Scratch-X and my 4003FL

[cassius987]

Just a tip to those of us interested in keeping the finish on the fingerboard happy:

A few months ago I noticed that there was a black film on the fingerboard where the strings strike it, especially near the first few semitones by the nut. Not really causing any problems, but unsightly. However, I recently decided to change the pickups and when I did I took the strings off and gave the bass another Scratch-X/Zymol treatment. But I also thought to try the Scratch-X on the fingerboard for the first time. Voila! With a Turtle Wax applicator, all of the grunge disappeared in seconds, and the finish on the fingerboard looks brand new!

I hope this account helps others who may have had similar issues. Obviously implicit thanks is owed to Paul W, for sharing his like of Scratch-X and other useful polishes. A lot of us here have benefited because of that.

[rickenbrother]

I love using the Scratch-X and Zymol on my Rick bass fingerboards including the FL's.
I prefer string to fingerboard tone as opposed to string to fingerboard gunk tone!

I'm also constantly cleaning my bass strings for best tone and string life, though I have found out that I prefer the opposite for the flatwound strings on my FL's. I prefer the tone on my FL flatwound strings if I DON'T clean them!

[doctorwho]

I do use that combination on the fretboard when I am doing a major clean-up of a gutar or bass. If the frets are really cruddy, though, I first clean them with Maas metal cleaner/polish (after protecting the fretboard with masking tape).

[rickenbrother]

I do use that combination on the fretboard when I am doing a major clean-up of a gutar or bass. If the frets are really cruddy, though, I first clean them with Maas metal cleaner/polish (after protecting the fretboard with masking tape).

I routinely clean the fingerboards of my Ricks so they don't get anywhere near that point. But sometimes when buying one used, the fingerboards can be really nasty, as well as the rest of the guitar. I'd be too embarrassed to sell a guitar to someone in such nasty condition.
I'll give the Maas metal cleaner a try if I ever get one that nasty again. I've used Buckaroo Cymbal Polish on the frets (same stuff as Nevr Dull) with the fingerboard taped off and have gotten very good results.

[cassius987]

Good info about fret cleaner... but the wrong forum!

My fretless is playing absolutely amazing right now. With the HB-1s and LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats, it's performing perfectly for me*... but as you all probably know, the "little details" like removing fingerboard gunk also go towards an owner feeling better about her or his instrument. And I would imagine that maintaining that finish and keeping it healthy will keep the wood from drying out over the decades and contribute to its longevity.

*One of the HB-1s is defective, sadly, but that doesn't keep me from seeing how good the bass itself is doing. And the working pickup in the treble position sounds amazing and is sort of an excuse for me to use the ROS jack and get a better impedance loading on the pickup... the whole thing sounds incredible. I can't wait until I get the neck pickup up and running of course.

[rickenbrother]

Good info about fret cleaner... but the wrong forum!

There might wind up being some well kept secrets in this forum! [/quote]

*One of the HB-1s is defective, sadly, but that doesn't keep me from seeing how good the bass itself is doing. And the working pickup in the treble position sounds amazing and is sort of an excuse for me to use the ROS jack and get a better impedance loading on the pickup... the whole thing sounds incredible. I can't wait until I get the neck pickup up and running of course.

What's wrong with it? Have you checked the wires?

[cassius987]

It's almost certainly the magnet. The resistance reads through loud and clear through the whole circuit, all the way down to the mono plug tip+sleeve. But there is no output. I guessed it might be the magnet, and Blue Angel on the RIC forum commented that it likely is. I bought it new very recently so I'm hoping RIC will help me with a replacement of some sort or will be willing to replace the magnet. And for the record... the pickup was never dropped. At least not while it was in my possession.

It's okay for the time being, because the other pickup sounds wonderful.