Best way to remove tape from fingerboard?

[rbenson]

I'm the proud new owner of a lightly used and beautifully set up Christopher DB103. On the ebony fingerboard are two pieces of cellophane transparent tape that were used as markers. What is the best way to remove the tape and any remaining residue? Thanks!

[etherealme]

Goo gone? Oil based. I know this stuff worked great for goo, and is non-abrasive. Should clean up after ok. Someone else confirm this?

https://magicamerican.com/googone.aspx

[powerbass]

+1 googone

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by rbenson

I'm the proud new owner of a lightly used and beautifully set up Christopher DB103. On the ebony fingerboard are two pieces of cellophane transparent tape that were used as markers. What is the best way to remove the tape and any remaining residue? Thanks!

I take a lot of tape off violin and cello fingerboards at the store and I use a thin guitar pick and naphtha - lighter fluid.

[rbenson]

Thanks to all. I give it a try this week.

[fdeck]

I got a second hand 1/4 size violin for my daughter. Genuine Nagoya Suzuki brand, with plastic pegs and all. It was just covered in tape goo. There were tapes on top of tapes on the fingerboard, and on the bow. There was a huge mass of moleskin surrounding the chinrest.

Goo-Gone took off all of the goo. However, it also took off the black paint that was on the fingerboard. That was a mess. I got it cleaned up to the point where the fiddle was playable, and my daughter made good use of it until she outgrew it.

QFT, see below.

[CPike]

+1 on Naptha, negative on Googone. Googone will melt the varnish is you're careless or accidentally drip it. Naptha won't, just make sure you wear gloves and use it in a well-ventilated area. Another reason not to use Googone: it's just plain messier.

cdp

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by fdeck

I got a second hand 1/4 size violin for my daughter. Genuine Nagoya Suzuki brand, with plastic pegs and all. It was just covered in tape goo. There were tapes on top of tapes on the fingerboard, and on the bow. There was a huge mass of moleskin surrounding the chinrest.

Goo-Gone Goof-Off took off all of the goo. However, it also took off the black paint that was on the fingerboard. That was a mess. I got it cleaned up to the point where the fiddle was playable, and my daughter made good use of it until she outgrew it.

Note in edit: Goof-Off contains a laundry list of solvents, at least 2 or 3 of which are probably unfriendly to instrument varnish. That's what I get for not reading the product label.

[robobass]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

I take a lot of tape off violin and cello fingerboards at the store and I use a thin guitar pick and naphtha - lighter fluid.

Lighter fluid is naptha? I never knew! Yeah, that's probably the best.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by robobass

Lighter fluid is naptha? I never knew! Yeah, that's probably the best.

Its sometimes handier to use it in the little spray tin rather than the gallon can!

[Jason Sypher]

quickly

[MDEbass]

Googone will also make your bass smell like googone.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

quickly

Like a Band-Aid?

[forester]

getting it on correctly is far harder than getting it off..

[Eric Swanson]

Naptha and a guitar pick. I buy it in the quart and the local hardware. Good for a lot of things...

[Simandl Fan]

Side topic- I never use tape for my middle school bass students. Instead, I use small dots of White Out on the side of the fingerboard where 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th positions are. Because they are on the side and not the front, only the student knows they are there, and you can easily rub them off with a fingernail.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by forester

getting it on correctly is far harder than getting it off..

Are we still discussing the removal of the tape?

[Bass]

Ha.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by Simandl Fan

Side topic- I never use tape for my middle school bass students. Instead, I use small dots of White Out on the side of the fingerboard where 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th positions are. Because they are on the side and not the front, only the student knows they are there, and you can easily rub them off with a fingernail.

Thank you!

[nemo]

Sticky tape and stickers residues are easily removed by regular cooking oil and cloth. Easy.