Hi guys - this will sound like a dumb question - but if you don’t know…you don’t know (meaning me !!).
I want to gently put some shine back onto my frets, so was hoping to use a Dadarrio product (they do not need any major treatment, just a bit of polishing). Am planning to mask off the rosewood board first, but before I do - can someone advise if I am ok to use low tack masking tape (typical stuff used in decorating) ?
Or could that leave grease/glue/white residue in the rosewood grain ? I don’t want to use anything that may contaminate a beautiful fretboard.
As always - many thanks for some steering !
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Even if it does leave residue, it can be removed easily. The most stubborn residue from years old masking tape can be removed easily with a bit of white spirit.
If you want it to be lower tack, stick it to your t-shirt first.
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If you’ll forgive me for a partial thread derailment @SPECTRUM001, I’m going to buy a Squier Affinity Tele for my son to take to university. The ones I’ve played have decent fretwork - except for the lack of a final polish. Would the various commercially available products be sufficient for dealing with this, or do I really need to pay to have done by a pro?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Micro-Mesh-Soft-Touch-Variety-Pack/dp/B000H6EC4C/ref=asc_df_B000H6EC4C/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=256007919056&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10010203213096675116&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045715&hvtargid=pla-406644622055&psc=1
Work up through the grits, the fact that they are foam backed means youre unlikely to change the shape of the fret.
Yellow frogtape is pretty nice to use and the price isnt bad if youre only doing one job.
My hesitation derives from other threads I have read about the difficulty removing white residue in rosewood grain once embedded (I don’t know how true this is).
Polishing frets makes a guitar feel awesome (assuming everything else in good shape).
If you have an old nitro finish with lots of checking, sometimes masking tape can lift little slivers of nitro, so tread carefully.
I'm also careful not to wrap the tape over the edges of the board and around the back of the neck now. I just leave it hanging loose at the edge of the board.
I've always used masking tape and the cheap stuff (or stuff that's been in the shed for years) always leaves more residue. It's easy enough to get off, just a hassle.
There is a type of frog tape (yellow?) which is for more delicate surfaces and works well.
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