Official Luthiers Forum!

About to start my first guitar, wish me luck! I've thoroughly studied Kinkead's book, Cumpeano's book, and O'brien's DVDs. I decided I wanted a bloodwood fretboard and bridge. I really like how a coat or two of polyurethane or something will really brighten up the color of bloodwood. I noticed, however, how all the sources I've looked at leave both the fretboard and bridge unfinished. Is there a reason for that? My only guess is that finish might dampen the sound (or if put on the bottom of the bridge, it could weaken the glue joint).

If I shouldn't use finish on the fretboard or bridge, any suggestions for getting that extra bang I want from the bloodwood?

It wears and ages poorly and significantly impedes serviceability. Fine for disposable instruments, but a real unnecessary pain on anything that may actually be worth maintaining.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

All the Classical guitar I finish have the Bridge finished also. On Electric guitars with maple fingerboards many builder still like lacquer on them, like an old Fender would have. If you like the look for your personal guitar then go for it. As a standard thing I would hold off.

Rub some Boiled Linseed oil on the Fretboard and bridge. It will help to bring out some of the color (although not near as glossy as with a finish). Try rubbing it on a scrap piece of bloodwood first and see if that's close to what you're looking for.

You can pick it up at Lowes or Home Depot in the Paint section.

Good luck on your first, and keep us posted along the way!

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Bloodwood, in my experience, does not hold fret tangs well. I'd advise you to put function first.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I would listen to Howard's advice for sure, because he is the man. But whatever wood you choose for your fretboard, I highly recomend you do not put anything other than oil on it. There are some good threads on this subject in the archives here. Good Luck!!!!

Thanks for the advise. I definitely want to go with function first, so it's good to know that a bloodwood fretboard is a little more difficult. I'll go with something else. I'm glad I asked.

I'll try just going with Linseed oil if I want something.

Just as info, I'm using as a base one of LMII's kits as suggested by Robert Obrien's DVD. I've also found Chris Paulik's YouTube videos helpful, which is actually how I found this forum. As a side note, I almost didn't find it anyway - the header is ridiculously large, I really don't like having to scroll all the way down.