Gunk on my fretboard, just noticing it now..

[celestialtrash]

I have a mid 2006s EBMM stingray 4h with a maple fretboard, which i believe is unfinished. if you know rays, you know what i mean. I'm starting to notice a gunky build up between the frets. Mainly between frets I tend to use a lot, 3 and 5 on the 2nd string. Now, I think it looks kinda nice.. vintage, almost. But, is this just build up from shredding with dirty fingers?

I've been starting to use my fingernail, but are there better ways of getting this crap off?

 

[SkyWinders]

There's a few ways to do this. If you play your bass enough, you will eventually get gunk, no matter how clean your hands are. If it's a gloss finished fingerboard, you'll want to use a buffing wheel of sorts to remove the gunk and any oxidation you might have on your frets. If it's a satin finish, you can buff it, but usually with mine I lightly use super-fine 0000-grade steel wool and some dunlop 65 polish. usually gets the job done pretty well. This is just my experience, though.

 

[lethargytartare]

It's skin oils, dust, skin cells, etc. Consider too that it's getting on and into your strings as well -- so a good reminder to always just take a rag and wipe down your strings after every session (the more regular you are about this, the longer your strings will stay bright).

Like SkyWinders, I use 0000 steel wool on all of my fretboards for cleaning off the gunk. I got a Sterling with a horribly filthy neck, and I started with 0000 with limited success...if that makes you nervous, I've also found that typical finger gunk can come off with a soft, lightly damp rag.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I use steels, and make it a habit to wash my hands with soap and water thoroughly before playing, although I know it it not always possible. I'm no Adrian Monk. After playing, I clean my strings with Bass Brites, and then go over my entire bass with dry old cotton cloth.

I recently read about this, but have not tired it:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[celestialtrash]

I read somewhere that the best material to scrape wood with is plastic, so I used an old credit card to get most of that crud off. It scratched a little but not bad, and worked well. I didn't take my strings off to do this, I'm always afraid removing all my strings will take too much tension off the neck. I also read to never use steel wool, and I couldn't imagine how badly that would scratch my unfinished neck. Thanks tho

 

[lethargytartare]

I read somewhere that the best material to scrape wood with is plastic

Too broad of a concept to have any real value -- shaping tools aren't plastic, they're usually metal. Used properly, a lot of metal scrapers are good for cleaning and planing fbs in really bad shape. I use a razor blade in a specific manner in the late stages of a refret job, and recently used one to clean a really, really awful fb. If a credit card works for you, cool.

I didn't take my strings off to do this, I'm always afraid removing all my strings will take too much tension off the neck.

Well, don't be -- that's simply not the case. There are nearly 200,000 members of this forum, and I doubt you can find any that would tell you that that is, in fact, something to avoid. The awkwardness of trying to clean the fb with the strings on might also be why you ended up scratching your fb.

I also read to never use steel wool, and I couldn't imagine how badly that would scratch my unfinished neck.

Not sure where you read that, but I've used it regularly on dozens of instruments I've owned over the past 10-15 years, never had a problem. Note that we said 0000 steel wool...if you don't know what that is, then don't try using steel wool because there are types of steel wool that will scratch the hell out of the wood, and that would leave you buffing down for quite some time.

OR

You could also go to the Ernie Ball site and follow their recommendations for cleaning and caring for your bass's neck. They are quite detailed in products and steps.

Cheers!
ltt

 

[ancientrocker]

Too broad of a concept to have any real value -- shaping tools aren't plastic, they're usually metal. Used properly, a lot of metal scrapers are good for cleaning and planing fbs in really bad shape. I use a razor blade in a specific manner in the late stages of a refret job, and recently used one to clean a really, really awful fb. If a credit card works for you, cool.



Well, don't be -- that's simply not the case. There are nearly 200,000 members of this forum, and I doubt you can find any that would tell you that that is, in fact, something to avoid. The awkwardness of trying to clean the fb with the strings on might also be why you ended up scratching your fb.



