Clean that rosewood fretboard

[chrisanthony1211]

OK, I've taken delivery of my beautiful old precision, however the fretboard is particularly gunky and looks like it hadn't been cleaned for 40 years, I intend to put some lemon oil on it once clean, but what's the best way to get the gunk off, I've read a few different things, steel wool, lighter fluid, soap and water, but thought I'd get some basschat advice before I give it a go.

Edited September 6, 2014 by chrisanthony1211

[Geek99]

Stanley knife blade at an angle - carefully
Then lemon oil

[steve-bbb]

[steve-bbb]

+1 for the stanley blade shave - very gently

isopropyl alcohol and a decent microfibre cloth works well too

deffo no soap and water

[chris_b]

I wouldn't use anything abrasive. I used an old toothbrush.

I'd check out Dunlop 65 fretboard cleaner and then follow their instructions.

[police squad]

any flat blade I would have thought. Something quite stiff. Maybe the back of a Stanley knife blade.
Then a good dose of lemon oil. Spread it on and watch it sink in

[molan]

DR Ducks Ax-Wax is great for fretboards (plus the rest of a guitar too!).

[HowieBass]

If you have an old credit card you might try that instead of a razor blade.

[chrisanthony1211]

Any love for lighter fluid?

[Paul S]

I use spit (preferably mine), a J cloth and my thumb nail to de-gunk, then lemon oil.

[Macker5]

I have found a gentle rub with fine wire wool (go with the grain) works well and will brighten the frets too. Followed by some Lemon Oil.

[chrisanthony1211]

A bit of fine steel wool, a stanly blade and some lemon oil and I can't believe the change after an hour of elbow grease! It's gone from a nasty 40 year old gunk and bacteria encrusted smelly piece of wood to a beautifully grained rosewood fretboard, thanks the the advice.

[Bassman Steve]

I'm inspired to start on my lot after reading this. They're in for a shock!

[jgmh315]

[quote name='chrisanthony1211' timestamp='1409999878' post='2545255']
Any love for lighter fluid?
[/quote]
Best thing I've ever used for cleaning guitars. Not on nitro though.

Edited September 6, 2014 by jgmh315

[scalpy]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1410002856' post='2545290']
I use spit (preferably mine), a J cloth and my thumb nail to de-gunk, then lemon oil.
[/quote]

Might have just given people a decent excuse for a discount should you sell on this forum!

[planer]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1410002856' post='2545290']
... a J cloth
[/quote]
In this instance however make sure you use a P cloth...

[bartelby]

I recently borrowed a jazz bass from a mate, it needs some tlc. The first job was to clean the fretboard. Used the back of a penknife blade as th gunk was dried and crusty. Then used an isopropyl alcohol wipe to get rid of the rest. Will give it some lemon oil when I can.

[Paul S]

[quote name='chrisanthony1211' timestamp='1409999878' post='2545255']
Any love for lighter fluid?
[/quote]

Worked ok for Jimi Hendrix...

[quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1410076870' post='2545790']
Might have just given people a decent excuse for a discount should you sell on this forum!
[/quote]

Must be why my Aria Pro II Laser Classic isn't selling.

[quote name='planer' timestamp='1410077924' post='2545806']
In this instance however make sure you use a P cloth...
[/quote]

Or P on a J cloth, which is more versatile.

[PlungerModerno]

Get some water, a nail brush or old toothbrush, and start scrubbing!

I've used a tiny amount of soap with no issues.

I usually use 120 grit sandpaper to de-corrode the frets then work up to 1000/2000 grit as a polish.

one of the above helps!

I finish with a rubbing of linseed oil. Makes the wood look nice - Like a cricket bat!

[muttley]

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1409997832' post='2545229']
If you have an old credit card you might try that instead of a razor blade.
[/quote]

That's what I would use, followed by an application of raw linseed oil.

[miles'tone]

Surprised no one's mentioned that famous James Jamerson quote yet.
On why he would clean his bass, but never the fingerboard:

"Because the gunk holds the funk"




I saw on talkbass once the method Roger Sadowsky uses, (which worked a treat for me too) and that is to use your usual domestic window cleaning spray, and a tooth brush which gets the grease and grime off lovely and then wipe it down with a clean damp cloth. Once dry, wipe a small amount of boiled linseed oil onto the rosewood (very small, best with a piece of kitchen towel) and wipe it off straight away, then buff with a clean cloth.

Makes even average looking rosewood look deep and stunning.

Edited September 8, 2014 by miles'tone

[chrisanthony1211]

Gotta say I was really pleased with how it came up, it took about an hour and I couldn't believe how much crud was on it. I was particularly surprised how much gunk came out when I ran the edge of the stanly blade down the edge of the frets, finished off with really fine steel wool and lemon oil, it also brought those frets up nice and shinny too :-)
There are a few YouTube videos of this being done which are quite helpful.

[Owen]

I am glad Lemon Oil worked for you. I tried some recently and it totally dried out the board and made the frets rough. This was a brand new neck. It might be that the Lemon Oil was old, I dunno.

[chrisanthony1211]

What other oils would you use? If it was a cricket bat I'd use linseed oil, if it was a door I'd use Danish oil, and if I was frying bacon I probably go for olive oil (or lard!), but I only really know of lemon oil for fret boards?

[Owen]

DR Ducks Ax-Wax works great for me. Loads of people use Lemon Oil and have no issues. I have no idea why it did not work for me, the bottle was pretty old.