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IS because is a cheap guita or is because the wood?


sebastian76

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Rosewood fingerboards normally have a very grainy texture and can get stuff stuck in the groves like wax, you could try working a wood oil into the groves to darken it. I use tung oil or linseed oil the fingerboard, it needs care too just like the rest of the guitar but not wax it will turn white in the cracks

 

But if you want smooth you need a maple fingerboard or even try teac.

 

 

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Everything is made to a price point: the point at which the manufacturer, possibly a distributor, the shipper, and finally the retailer can make a decent profit. A standard Epiphone Casino goes for what, $650? How much can the build price per unit realistically be?

 

This is not meant to criticize the guitar. It's just a comment that one has to be realistic. It's a production line guitar from Epiphone with a retail price of $650, not a custom build from a boutique luthier like Crimson. I'm not sure that margins change much, just prices - in order to meet margins.

 

The white/yellow stuff looks like grain filler. Properly cured and finished, it's not going anywhere, and ought not negatively affect the playability. It is what it is.

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Everything is made to a price point: the point at which the manufacturer, possibly a distributor, the shipper, and finally the retailer can make a decent profit. A standard Epiphone Casino goes for what, $650? How much can the build price per unit realistically be?

 

This is not meant to criticize the guitar. It's just a comment that one has to be realistic. It's a production line guitar from Epiphone with a retail price of $650, not a custom build from a boutique luthier like Crimson. I'm not sure that margins change much, just prices - in order to meet margins.

 

The white/yellow stuff looks like grain filler. Properly cured and finished, it's not going anywhere, and ought not negatively affect the playability. It is what it is.

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What they said, and you may be able to clean this stuff out. Try an old toothbrush. I always try a soft one first, it helps that I have a kid so we have soft brushes around. But a firm plastic bristle one won't hurt the finish either.

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I'd hydrate the fret board with a good conditioner, (Guitar Honey or the like) the wood looks a tad dry.

 

 

btw.. I'd rather consider a guitar "inexpensive" verses cheap :) you can get a whole lot of guitar for not a whole lot of money these days.

 

nothing like when I was starting out in the late 60s. "inexpensive" guitars were typically an absolute nightmare to try and learn on.

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does it look dry? maybe is the pic as the guitar is new! -1 week- (well maybe it has been stored for months in the warehouse)

 

cheers

 

The first thing I usually do with a new guitar is replace the strings, hydrate the fret-board, and polish the frets.. your mileage may vary..

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Not every Chinese guitar is a cheapo. Eastman guitars are made in China, and they are extremely high-quality. I've seen plenty of Chinese Epiphones that were quality instruments as well.

 

And as others have pointed out, plenty of guitars --- both cheap and expensive --- can have grain filler in rosewood fingerboards that does not compromise either tone or playability.

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That is not compound residue, but mineral trapped in wood during its develop and yes, expensive guitars don’t have this minor issue cause have a better wood selection.

V

yes is what i thought ( about a better wood selection on expensive guitars). Is ,as you say,a minor issue ( toothbrush trick doesn't work, so I think is what you said, mineral trapped).

cheers

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does it look dry? maybe is the pic as the guitar is new! -1 week- (well maybe it has been stored for months in the warehouse)

 

cheers

 

 

Exactly, it could be in a dry or humid warehouse for a while, which is why the advice of oiling the fretboard and setting up the guitar is recommended so often. [thumbup]

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