help with cleaning frets?

[testing1two]

I just picked up an old bass that I wanted to clean the board. This was my first time using Gorgomyte, and while it was amazing, this particular board must have been filthy. The Gorgomyte was jet black by the 4th fret, I used about 5 pieces to wipe down the entire board, then buffed it, and it's still got black coming off!
For a board that is this dirty to begin with, what's a good general initial cleaning method?

It's supposed to turn jet black. That's the chemical reaction between the polishing compound in the Gorgomyte and the oxidation on the frets. It's nothing to be concerned about and you don't need to use multiple pieces of Gorgomyte. The key to buffing is having clean cloths (like old t-shirts) and flipping them often.

 

[bassbenj]

They taught me that in order to clean the frets all you need to do is apply lemon oil to the fretboard and rub the frets down with steel wool. After doing a search it seems that both of these techniques aren't too good for my basses

So yeah, sorry for going on a bit, i tend to do that

What's the best way to clean my fretboard and frets?

Thanks
Curly Bassist

Not good? I don't think so. First when cleaning wood, especially bare wood like on a fingerboard, the LAST thing you should use is ANYTHING with WATER in it. No soaps, bathroom cleaners or the like. My standard method is like ocrum's. While WD40 means "water displacement" (which is good) I still don't trust the nasty chemicals in it for fingerboard cleaning.

1. Start with a large pack of 0000 steel wool. NOTE THE GRADE! Coarser wool will NOT do! Yes, tape over pickups! I have not had good luck with 3M pads. I haven't ever tried the others mentioned.

2. If fingerboard is VERY gunky start cleaning with 0000 wool and Goo Gone or Naptha (seems like major ingredient in Goo Gone) (be sure to test tiny hidden spot on finish first for response to these solvents!)

3. After that just scrub with lemon oil and 0000 steel wool. Will clean up very nicely!

4. If desired give frets final polish with buffing wheel on dremel tool.

5. Rub down fingerboard with "bore oil" on a soft rag which is an oil horn players use on the bore of wooden instruments like clarinets. Wipe it all off with a soft rag. [The reason for bore oil is that Lemon oil is quite volatile and will evaporate in a month or so and the bore oil extends the life of your cleaning job. ]