fretboard cleaning help

mjb · Post by **mjb** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

i've been playing a long time and have changed alot of strings. when i change strings i give my guitar the spa treatment. it seems though when it comes to the fretboard, i'm really not sure what to clean it with. after all these years i sit here get everything else cleaned and polished and the whole time i'm contimplating what i'm going to do about that fretboard. it's actually kind of funny. i use guild guitar polish on everything else and just usually end up using a part of the rag that isn't too saturated and running that on the fret board. wondering what everyone else does.
WD-40?

BURK · Post by **BURK** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

Fretboard conditioner and really fine steel wool (when needed) for me...

I've seen people use lemon oil, lighter fluid, and all other kinds of things but over the counter fretboard conditioner works fine for me... Cleans that Jager right up!

I would however be careful putting the regular finish polish on your fretboard depending on what kind of wood it is.

Hope this helps out...

-BURK

www.myspace.com/lowjackmusic

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

WD-40

BURK · Post by **BURK** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

You know what mjb?

This got me thinking...

I have always just cleaned my guitars the same way. I would also be interested in hearing how other people take care of their equipment.

-BURK

www.myspace.com/lowjackmusic

bassist4life2004 · Post by **bassist4life2004** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

I normally use really small amounts of furniture polish (no alcohol, it dries out the wood really bad and can cause warping and splitting), paper towels, and Q tips to get into the tough spots. Sounds pretty barbaric but it does the job. The furniture polish, for best results, should have lemon or orange oil extract.

Wal Mart sells this mineral wood cleaner that works great. I use it on my Fender Acoustic and it seems to lift the finger oil and dirt right out.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

I state this with all seriousness. I have never cleaned a fretboard. The dirt is where the funk is! Plus, I just don't have particularly oily hands and they don't get that dirty. If its particularly nasty I scrape some of the gunk off with a credit card or whatnot, but I have never actually cleaned a fretboard.

Charltor · Post by **Charltor** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

Scott's Liquid Gold wood cleaner is a lemon based spray wood cleaner that moisturizes the wood and cleans really well.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

Plus if you get some excess on your hands you can rub it all over your...
Ah fuck it .

Charltor · Post by **Charltor** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

No that belongs in the other thread about WD-40, jackin'lube!

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

Yeah cuz you can put that little red straw in your pee- hole.
Ok that might be going a little too far

Charltor · Post by **Charltor** » Friday Jan 05, 2007

FUCKIN OUCH MAN!!

Dickholes and plastic straws don't mix!!!

unless your at a coke party!

Merge · Post by **Merge** » Saturday Jan 06, 2007

I use lemon oil, and it does a really good job cleaning the fretboard.

PanzerFaust · Post by **PanzerFaust** » Saturday Jan 06, 2007

Charltor wrote:Scott's Liquid Gold wood cleaner is a lemon based spray wood cleaner that moisturizes the wood and cleans really well.

I've always used that too and it does a great job...

Seems to me I started doing it many moons ago cause it was in some fancy guitar mag although I wish it was an original idea !!

haha...

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Saturday Jan 06, 2007

Charltor wrote:Scott's Liquid Gold wood cleaner is a lemon based spray wood cleaner that moisturizes the wood and cleans really well.

Ditto

mjb · Post by **mjb** » Saturday Jan 06, 2007

thankyou everyone, on another note: i let some one talk me into trying out a different brand of string than i usually use (i usually use elixer nanno web, which i love) and i tried out d'addario EXP. ABSOLUTLY THE THE WORST FUCKING STRINGS EVER.

myatch, if your scraping crap off your fretboard with a creditcard maybe the time has come

i know the string thing was a thread a while back so no need to elaborate on that subject unless you agree with me

burke, cool. i didn't know they made a fretboard conditioner. is it a cleaner as well? what is it called?

thanks again everyone.

BURK · Post by **BURK** » Saturday Jan 06, 2007

Fender Fretboard Conditioner by Meguiar's

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Sunday Jan 07, 2007

Ditto the Fender stuff. It's the best I've tried, and actually leaves a smooth, greaseless finish on the rosewood. Works great on old guitars with dry rosewood.
I bought an old Peavey T-15 awhile back from Hazy's that looked like someone had butchered a hog on it... I took everything apart and rubbed everything down with Murphy's Oil Soap on a plastic potscrubber sponge (just a small amount), then a wet paper towel, then let it all dry. I rubbed it down with a soft rag, and it looked like a new guitar, even at 25 years old. Of course, the T-15 has a furniture finish, but it'd probably work on other finishes.
As for anything with a polyurethane finish, I personally believe anything that won't scratch works. I use windex to get the really grungy stuff off, and never had any problems.
Today's helpful hint:
My Takamine's plush-lined case smelled like barroom so bad, it would stink up my living room, even with the lid closed. I got some of that carpet powder deodorizer, like Carpet Fresh, and sprinkled it in, then vacuumed it out. DO NOT USE THIS! It put a whitish haze in the finish on the headstock, and I'm lucky it didn't ruin the entire finish. Use a wet rag, then let it dry before putting the guitar back in. It doesn't get rid of the stench, but it lessens it some... and no decrease in the value of the guitar.-------->JMS

Baceman Spiff · Post by **Baceman Spiff** » Sunday Jan 07, 2007

Ductape and sandpaper. Little bit of doe urine gives a nice shine, as well as masking your scent.

Punkinhead · Post by **Punkinhead** » Sunday Jan 07, 2007

Merge wrote:I use lemon oil, and it does a really good job cleaning the fretboard.

Yeah, that's what I use as well. I also use Guitar Honey sometimes, it's not bad...kind of leaves a slick feeling though.

BURK · Post by **BURK** » Sunday Jan 07, 2007

songsmith wrote:Today's helpful hint:
My Takamine's plush-lined case smelled like barroom so bad, it would stink up my living room, even with the lid closed. I got some of that carpet powder deodorizer, like Carpet Fresh, and sprinkled it in, then vacuumed it out. DO NOT USE THIS! It put a whitish haze in the finish on the headstock, and I'm lucky it didn't ruin the entire finish. Use a wet rag, then let it dry before putting the guitar back in. It doesn't get rid of the stench, but it lessens it some... and no decrease in the value of the guitar.-------->JMS

I use a spray simply called "Case Deoderizer" and it works awesome... I think it is by Meguiars as well, not sure though because it's at the practice spot.

The stuff says right on it that it takes the bar room smell out of the case... And it does!!!

-BURK

www.myspace.com/lowjackmusic

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Monday Jan 08, 2007

We have Fender Case Restorer at the shop... I don't know about the case deodorizer... If we have it, I may try it. I've been gunshy ever since the Carpet Fresh problem, but if it's Fender/Meguiar's I'd give it a shot.--->JMS

FretBored · Post by **FretBored** » Tuesday Jan 09, 2007

Dr. Duck's AXWAX and String Lube

Gallowglass · Post by **Gallowglass** » Tuesday Jan 09, 2007

When I'm out of doe urine I usually use Old English lemon polish. No Wax!

Colton · Post by **Colton** » Tuesday Jan 09, 2007

When you kick/throw it off the stage, it knocks alot of the dirt loose.