Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Fri Mar 09, 2018 3:09 pm

I am looking for feedback as to what might be happening on the neck of an SC-3. I am considering a purchase of one of these guitars. It is a maple neck and there is some finish coming off on the fret side of the maple fret board. Does this affect future investment value? Playability? Should it be refinished or left alone? I appreciate any feedback. Thanks. Ken

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Fri Mar 09, 2018 4:29 pm

Hi Blue, post some pics so we can see the issue if you can. I'm sure any de-lamination of the lacquer on the fretboard would effect it's value but maybe not its playability. It's probably not a difficult repair for a competent luthier though.

Tom

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Fri Mar 09, 2018 8:23 pm

Thanks for the response, Tom

That makes great sense.

Now, if I could figure out how to attach a picture! :-)

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Sat Mar 10, 2018 12:01 am

Blue Elevator wrote:Thanks for the response, Tom

That makes great sense.

Now, if I could figure out how to attach a picture! :-)


See: Tutorial: Posting photos

Hope this helps.

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Sat Mar 10, 2018 1:48 pm

Thank you!

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Sun Mar 11, 2018 7:11 am

If your fretboard is wearing from use it might not affect the value. People are paying a lot extra for "relic" guitars. I don't understand it but it's the big thing.

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Sun Mar 11, 2018 7:56 am

Thanks, ColoradoJeff
That's a great point. I appreciate the input.

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Sun Mar 11, 2018 10:07 am

Is the finish actually peeling off or is it the natural wear that occurs on all maple fretboards?

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Sun Mar 11, 2018 11:35 am

Hello Eddie
I tried to post a picture yesterday but I wasn't able to finish setting up my profile on the gallery. I'm not really sure (wear vs defect). I'm waiting for a password reset to get the gallery issue resolved. Thanks for commenting.
Ken

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Sun Mar 11, 2018 5:21 pm

http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY2/ma ... alNumber=3

http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY2/ma ... alNumber=3

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Sun Mar 11, 2018 5:52 pm

Blue Elevator wrote:http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=29149&g2_serialNumber=3

http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY2/ma ... alNumber=3


Here the pics straight from your Gallery album to have higher resolution.
ImageImage

Ken, since maple boards are generally lacquered, this is the kind of stuff you can see at times. If you would play the you-know-what out of an instrument with maple board, the lacquer completely disappears and you see the typical grayish color. This damage looks more like blisters, which can be due to several reasons, ranging from trapped humidity underneath the finish to stresses due to temperature variations. But I wouldn't worry about it.

- Jos

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Sun Mar 11, 2018 6:11 pm

Thank you, Jos

I appreciate it.

Ken

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Mon Mar 12, 2018 8:52 am

yowhatsshakin wrote:
... This damage looks more like blisters, which can be due to several reasons, ranging from trapped humidity underneath the finish to stresses due to temperature variations. But I wouldn't worry about it.

- Jos


It looks to me like the marks left by left-hand fingernails longer than they need to be.

--Al Evans

Re: Finish or lacquer peeling on fretboard

Mon Mar 12, 2018 10:20 am

Thanks, Al

You may be right. It was really hard for me to tell based upon the pictures whether it was some finish issue or fingernail damage. In either case, I decided to pass on purchasing the subject guitar.

Thank you and everyone for all for your input!

Ken