Choosing a guitar fretboard

Fingerboard plays a key role in guitar neck design, as it can create a more spacious sound and additional resonance characteristics. For the correct selection of a guitar fretboard, you need to familiarize yourself with the parameters and types of wood used for its manufacture, as well as study the rules for caring for the surface of guitar parts.

A fingerboard on a guitar is a part of a string instrument, presented in the form of a long rectangular plate of wood, which is glued to the top of the neck from the front. Often equipped with mortise marks. Some guitar models use a solid piece of wood for the neck and fretboard.

The sound of a guitar instrument is formed due to the combination of acoustic properties of structural parts... This important element first receives the vibration from the frets and then transmits it through the fretboard.

The bend of the fretboard can be adjusted with a truss rod inserted into the neck on steel string models. If you pull the anchor harder, the bend will be less, if you loosen it, it increases. In classic models with a slight bend, equipped with nylon strings, there is usually no need to change the tension.

The protective pad is designed to protect the guitar body from mechanical damage with a pick or fingers, to protect the guitar deck from scratches. Allows you to keep the original polish of the structure. Attaches under the resonator hole on the top deck.

The softening pads on the guitar perform the function of protecting the body from impacts and deformation, which is especially important for aggressive playing styles, and also serve as a designer decoration for the guitar model. You can choose the appropriate size, shape and color scheme.

It is customary to make guitar pads from rosewood, maple and ebony. A prerequisite is the use of hardwood. Modern guitar models can use carbon fiber as a fretboard material.

Maple This fretboard allows you to reproduce a rich sound with a pronounced sustain and rich dense tone during attack. The lack of sound is glass overtones and a specific high frequency sound.

Texture rosewood has a softer elastic sound with a developed mid-range. This wood is characterized by a grainy and porous structure, which makes it easier to control the movement of the string, but complicates the technique of playing the game. This pickup is suitable for guitars with both single coil pickups and humbuckers.

Material from ebony combines the advantages of maple and rosewood. Mainly used in the manufacture of non-fret guitars. The sound structure becomes even. Has simultaneously pronounced middle and deep bass frequencies, as well as ringing overtones.

However, the tree is recognized as an endangered species., therefore, its use significantly increases the value of the guitar, but is highly regarded by collectors. The models are made in black or a shade of variable grain.

Overlays made of oak have sufficient rigidity and good sound, differ in the availability of material, but now they are rarely used due to the likelihood of cracking, sap and sound characteristics that do not correspond to the preferences of many musicians.

When choosing a fretboard for the neck, first of all, you should focus on the material, the shape of the bend, and evaluate your own feelings when playing.

The response of the strings is determined by the density of the material, which affects the sound produced. And also the width, thickness and length of the used lining affect the timbre of a musical instrument. It can be fretted or fretted, like bass guitars. The shape of the part depends on the radius and is divided into flat, cylindrical, conical and mixed.

Fretboard dimensions are measured by its radius and are selected depending on the model and type of instrument. So, for acoustics, the standard neck width is 43 mm. The radius of the lining is made in various variations.

The bass requires the installation of heavy woods, but this tends to shorten the sustain and create a heavy load at the expense of the heavy weight of the instrument.

Dirt, sweat and sebum will build up on the fretboard after prolonged play. In order for the guitar to retain its original appearance and sound character for a longer time, it is necessary to promptly clean and take care of its surface.... Purchase a guitar cleaner to clean the fretboard.

The main preventive measure for maple and rosewood parts is to wipe the fretboard with a dry cloth at intervals of several hours while playing. In addition, it is recommended to wipe the tool part every 2 weeks with a damp cloth with a drop of detergent added. Additionally, rosewood needs to be moistened with oil.

For ebony characterized by durability and wear resistance, the neck must be cleaned with a dry white cloth. Sometimes the fretboard should be treated with a special oil, paying special attention to the places near the frets.

To give the lacquered surface a shine, it is worth using a special liquid for the care of the varnish, and then wipe it with a polishing cloth.