Not sure where you read that, but I've used it regularly on dozens of instruments I've owned over the past 10-15 years, never had a problem. Note that we said 0000 steel wool...if you don't know what that is, then don't try using steel wool because there are types of steel wool that will scratch the hell out of the wood, and that would leave you buffing down for quite some time.

OR

You could also go to the Ernie Ball site and follow their recommendations for cleaning and caring for your bass's neck. They are quite detailed in products and steps.

Cheers!
ltt

+1 Right On. Having the right tools is like playing the right notes.

 

[Randall]

I just used some gorgomyte on my two 70's fender maple necks and the green corrosion from the frets is all gone now. Cloth was black from all of the worn/unvarnished areas too.

 

[Joe Louvar]

Originally Posted by celestialtrash
I didn't take my strings off to do this, I'm always afraid removing all my strings will take too much tension off the neck.

Well, don't be -- that's simply not the case. There are nearly 200,000 members of this forum, and I doubt you can find any that would tell you that that is, in fact, something to avoid. The awkwardness of trying to clean the fb with the strings on might also be why you ended up scratching your fb.

Hmm, this is what the Fender website says ~

"Because of the amount of tension on the neck, it's advisable to replace and tune each new string before removing the next string."

Under "Strings"
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Wolffgang]

Hmm, this is what the Fender website says ~

"Because of the amount of tension on the neck, it's advisable to replace and tune each new string before removing the next string."

Under "Strings"
Invalid Link Removed

This was something I heard, too, and adhered to. Then heard counter-advice and atopped bothering to no ill-effect. Only difference is my basses get cleaned better.

From what I believe was your original question, yes, just playing gunk. It didn't sound like you were asking how to get it off, but just to pile-on, my Dremel has become my most indensible tool for cleaning and maintaining my basses. With a tungsten carbide brush, and a plastic bristle brush, you can de-gunk, de-rust and prettify more than I, and hopefully, you, ever thought possible. I started using when I was setting a friend's beater to get my feet wet, and now I use it on everything.

 

[SteveC]

Don't clean it. The mojo will be gone.

 

[celestialtrash]

Too broad of a concept to have any real value -- shaping tools aren't plastic, they're usually metal. Used properly, a lot of metal scrapers are good for cleaning and planing fbs in really bad shape. I use a razor blade in a specific manner in the late stages of a refret job, and recently used one to clean a really, really awful fb. If a credit card works for you, cool.



Well, don't be -- that's simply not the case. There are nearly 200,000 members of this forum, and I doubt you can find any that would tell you that that is, in fact, something to avoid. The awkwardness of trying to clean the fb with the strings on might also be why you ended up scratching your fb.



Not sure where you read that, but I've used it regularly on dozens of instruments I've owned over the past 10-15 years, never had a problem. Note that we said 0000 steel wool...if you don't know what that is, then don't try using steel wool because there are types of steel wool that will scratch the hell out of the wood, and that would leave you buffing down for quite some time.

OR

You could also go to the Ernie Ball site and follow their recommendations for cleaning and caring for your bass's neck. They are quite detailed in products and steps.

Cheers!
ltt

That's some spot on advice, and I really appreciate it! I have heard a lot of conflicted responses regarding the 0000 steal wool, but the general consensus is that if you use it properly, it can really help. Awesome, and I didn't think to just check out Ernieballs's site... Customer service kicks butt yo.

Regarding changing strings individually, I've always done this to avoid needing setups, but was uncertain as to how much of a difference it really made.. You mention 200,000 members using this forum, but has this question been asked before? (I know it probably has, and am just being a donkey.)

Yes, I wasn't able to get all the crap outa my fb properly and thoroughly, but that's just because I wasn't sure about the tension issue. The credit card idea would work much better with all the strings removed, and I will check the site for an answer.

Thanks again, this is my first real post in a long time.. Lil rusty but i love this stuff. Been using tb for probably 7 years now, if not longer!