Double Bass Clean Fingerboard

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally posted by Anton Visser
I was advised to rub the ebony fingerboard of a previously owned EB with lemon oil to clean it. Works well! Also, the nice fresh lemon fragrance kind of takes away the nasty smell of the smegma. B]

Limon oil is just mineral spirits with a little fragrance added. As long as you don't over do it, that's fine for the job. It's a good idear to avoid getting it in any gaps between the neck and finger board as it will soak into the maple and could keep hide glue from sticking properly if you ever need to replace the fingerboard.

 

[Bob Branstetter]

I should have said mineral oil instead of mineral spirits is the major ingredient of limon oil. Sorry 'bout that.

 

[rhythm]

These:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....70022961749&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESE:IT&rd=1

Simply brilliant

 

[Bob Branstetter]

These:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....70022961749&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESE:IT&rd=1

Simply brilliant

You must really like it to revive a three year old thread on the Double Bass side and post three nearly identical messages on the Bass Guitar side all within a period of 6 minutes!

 

[rhythm]

Yes, they're very good.

 

[mr mastodon]

am i correct in that you use the steel wool over the strings and fingerboard together? or do you loosen the strings and wipe them off separately?

 

[Fletcher Lanning]

I was taught to use it under the strings, but what do I know.

Really Arnold, Bass Smegma? And here I was thinking that you were such a classy guy...

 

[lhoward]

Smegma. Even the word has always sounded disgusting. I never thought I'd see it on this list. Joke or no joke.

L. Howard

 

[mr mastodon]

+1 smegma really is the perfect word for ... well, what it is.

but the highlight of this thread was seeing nick lloyd, the guy who set up the bass i've bought secondhand, call the stuff on my board "finger jizz."

 

[Paul Warburton]

Thanks for bumpin' this old one. Arnold, Nnick, Jeff, Sprague, Branstetter all at their very sick best. I miss those Mothers.

EDIT: DURRL, where was Ed during this? Why were you emailng him? Was he pouting, like I used to do?

EDIT 2: You guys should remember that this was the time when there was no Google availability and that the word "Smegma" was not a typical word in ones vocabulary.

 

[bejoyous]

When I clean my fingerboard, I use Methyl Hydrate. I get it from the hardware store. It's poisonous so if you're sensitive to stuff where vinyl or nitrile (sp?) gloves. Keep out of reach of kids!

Wet about 3" of the edge of a terrycloth face cloth, slip it under the strings so it's flat against the fingerboard. Then move the cloth back and forth shoe shine style moving slowly up and down the length of the FB. Use a new spot on the cloth as it gets dirty. Keep doing it until no more dirt shows on the cloth

Next, put a dot of MH on the cloth. Wrap the wet spot around a string and run up and down the string until no more dirt comes off. This is especially effective if you loosen the string so you can have the string bend in an "S" around your fingers. This gets the dirt between the windings.

You'll be amazed at the amount of goo on your bass! Your bass will sound much brighter and will be easier to play. The strings will last longer, too.

Oh yeah, do the back of the neck as well so your thumb slides easily.

I've never had any finish come off the bass but you can never know.

 

[Fletcher Lanning]

Using it on the back of the neck sounds scary to me. If that stuff drips on the finish it would kill it pretty quickly. Seems like a good idea for the FB and strings though.

 

[Damon Rondeau]

Methyl hydrate is methanol -- wood alcohol. Be careful what you get it on. Alcohol -- ethyl or methyl -- is the solvent for shellac, for example. There are lots of finishes it won't hurt but there are some that it certainly will.

 

[1st Bass]

Want to do it out in the open air, too-- I pretty well destroyed my sense of smell a number of years ago using denatured alcohol (containing methanol) with too little ventilation. Too bad. I used to have a very good smeller, but after that it took years before I could smell anything at all, and I still can't smell some things.

 

[Damon Rondeau]

...and I guess whilst we're documenting the hazards of methyl hydrate, we might as well note that it burns easily. Watch your smoking around that stuff.

 

[davpal]

Thanks for reviving this thread - I never read it before today... Some Very funny replies!!

However, after reading the OP, I found it odd that no one commented about only wiping the strings down after a couple days and then using just a paper towel.... no wonder the fingers don't slide on the strings very well!

You don't need anything fancy, no solvents that might damage the finish, no abrasives, just a clean cotton rag and wipe the strings & fingerboard each time before and after you play.

Doesn't everyone do this?

 

[Harling]

...Alcohol which (like Paul W) is my preferred method for cleaning fingerboards.

Paul cleans your fingerboard? Does he do house calls?

 

[Paul Warburton]

Please send yer wife's measurements, then we talk.
We'll need to be alone if everything measures up.

 

[Paul Warburton]

Smegma. Even the word has always sounded disgusting. I never thought I'd see it on this list. Joke or no joke.
L. Howard

We're thinking of a new Thread, similar to another one done recently in the Humor Forum. How many ways to use the word smegma in tune titles outta the Great American Song Book.
Uh, oh.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

We're thinking of a new Thread, similar to another one done recently in the Humor Forum. How many ways to use the word smegma in tune titles outta the Great American Song Book.
Uh, oh.

Now that's just disgusting - I might have to hit the road.

Jack