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03-02-2013, 07:43 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ireland. | | | Cleaning the fingerboard...
Apologies if this ought be somewhere else or if it's previously been posted.
My fingerboard is getting increasingly dirty due to sweat and my hands are slowly turning a dark hulkish colour as a result. I've never bothered to clean it before but I'm determined to do so now, I'm sick of having dirty hands as a result of dirty playing!
If possible, could anyone recommend a good method of cleaning my fingerboard? Something that won't in turn ruin either the strings or wood... 
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03-02-2013, 09:23 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | | If it's ebony, alcohol. |
03-02-2013, 09:37 PM
|  | Yeah, I've got the moves like Jagger. | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: G.R. MI | | | I'd go for something that will condition the wood. Lemon oil, or maybe something like Fast Fret.
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Originally Posted by hover He's got the Moo OO OO OO OO OO OO OObs like Jagger.... | Quote:
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03-03-2013, 01:06 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg If it's ebony, alcohol. | Alcohol works great if you have a bunch of rosin caked on the strings and fingerboard, but you need to be careful with it. Only use 99% alcohol as repeated use of diluted alcohol can warp the wood. DO NOT let the alcohol come into contact with the varnish.
For normal cleaning, I'd rather use ultra fine steel wool. Grade 000 or 0000. Like this: http://www.amazon.com/0000-Steel-Woo.../dp/B001DT1U10 |
03-03-2013, 05:26 AM
|  | Registered Loser | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: St. Louis | | | Naptha. Then maintain your board with Fast Fret after EVERY time you play it.
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03-03-2013, 05:30 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: Fender Basses, Ampeg, Curt Mangan Strings | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Shore, Massachusetts | | | Most manufacturers recommend Pure Lemon Oil for rosewood and ebony fretboards. You can get it at Whole Foods and most bath and body type of stores.
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03-03-2013, 05:35 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ireland. | | | Cool, thanks for the good advice guys. I'll get on it. It's a Shen SB 100 (with ebony fingerboard) so I may try the alcohol. I'll probably try dampening a cloth with it, PaulCannon.
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The joy of music should never be interrupted by a commercial. ~Leonard Bernstein
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03-03-2013, 11:25 AM
|  | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur; Mem. #1, EPC | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | | If using alcohol, it would make sense to have the boar board re-oiled with one of the drying oils.
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Last edited by drurb : 03-03-2013 at 06:20 PM.
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03-03-2013, 11:32 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portsmouth, VA | | | Dunlop System 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit
The Dunlop System 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit contains 1 each of every Dunlop guitar care product: Formula 65 Polish, Bodygloss 65 Cream of Carnauba Wax, Ultraglide 65 String Saver, Fingerboard 01 Cleaner/Prep, Fingerboard 02 Conditioner, and 2 cotton polish cloths.NOTE: Fingerboard 01 Cleaner/Prep and Fingerboard 02 Conditioner are not for use with maple fingerboards.Includes:Formula 65 PolishBodygloss 65 Cream of Carnauba WaxUltraglide 65 String SaverFingerboard 01 Cleaner/PrepFingerboard 02 Conditioner2 cotton polish cloths |
03-03-2013, 12:01 PM
| | Registered User
Setup and repair/KRUTZ Strings | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron G Dunlop System 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit
The Dunlop System 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit contains 1 each of every Dunlop guitar care product: Formula 65 Polish, Bodygloss 65 Cream of Carnauba Wax, Ultraglide 65 String Saver, Fingerboard 01 Cleaner/Prep, Fingerboard 02 Conditioner, and 2 cotton polish cloths.NOTE: Fingerboard 01 Cleaner/Prep and Fingerboard 02 Conditioner are not for use with maple fingerboards.Includes:Formula 65 PolishBodygloss 65 Cream of Carnauba WaxUltraglide 65 String SaverFingerboard 01 Cleaner/PrepFingerboard 02 Conditioner2 cotton polish cloths | Paging Paul Warmbottom. 
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03-03-2013, 12:09 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | Quote:
Originally Posted by drurb If using alcohol, it would make sense to have the boar re-oiled with one of the drying oils. | Always good to keep your boar oiled! 
Last edited by Eric Hochberg : 03-03-2013 at 12:16 PM.
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03-03-2013, 01:08 PM
|  | Registered User | | | | | i use ghs fast fret, but when i was in college i used acne scrubbing pads, now that i have an ebony fretboard i might do some research about the fast fret |
03-03-2013, 01:11 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | | To you bass guitar guys, I don't know if your products work for double bass fingerboards, or not, but do you realize you're in the DB forum? |
03-03-2013, 01:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX | | | I'm surprised at all the recommendations for Fast Fret. I've used it on the strings to help them feel less gummy, but I've never heard of using it at a conditioner for the entire board. Seems like a waste to me, given the size of a double bass fingerboard. |
03-03-2013, 08:19 PM
| | Registered User | | | | | sorry not a lot of sleep missed that this was a db thread |
03-16-2013, 06:10 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Miami Florida | | | Linseed oil
Not long ago I refinish my FB with bethlehem finger board oil, with is just linseed oil, buffer w wool and it will be clean and seal so ur sweat won't penetrate the wood and raise the grain, I keep applying the oil every week, it is keeping my FB clean and fast....
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03-16-2013, 06:14 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New England | | Quote:
Originally Posted by rgarcia26 Not long ago I refinish my FB with bethlehem finger board oil, with is just linseed oil, buffer w wool and it will be clean and seal so ur sweat won't penetrate the wood and raise the grain, I keep applying the oil every week, it is keeping my FB clean and fast.... | The tech I know suggest linseed oil as well, spend the extra buck or two and get pure boiled linseed. You can get it at home improvement stores and an $8 can will last you a lifetime. Lem-oil can dry out the board according to him. Since Martin sends all their pre-world war guitars to him for refurb, I take his word for it. Bore Oil can be used but is a bit greasier and is normally used on clarinets so they don't crack. Best of luck with whatever you try!
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03-16-2013, 07:55 AM
| | Registered User
Setup and repair/KRUTZ Strings | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | | Boiled linseed oil is good. It penetrates, dries and seals the wood somewhat. Do it once after dressing the board and forget about it.
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You forget sometimes that you are playing music, not just playing jazz. ....Charlie Haden
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03-16-2013, 09:43 AM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur; Mem. #1, EPC | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Clinkingbeard Boiled linseed oil is good. It penetrates, dries and seals the wood somewhat. Do it once after dressing the board and forget about it. | +1. The drying part is crucial. Other types of oils stay "gummy" and seem to bring along their own problems.
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Famous last words: And with that- Im gone. You will probably read in the paper soon about a deranged kid who burns his bass in front of a luthier. |
03-16-2013, 04:28 PM
|  | Journeyman Clam Artist Moderator | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, baby | | | ...and not for a long, long time has the oil actually been "boiled". These days it means chemical driers have been added to the linseed oil.
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