How do you guys clean your maple fretboards?

dee rob · #1 01-12-2009, 01:43 PM

I did a search, but as the title says....how do you guys clean your maple fretboards? Thanks.

dee

Gard · #2 01-12-2009, 02:09 PM

Our maple and bird's eye maple fingerboards are finished, so we treat them just like the rest of the bass:

Good quality commercial guitar polish, soft cloth (I like old t-shirts, as long as they're 100% cotton).

dee rob · #3 01-12-2009, 02:36 PM

Thanks!

dee

J.Wolf · #4 01-12-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Our maple and bird's eye maple fingerboards are finished, so we treat them just like the rest of the bass:

Good quality commercial guitar polish, soft cloth (I like old t-shirts, as long as they're 100% cotton).

Do you use the polish before or after the BBQ sauce degreaser?

Gard · #5 01-12-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfbass1025

Do you use the polish before or after the BBQ sauce degreaser?

Shhhhh....don't let my trade secrets out!!!

Snaxster · #6 01-12-2009, 08:40 PM

LOL!

Whew... thank you, wolfbass. I needed a laugh.

Snaxster

CliffD · #7 01-12-2009, 09:29 PM

Mesquite or Honey???

Active Reasoner · #8 01-13-2009, 06:55 AM

I've worn through the finish on a few places of one of my maple fret boards. I wipe the grunge off after every time I play, but the wood is discolored at those spots. I kind of figured it's the nature of the beast, and just accepted it. Is there anything that will really clean it off ?

Active

Gard · #9 01-13-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Active Reasoner

I've worn through the finish on a few places of one of my maple fret boards. I wipe the grunge off after every time I play, but the wood is discolored at those spots. I kind of figured it's the nature of the beast, and just accepted it. Is there anything that will really clean it off ?

Active

That's a tough one...the quick answer is "no", once the dirt and finger oil get into the wood itself, there will be at least some stain/mark there, and short of defretting, resanding/releveling the fingerboard, and refretting, there isn't much you can do.

All you can do is do something to seal (there are several types of oils that will work) the areas that are affected and hope that it holds up, and keeps it from getting worse.

Wish I had a happier answer....

Snaxster · #10 01-13-2009, 09:41 AM

Hello, Active Reasoner. I bought a bottle of Fret Doctor recently, but I have yet to use it. I liked how this guy talked about oil and acoustical woods; a nice mix of science and nuttiness.

Since my one maple fingerboard is Diamondwood (on my LG-3005), I don't need to oil it. But when I try Fret Doctor on my other fingerboards, I will report on how it works.

Good luck!

Snaxster

JOME77 · #11 01-13-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Active Reasoner

I've worn through the finish on a few places of one of my maple fret boards. I wipe the grunge off after every time I play, but the wood is discolored at those spots. I kind of figured it's the nature of the beast, and just accepted it. Is there anything that will really clean it off ?

Active

The critical thing to do would be to reseal the wood but before you do, you might try some very lightly applied (and deluted) Clorox. It may slightly lighten the grain but in most cases it's much beter than the dirty stains.

CrashClint · #12 01-13-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

The critical thing to do would be to reseal the wood but before you do, you might try some very lightly applied (and deluted) Clorox. It may slightly lighten the grain but in most cases it's much beter than the dirty stains.

Wow, I have always heard in Georgia they use straight up Corn Liquer. Just find a Georgia Trash Can Party, as soon as you walk in the door look to the right and you will see a trash can filled with every type of alcohol on the planet. Just dip the neck in the trash can, it will put something on it tha Ajax won't take off, At this point it will be ready to seal.

Active Reasoner · #13 01-13-2009, 03:13 PM

Thanks everybody for the quick response. I thought that was what you all were going to say. Oh well, I guess she'll end up looking like EC's strat, 'Brownie', on the cover of his Eric Clapton album. Just kidding. I'm starting to see some pretty good wearing of the the frets now, so I'll probably have to refret before she ever gets that bad. Until then, it's cool, it gives her some character.

Active

JOME77 · #14 01-13-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashClint

Wow, I have always heard in Georgia they use straight up Corn Liquer. Just find a Georgia Trash Can Party, as soon as you walk in the door look to the right and you will see a trash can filled with every type of alcohol on the planet. Just dip the neck in the trash can, it will put something on it tha Ajax won't take off, At this point it will be ready to seal.

Careful man! If the moon shine gets on the neck it'll never play straight again!

Baird6869 · #15 01-14-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Active Reasoner

Oh well, I guess she'll end up looking like EC's strat, 'Brownie', on the cover of his Eric Clapton album.

People pay a fortune for fake relic-ing.

Worn out board due to actual usage? The real thing is always cooler IMO.

I wouldn't refin unless you are doing the refret.

P.S. I lightly use Ernie Ball Fretboard Conditioning Wonder Wipes for my maple boards.

Gard · #16 01-14-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baird6869

People pay a fortune for fake relic-ing.

Worn out board due to actual usage? The real thing is always cooler IMO.

I wouldn't refin unless you are doing the refret.

P.S. I lightly use Ernie Ball Fretboard Conditioning Wonder Wipes for my maple boards.

This is exactly my take on it: it's "character", means that it got played, which means it's a good instrument, one that the player WANTS to play a lot. It's the true sign of a great instrument - it's WORN.

dee rob · #17 01-27-2009, 03:38 PM

Come to think of it....my LG with a spalted purpleheart board is due for a good once over as well, any recommendations there? Thanks.

dee

skb5string · #18 01-28-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dee rob

Come to think of it....my LG with a spalted purpleheart board is due for a good once over as well, any recommendations there? Thanks.

dee

I just used a bit of Lemon Oil on my spalted Purple Heart board, really brought life back to the wood. I also hit the frets with a bit of "0" grade steel wool before the lemon oil. Looks, feels and sounds great!

dee rob · #19 02-02-2009, 06:20 PM

Thanks!

dee

tdmorley · #20 02-03-2009, 07:44 AM

Some kind of fungus seems to have attacked my spalted,
purplewood sapwood board. :-)