Revitalize Your Fretboard 

Hey All, I am finally making my rounds to this month’s Blog.  Last month, I searched for some cheap and practical ways to make your recording space sound better with just a few upgrades. This month I want to focus on something a little different. Guitars and Basses. I have been so enamored with fixing up my own stuff that I just had to blog about it. These cool DIY techniques can really help your instruments play at their best or if you do not play an instrument, you may be able to help somebody who does. First thing is first. We need to establish some basic concepts of the instrument. On an electric guitar or bass, there is a neck, a body, a headstock, bridge, nut, saddles, pickups etc. Guitar Anatomy All of these different components make a Fender sound different from a Gibson or a Spector sound different from a Music Man.  One thing that all of these instrument have in common is the tendency for the fret board to get corroded from sweat dirt and oil, and frets that get worn down and indented from constantly being pressed against by the strings. These factors can be severely detrimental to the instrument’s sound. There is a simple remedy that I have found for restoring your instrument’s look and performance. After the strings come off, take some painter’s tape and tape between each fret all the way down the entire length of the fret board. Make sure to cover just the wood sections of the fret board and not the frets themselves. Once this is completed, take 180- 220 grit sandpaper and lightly sand each fret until no makes are shown. Remove the tape and apply some natural lemon oil or Guitar Honey to the fret board. Try to avoid using Pledge or any other commercial solvent because the chemicals are not good for the wood fibers. Once you replace you strings, intonate, and adjust the action, You should have yourself a decent sounding guitar or bass. I have heard $100 dollar guitars sound absolutely incredible using this technique. Guitar Setup, Maintenance and Repair