Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've got a 2002 Jetglo 330 which is starting to show some tarnishing on the fret ends. The varnish is swelling up and becomes brittle enough that I can scrape it off with a fingernail. Now I don't really care that there's no varnish over the fret ends - it's not like they're sharp or protruding or anything. I'm just wondering if there might be any long-term ill effects if I just leave this alone and scrape the varnish off the fret ends when it swells up from the tarnishing. I haven't got much in the way of funds (buying this guitar alone nearly broke the bank for me, but I just had to have it) so I don't think I can afford to take it in to get it refinished properly, but at the same time, I don't want to screw up an awesome guitar by failing to do something while it's not too late... figured I'd ask the experts on here. Sorry the pics aren't the best (camera phone is all I have right now) but you can kinda see the fret ends are green/blue-ish and the varnish is swelled up.

I doubt it would hurt the guitar in any way.

If you move this to the vibrola section, you may get more results, just PM a mod and they will do it for you.

That's quite common and usually causes no problems. It's always best to keep an eye on things like that though, just in case.

Most guitars are born without finish in these areas anyway...

The tarnish will spread over time. If the varnish on the fretboard isn't especially thick, you can trim along the fret/fretboard joint with a new #11 Exacto blade, carefully, and peel the varnish off the entire fret. Then use something like Nev-R-Dull wadding or Simichrome polish, to remove the remaining green junk and polish the frets to a mirror shine. This will also protect the frets somewhat.

The only other alternative is to refinish the board, which will include a fret polish and will seal the fret-to-fretboard joint like new.

Interesting- I had just recently noticed that the fret ends on my 2010 370/12 appear to be bright, emerald green UNDER the varnish coating. The guitar is still pretty much as new and has never ever been wet (although here in the PNW it is more humid than in Cal.). I s'pose I could X-acto off the varnish, then polish away the bright green (think Brian Setzer Sparkle green and you're close) that's on the end of the fret, and then perhaps use some clear nail polish to recoat the fret end, but I do wonder how the green got there before the clear coat? Otherwise, would my idea work?

I'll bring a pic to NAMM and show it around at the Ric booth if anyone's curious.

Your idea would work.

The fret tops don't have varnish, so any sort of corrosive vapor or sweat can leak down between the varnish and the fret end and incubate in the space, and the result is the green you describe.

This is most common on fret ends because frets shrink most along their length, and the shrinkage and expansion breaks the bond between the varnish and the fret at the ends.

Thanks Paul... I'll try it after the weekend. Will you be at the Ric booth any time over the show?

I'll be at the RIC booth on Friday and Saturday most of both days. Stop by and say hey.

Will do!