Removing Sharpie from fretboard

[Mikey5701]

I've held on to my first bass mainly because it was my first but I never play it and I'm thinking its time to let her go. However there's one problem. The guy I had bought it from had also learned on this bass and he had written in the notes on the frets with a black sharpie marker.

It never bothered me before because you can't really see it from 3 ft away but I'd prefer not to try to sell it like this because aside from the sharpie, its in near perfect condition. Any advice on how to get the sharpie off?

 

[ErikW]

Try Oops, goof off or Naptha.

 

[krafty]

Acetone (nail polish remover) should remove it, although I'd re-treat the fretboard with lemon oil or whatever you use to keep it from drying out after you're done with the acetone.

 

[mikeyswood]

None of those.

Simple alcohols are what you want. Methanol is the original solvent for Sharpies. If you do not have MeOH then isopropanol will work. If you have a Q-Tip and some good vodka (above 100 proof) then use a little one for the fretboard, one for you. Two for the fretboard, one - two for you

 

[PaulNYC]

write over the permanent marker with dry-erase markers, and then erase.

 

[mikeyswood]

If you have mice, getting cats is not a solution. How do you get rid of the cats?

Adding more pigment with the MeOH from the dry erase markers does not help the OP.

 

[Cy_Miles]

None of those.

Simple alcohols are what you want. Methanol is the original solvent for Sharpies. If you do not have MeOH then isopropanol will work. If you have a Q-Tip and some good vodka (above 100 proof) then use a little one for the fretboard, one for you. Two for the fretboard, one - two for you

+1

I spent some time carefully graduating my shellac bottle with a sharpie, to then realize that alchol removes sharpie very easily. I no longer have sharpie marks on my shellac bottle.

 

[251]

I've held on to my first bass mainly because it was my first but I never play it and I'm thinking its time to let her go. However there's one problem. The guy I had bought it from had also learned on this bass and he had written in the notes on the frets with a black sharpie marker.

It never bothered me before because you can't really see it from 3 ft away but I'd prefer not to try to sell it like this because aside from the sharpie, its in near perfect condition. Any advice on how to get the sharpie off?

Try a Janitorial supply. You're looking for something to remove Graffiti. The best I've ever used was n-propanol (not rubbing alcohol which is iso-propanol). It's sold through chemical supply companies & most individuals can no longer buy, even simple chemicals for personal use.

 

[bobbybass85]

write over the permanent marker with dry-erase markers, and then erase.

I know it's an old thread but I had to bump this with a +1. This got a whole bunch of blue sharpie off my Fender AM STD P-bass' maple board last night.

 

[Hopkins]

It may sound crazy but nothing will work as good as mosquito repellent.

 

[mikeyswood]

It is crazy. Ethanol is the solvent in mosquito repellents. Why would you spray needless things on your instrument what you could use the proper solvent?

 

[Floyd Eye]

Do not use Acetone. Naptha or Alcohol is what you want.

 

[hover]

It is crazy. Ethanol is the solvent in mosquito repellents. Why would you spray needless things on your instrument what you could use the proper solvent?

It's helpful if you wanna play in the key of D(eet), I would imagine.

And yes. Isopropyl.

 

[wraub]

Go to walmart, target, or any drug store, and pick up a box of alcohol wipes.
really cheap, small for controlled use, and easily disposed of.

Just a thought.

wraub

 

[Schlyder]

Hair spray. I have used this trick many times to remove Sharpie ink . Spray it on and wait a few seconds and wipe off. then clean the surface again and you're good.

 

[mikeyswood]

Why?! Why would you add useless chemicals in attempt to solve one problem only to create another?!

 

[adam.beauchene]

What if you mix together some pine tar, tung oil, and japan drier, rub it in with a magic eraser and let it dry, then apply some naval jelly and warm it up with a torch, then sand it down and treat it with 50/50 lemon oil and bondo.

Watching Mikey get spun up and transform into the Hulk is waaaaay more fun than any tonewood trainwreck.

 

[Meatrus]

I'm sure Mike's answer is more correct, but Methanol smells like a tramps underpants and Acetone does work on Sharpie.

 

[hover]

I'm sure Mike's answer is more correct, but Methanol smells like a tramps underpants and Acetone does work on Sharpie.

Yeah, no one said acetone didn't work, but if you're not careful acetone also makes short work of screwing up your finish too.

 

[Hopkins]

It is crazy. Ethanol is the solvent in mosquito repellents. Why would you spray needless things on your instrument what you could use the proper solvent?

Because not everyone has some ethanol laying around, but most people have a can of Off. There is nothing else in it other than deet, (which will do nothing to the finish), water, and propellents.