Opinions on this Es345 fretboard please

peteri

Is it me or does the grain pattern on this early 60s 345 fretboard look wrong and actually seem to match more the dust in the cavity?

https://i.imgur.com/KVjTVFI.jpg

guitars4you

would like to see more - I see what you mean - looks more scruffy than anything actually wrong - Can you show first 3-5 frets at the other end - maybe not as dark as I've seen before, but might need some lemon oil

peteri

https://i.imgur.com/fKDCDpZ.jpg

Thanks here you go

meltedbuzzbox

Looks like it needs a damn good clean to me

guitars4you

peteri said:

https://i.imgur.com/fKDCDpZ.jpg

Thanks here you go

almost looks a different colour - must be some  aspect of light and angle of pic - Looks far more 'dark chocolate' colour - Don't see anything wrong, but can you see a lot of QC issues on the inlays etc, which is normal - Looks more like it needs a good clean and lemon oil to 'refresh'

peteri

Thanks Mark, that's good to know - I've asked the seller for another picture, which hopefully means he'll hoover up first

WezV

looks to me like chips have been filled with rosewood dust and glue right by that end bit of binding

peteri

WezV said:

looks to me like chips have been filled with rosewood dust and glue right by that end bit of binding

Good spot!

I wonder if the fretboard has been off tbh

jimmyguitar

If you’re in the market for a 60’s 345 Richard Henry has just listed a 64 at a pretty good price, not sure if it has any issues..

jimmyguitar

And yes, I second the ‘filled chips’ theory on this one. Nothing wrong with that if that’s the only issue I guess. 

guitars4you

peteri said:

Thanks Mark, that's good to know - I've asked the seller for another picture, which hopefully means he'll hoover up first

send me an e-mail (  mark@guitars4you.co.uk   ) - I've recently acquired a 'restored players grade' ES345 from 1961 - So I can show you some pics of that - Steve Robinson restored it for me - We needed to 'repair' some finger nail repair/wear

Strat_a_tat_tat

Would chips have occurred when it was refretted?

guitars4you

peteri said:

https://i.imgur.com/fKDCDpZ.jpg

Thanks here you go

looking at that again - It might be just a reflection of the light - look between T and E on the Stereo truss rod cover and then 'run a line' below the low E tuner - has it had a break as it looks like a crease on the truss rod cover and facia - As I said it might just be light/reflection