that hard on the string to make the notes.

I'm not sure that is what has happened here! Also, I imagine if he owns this bass he will know how to fret a note....

[bakerster135]

49 minutes ago, Musicman20 said:

I'm not sure that is what has happened here! Also, I imagine if he owns this bass he will know how to fret a note....

Thanks, yeah, pretty sure it wasn't that. As mentioned in the OP, never noticed this on my other basses and I've been fretting notes on one of those for 19 years! 😉

As an update, took the strings off today and gave the board a good wipe with an EB fretboard wipe and the marks have now all but disappeared...Bizarre. Anyway, shall now be taking Chiliwailer's advice and will be getting some flats on this asap to prevent future near-heart attacks... 

Thanks all for your help! 

[Chiliwailer]

7 minutes ago, bakerster135 said:

Anyway, shall now be taking Chiliwailer's advice and will be getting some flats on this asap to prevent future near-heart attacks... 

 

Glad to hear they came out

The strings below are great for those that lean more towards rounds

Edited August 28, 2018 by Chiliwailer

[Chiliwailer]

[bakerster135]

5 minutes ago, Chiliwailer said:

Glad to hear they came out

The strings below are great for those that lean more towards rounds

Already ordered, my friend 😉 Cheers! 

[rodney72a]

I wouldn't worry about it. It happens. Here's a pic from my '63 Jazz, it must have been played some during its life. Just put on the strings you like and enjoy it.

 

 

Edited August 29, 2018 by rodney72a

[therealting]

I would argue that life is too short to play your dream bass with the strings that don’t match the sound in your head. If you want the round wound sound, play it with round wound strings!

[fleabag]

At a guess, i'd say that most of the bass' life , the  first few frets has taken most of the wear, probably because that's where it's been played the most.

You don't have to wear much of the meat of a fret to cause slight scratching of the board

[mikeswals]

I for one did not like the sound of flats on a Jazz Bass.

Recently tried it again on my 65 Jazz....nope, was like throwing a blanket over the bass. 

 

Edited October 8, 2018 by mikeswals