Discoloration on a SE fretboard

[EveryAxeAGem]

Wiped a tiny spot of fretboard on my brand new SE Tremonti Custom with a damp cloth to remove some stray fret polish. Was disappointed to see the dark rosewood actually lose its darkness. Yeah, looks like it was originally dyed to appear darker. Anybody else have that experience?

Would not have been surprised if it was a Chinese made epiphone. But a Korean PRS SE....

 

[Egads]

Could it be that the board is just really dry?maybe try a rosewood conditioner (lemon oil?).

 

[EveryAxeAGem]

Could it be that the board is just really dry?maybe try a rosewood conditioner (lemon oil?).

But the discoloration occurred only after my wiping with a damp cloth, over a matter of seconds. It was not there before.

 

[justmund]

Is it possible the "stray fret polish" had anything to do with it? It may have stripped the oil out of the rosewood. I had a IRW necked 513 that saw a lot of outside gigs, the rosewood lost a lot of it's darkness but a quick dab with Fret Doctor and it went back to it's original colour.

Also, I've had 3 x SEs pass through my hands and have never encountered what happened with yours.

If you wipe the rest of the board with a damp cloth, what happens then?

 

[Duffy]

Figured rosewood fretboards are appreciated by many. The ones with the lighter stripes can look very nice. I agree that some lemon oil could darken the board and eliminate your concerns.

 

[Dave Horch]

What happens if you re-wet that area?

 

[EveryAxeAGem]

What happens if you re-wet that area?

I suspect the same thing will happen. The cloth that wipes the board comes off with a black stain. I've applied lemon oil yesterday. Be it water or oil, the cloth gets stained. I guess it's a dye of sorts to make the board darker.

 

[EveryAxeAGem]

My other two SE's, a Bernie and a ZM, are not so afflicted. Problem aside, they're all beautiful and fantastic to the hands though. An SE is already up there. Yet beyond that you have S2s, cores, artists, private stocks, collection series. IT. IS. CRAZY.

Matter of time before the world catches on to this wizardry. Haha wish I could buy PRS shares!!!

 

[CantankerousCarl]

I have seen this a few times on some of the older SEs I have revived over the years - but I am pretty sure it was dirt / grime given the condition of those axes when I got them.

Never really felt the need to clean a new one. Next time I change the strings on my ZM SE I will hit her with the PRS fretboard conditioner and see if anything discolors. That board is on the lighter side so we shall see, folks.