Using Montypresso on a SR300e Fretboard

[fergs40]

I recently picked up an immaculate 2024 pearl white SR300e (for €150!) as I’ve long been curious to try an Ibanez bass and this seemed as good (and as cheap) a place to start as any.

 

I’ve got it fitted with a GK3B pickup and the combination of this with the onboard pickups is sounding mighty fine. To me, anyway - I guess I haven’t conducted a poll…

 

Anyway, to the point of this post. The one thing I’m not 100% sold on with the bass is the fretboard - it’s more red than I think I’d like it to be. Plus it’s an opportunity to tinker with an otherwise fine instrument, and who could turn that down?

 

I’ve previously had reasonable success using Montypresso wax to darken/brownen the fretboards on an Epiphone Casino (yes, I know…) and the Squier Precision I deblinged recently (see build diaries). However, both those have neck binding and glossy neck finishes, meaning it didn’t matter how sloppy I was with the wax (and it can be sloppy stuff), I was only going to stain the wood of the fretboard.

 

The SR300 is slightly different - see pic.

 

Two potential problems:

1. As there’s no binding I need to make sure the side of the fretboard is stained as well as the top. Otherwise it will look silly.

2. But as the finish on the back of the neck is satin/matt I’m not sure whether or not the wax will also stain this. Which would also look silly.

 

So, I’m wondering if I need to mask off the rest of the neck for this job. Sadly this introduces a level of tedium which probably outweighs my aversion to the redness. I know, no dedication to the craft…

 

Anyway, what thinks the collective?

[PaulThePlug]

Loves an SR... a strip of masking tape along each edge can't be that arduous.

I don't mind a lighter Rosewood, Pau Ferro etc - more woody than a dark fretboard - all the dark fretboards just look the same.