Fingers Sticking To Fretboard

[David K]

Hi — I have been practicing 2-string bends like in EP184. I expect resistance from the tension of the strings (obviously), but I feel like my fingers are getting “stuck” on the surface of the fretboard. I feel like there must be something I can do to enable my fingers to more easily glide along the fretboard when bending, like perhaps cleaning or waxing the fretboard.

Your insights and advice will be appreciated!

[Vorocnan]

Hi David

Could be your frets need a good clean, also if the guitar has not been used much on the fret you are trying to bend then the metal fret could be rough and causing resistance.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Planet-Waves-PW-LMN-Lemon-Oil/dp/B000BNSYHW/ref=sr_1_1/253-6315240-8543505?ie=UTF8&qid=1483378873&sr=8-1&keywords=lemon+oil+fretboard

[sunjamr]

My son has a Fender Strat with the rosewood fretboard. I have a Fender Strat with a varnished maple fretboard. The difference in bending notes on the two guitars is huge. The varnished maple neck is very slick and offers almost no resistance. The fretboard is literally as smooth as a mirror. The rosewood feels gritty and I can actually feel the grain of the wood causing friction against my bends. I decided that if I ever buy a guitar with a Rosewood or other unvarnished fretboard, I will go ahead and varnish it straight away.

Sunjamr Steve

[Billy]

Your rosewood fretboard needs cleaned and fed with lemon oil or hydrate of some sort, Loads of how to’s on youtube which cover this, but if you are not confident enough to tackle the job yourself than take your guitar to your local luthier/guitar tech..

Billy

..Billy..

[David K]

All,

Thank you for all the advice so far. I should have clarified in my original post that my guitar has a lacquered maple neck (Gibson S-1). After reading the replies so far, I realized that this is probably important information, as there has been some talk of treating rosewood fretboards.

[Billy]

All,

Thank you for all the advice so far. I should have clarified in my original post that my guitar has a lacquered maple neck (Gibson S-1). After reading the replies so far, I realized that this is probably important information, as there has been some talk of treating rosewood fretboards.

In that case, i would still suggest cleaning your fret board, Zippo lighter fuel is possibly the handiest cleaner available to all of us, put a little on a cloth and clean between the frets to remove finger grime and dna…It possibly wouldn’t go wrong with a once over from a luthier and possibly in need of a service and a set up tweak..

Billy

..Billy..

[Maradonagol]

Is this a vintage 70’s S-1? If its maple then it should be as smooth as others described unless it needs some work due to age…..my maple necks….on strats…can seem sticky on a humid day but a very unusual event….love maple…..could be a technic problem or frets….hard too imagine anything else.

Roberto

Roberto

[Author]

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