Tube Screamer PCB Question

[robotboy]

My friend just gave me her tubescreamer yesterday because her 9V battery snap needed replacing. I had no problem replacing it, but I did notice something in the process. When the original soldering was done, it appears that solder was applied to all copper traces on the PCB. I'm about to embark on etching some of my own PCBs, and I was wondering if this was the standard way of doing things. I had been thinking that solder was only applied where the components are joined to the board, but now I'm wondering if you're supposed to solder all the traces?

[RedHouse]

Doesn't matter, either way will get a functioning unit.

Applying solder (tinning) the traces does help prevent the copper from turning green (corrosion) after a while though.

There are other coatings one can use usually known as "conformal coatings".

[robotboy]

OK, thanks!