Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all,

This is my first time on this site and after looking through some existing posts to see if I could find an answer to my question, I realized that I've come to the right place. However, the website design has a major flaw. I almost thought there wasn't actually a forum because the brown banners look like the top and bottom of the page so I almost didn't scroll down. So, if someone in a position of power sees this, that is a change I think should be considered.

Anyways, my question is: what is a typical finishing process for a fretboard? I assume I want to sand it to a very fine grit like 1500 or so but are oils or lacquers or anything like that used on fretboards? I'm working on my first electric guitar neck and I'm using mahogany for the neck, walnut for the fretboard, and manzanita for the nut and truss rod cover, any tips for these woods specifically would also be appreciated. Sidenote, manzanita is gorgeous.

Best Regards,
SomeDudeOnline

Walnut is a little soft for a fretboard, and it will need some type of finish.
Rosewood and ebony fretboards are typically left unfinished.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Thanks Roger,

In researching I've noticed a lot of people use TruOil for necks and bodies, is that something you would recommend for my walnut fretboard?

SDO

Dude,
I have begun using truoil on Mesquite fretboards. I don't how it will hold up, but it looks great.
I have used wipe-on poly for Pecan and Maple boards. They seem to be holding up very well.
Tried lacquer once, it was a mess.
The headstock and fretboard on this one is truoil.
Dan

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Ditto the TruOil. Works great on fretboards.

Cool! Thanks everyone

at the same stage somedudeonline .. i watch on with great interest