Spring Cleaning- instrument wise

**Bipslapper** · #1 03-27-2010, 09:45 AM

Hey 'heads,
I have been fortunate to land a beautiful used Roscoe LG and now going to put on a new set of strings and want to clean the instrument. What do you guys (hint hint- Saints fanatic), recommend for cleaning? I have Gibson Lemon Oil, however I have heard pros & cons on using it. My wood combos are:
LG 3006
Spalted Pinline Maple top
Spanish Cedar body
Natural finish
Aguilar 3-band preamp
Bartolini pickups
Cocobolo fingerboard
Ivory nut
Black hardware

Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks, Pete

JOME77 · #2 03-27-2010, 09:54 AM

Pete,
Lemon oil is fine to use on your finger board. I started using something called "Hydrate" fingerboard conditioner available from Stew-Mac. It works good too.

Here's a couple of threads where someone asks Gard pretty much the same question:

How do you guys clean your maple fretboards?

Maintenance

**Bipslapper** · #3 03-27-2010, 10:13 AM

Thanks Joe. I've never had cococola wood but figure lemon oil should be ok. For the body; damp cloth with water, any other cleaners? Got to be careful not to get the bass chemically dependent!

Gard · #4 03-27-2010, 11:09 AM

Lemon oil = not a good choice.

There are several products available that are better for cleaning/sealing/hydrating (oiling) your fingerboard. In my experience, lemon oil dries the wood.

I suggest steel wooling (with 0000 steel wool, ONLY), then a very light coat of this:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting...xst=3&xsr=2705

This is what I would do for any open-pore, unfinished fingerboard. If you have maple, just use polish, as it has a finish on it.

**Ryan L.** · #5 03-27-2010, 11:14 AM

^So is that what you'd recommend for the wenge board on mine, too?

And I won't need to worry about it on the BEM board on the 6 string, I guess.

Addison · #6 03-28-2010, 01:39 PM

Based upon Gard's recommendation, I bought the StewMac Fretboard Finishing Oil and am SOLD... VERY good stuff and I can't imagine using anything else at this point.

When I ordered it, I also ordered StewMac's "Preservation Polish" and can also recommend it HIGHLY for everything else on your bass.

Here's the link...

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishin...&xst=3&xsr=391

Both items are quality and do an amazing job preserving the woods and finishes, while getting all the grime to come off.

Gard · #7 03-29-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan L.

^So is that what you'd recommend for the wenge board on mine, too?

And I won't need to worry about it on the BEM board on the 6 string, I guess.

Yup, and yup.

....Addison, glad that stuff worked out for you!

**Bipslapper** · #8 06-09-2010, 03:50 PM

Gard, I am a little soft in the head (duh). I took Addison's advice and bought some Preservation polish. I know I can use it for the polyester finishes, but what about my Century Standard body? I believe that has an oil finish???? Also, with the maple fingerboard would you suggest it on the board as well. Raining tonight and it's time to put on a new set of BB's on A009 and want to spiff em' up a bit.

FWIW- I also bought the fretboard finishing oil, but shouldn't use that on the maple boards, correct>
Thanks,
Pete