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Hello all,


I was wondering if there was a way to repair deep divots in a fingerboard caused by strings. I will probably do a partial refret . I was hoping maybe there is a way to fill as oposeded to replacing the board. If i refreted the whole board and sanded down first I still don't think I'd sand them out without going to deep. The board is three pieces. ebony/rosewood/ebony. The guitar is a Gibson MK72.

Thanks Brent

Here's what Frank Ford does. http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Frets/FBoardDivot/fboardivot.html

_________________
Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Thanks Ken, looks good

Brent

I have used the same method as Frank for many years, but I have never found it to be totally satisfactory. On ebony boards, using dust from the board itself will get a proper color match, but the patch almost always ends up being too shiny, particularly after some playing. And in rosewood, you get dark brown spots that don't show the proper grain.
If the guitar warrants it, I rout the groove from fret to fret, making a rectangular channel about 1/16" deep. I then inlay matching wood. If the wood is matched well and the sides of the channel are underneath the strings, it is almost impossible to detect.
BTW, the grooves are almost always caused by the fingernails, not the strings. The wear is usually between the strings, not under them.

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John