Cleaning Question
 

Hey I just have a quick question... For 10 years I've been cleaning my bass / strings with water / cotton wipes. Now that I have a new (nice) bass, I was wondering if this can potentially damage anything such as the neck (maple shaft with ebony fretboard). I'm not concerned about the strings but I am concerned about the woods. I completely dry the bass / strings immediately with cotton wipes.

I find wiping it down with a microfiber towel to be enough. If that's not enough, a damp - not wet- wipe down followed by the microfiber

Here's a video of a guy who completely takes apart his Fender P Bass and cleans it. He has other videos about cleaning, too. http://youtu.be/1BGg79AsPR4

Just use Fast Fret every time you finish playing it, then when you change strings give it a more thorough cleaning if necessary. I have found that not only does Fast Fret increase string life, it helps keep your fingerboard clean as well. No silicone in it. Works great.

If you have a gloss finish - a little Lemon Pledge!! This is good for the shiny finish, chrome and plastic and doesn't build up. Seriously. You want to remove the finger acids.

I heard anything with lemon in it will eat through the lacquer.

I use a soft cotton cloth dampened with water, and just a touch of Dawn dish washing soap where the fingerprints are - then rinse cloth, squeeze, and wipe again. I use a microfiber cloth for the times in between. I never use any furniture polish or any gunk that will build up.

A clean piece of flannel does the job, if you use it regularly. Every once in a while, I'll use some Dunlop 65 cleaning polish on the hardware and all.

NEVER Lemon Pledge!!!! Please!!! Never!!!

Virtuoso cleaner and polish...safe for even nitro finishes. Microfiber cloth.

And just got hip to Fast Fret. Really helps keep the strings nice, especially TIs and Chromes. Seems La Bella flats take care of themselves, no special gunk required.