I think the main issue with an unlacquered - or unfinished in any way - maple board is that it'll get visibly dirty quite quickly.

Not just from your fingers, but the strings as well!

Also, a bit of finish on a flamed maple board can really make it "wow".

The only disadvantage that springs to mind is the hassle of applying the finish to the fretboard.

Personally I prefer oiled fretboards to work on and definitely to play on. Most bolt ones gave lacquered and do not play well until a number of hours of use...only my opinion.

A lot more work to built too?

Thanks for the replies @TV1 and @Deej. Was hoping Mark would have a take on this.

I have been looking through interweb and it seems people are suggesting a few coats of TRU-OIL on maple fretboards.

This as well as being very expensive seems to be mainly sold for guns, so not sure if there is anything else that is specifically for guitars / wood.

Axeminster are selling a "Liberon Finishing Oil" that is resistant to water, alcohol and food acid etc so this sounds as if it would fit the bill.

Anyone tried anything like this?

This as well as being very expensive seems to be mainly sold for guns, so not sure if there is anything else that is specifically for guitars / wood.

I've used Tru-Oil on guitar woods - it's not *just* for gun stocks, though it is very popular for those too.

A maple fretboard won't absorb much oil (of any kind).  The smallest bottle of it is about £12, and will be way more than you'll need for one neck.  So, not hugely expensive really.

But, oil (of any kind) won't give you the same amount of protection as a lacquered finish.  The oil will wear more easily and faster and so your protection from moisture/dirt (which is why you're applying it) will not be as long-lasting.  Sure, you can then re-apply it, but you'd have to make sure that you remove all traces of dirt from the fretboard before applying new coats of oil.  Which will be a pita!

How much that's a problem will depend on how much you play the guitar.  If you're going to be playing pro-level amounts, then the oil finish will wear through in weeks/months.  If you're going to pick up the guitar for an hour every week or so, then it's obviously going to last a lot longer.

If oiling was the cheaper/easier/better option, then Fender would use it on their maple-necked Teles & Strats.  They don't.

I generally avoid maple fretboards on my builds because it's easier to finish other types of wood.

Thanks Again @tv1

Looks like its lacquering then 😀. I prefer a satin type finish on the necks, so I think that should still work on the fretboard

I presume you would still need a sanding sealer coat underneath to start the spraying process off. I don't know if there is the need for the grain filler on maple though

@mikeyrjiom Here is my contribution to this conversation about finishes on maple fretboards. Hope it helps and saves you some time and effort. 👍

I presume you would still need a sanding sealer coat underneath to start the spraying process off. I don't know if there is the need for the grain filler on maple though

@mikeyrjiom This is covered in the finishing course, check out the whole thing, it’s a good overview of paint/lacquer/clear finishing. 👍

Here is my contribution to this conversation about finishes on maple fretboards

That is brilliant @boo.  

Nice vid @boo. Got to agree with you on that...it’s why I prefer ebony, rosewood or other dark boards.

@tv101 and @deej Thanks. I experimented and it didn’t work so it’s only right that I pass that knowledge on so others won’t (maybe 🤣) make the same mistake. 
I have avoided spraying maple fretboards because of the frets, I was unsure of what to do. Now I’ve watched Mark’s finishing course, I will now take on spraying them. It means my scope of materials (wood) has now increased, I am not limiting myself any more. 
Like I said, taking note of what the bigger boys have done before us (Fender, Gibson etc) is a good start, they figured it all out so we don’t have to. 

Good job @boo, thanks for the vid. 👍

Thanks  @boo 

The video was very useful.

Just need to find the part on the finishing course that talks about how Lewis sprayed @rashdown_online (Roland's) guitar neck.

Thanks  @boo 

The video was very useful.

No problem 👍

how Lewis sprayed @rashdown_online (Roland's) guitar neck

Not sure if that'll be on there (likely not professional enough). The reason I say that is that the only way I can think that a mortal completed that job was when Carol told Lewis the "difference between a Buffalo and a Bison" joke whilst Lewis had a mouthful of Irn-Bru, and sprayed the Irn-Bru over the neck/fingerboard at the punchline.

Irn-Bru, you see, is the beverage/liquid of Champions.

Irn-Bru, you see, is the beverage/liquid of Champions.

It is in Scotland @rashdown_online loved having some of that sat on a bench in Ayr at my last Bailey workshop with Bones (aka David Young) having fish and chips looking out to see in the sun with a can of Irn-Bru.

quite a treat for a “southerner”..! 

sat on a bench in Ayr at my last Bailey workshop with Bones (aka David Young) having fish and chips looking out to see in the sun with a can of Irn-Bru.

@deej That sound pretty idyllic to me. Tis but a dream for me atm. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

looking out to see in the sun

@Deej ... like this?

like this?

@tv101 Stop it, your making me cry. 🥲😢😭🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

 

@Deej ... like this?

Exactly like that...