arabassist Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 (edited) Ello, I've been inspecting the fretboard and strings and noticed it's quite dirty. I took a camera shot with flash on and compared it with an older one and realised it's so much dirtier. The fretboard has bits of dust, sweat and other bits of manky animal crap. What's the most effective way to clean the mess? Scrub it with a wet cloth? Cheers Edited November 9, 2008 by arabassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorick Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 The best way to clean your fret board is with a lint free cloth and lemon oil You can get it at most guitar shops. As for the strings, you can get Ernie ball string wipes. Expensive but they work!! Also you can boil them for a few minutes, which gives them a bit longer life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1879 Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 The ernie ball fretboard conditioner wipes are pretty good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeBrownBass Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 [url="http://wiki.basschat.co.uk/info:maintenance:cleaning_your_bass"]http://wiki.basschat.co.uk/info:maintenanc...aning_your_bass[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I used lighter fluid to clean up the manky fingerboard of the old Hagstrom: Left: before, right: after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elom Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 [quote name='yorick' post='325576' date='Nov 9 2008, 10:47 PM']The best way to clean your fret board is with a lint free cloth and lemon oil.[/quote] What exactly is a lint free cloth please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 thats the funk, why would you want to take that out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 [quote name='LukeFRC' post='325629' date='Nov 10 2008, 12:59 AM']thats the funk, why would you want to take that out?[/quote] Because it's disgusting, that's why. It shows a distinct lack of care for the instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peted Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I use a lemon oil product. Used sparingly and only a couple of times a year. I've heard luthiers argue that the oil is actually bad for the fretboard and dries it out, but the wenge fretboard of my Warwick doesn't seem to have suffered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorick Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Lint free cloth is designed not to give off bits when worked or rubbed against a surface. Have a word with a local guitar tech. He should be able to supply you some. Plus i wouldn't advise using lighter fuel.... The wood will absorb some and as it's flammable........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 [quote name='yorick' post='325736' date='Nov 10 2008, 10:12 AM']Plus i wouldn't advise using lighter fuel.... The wood will absorb some and as it's flammable........[/quote] In my opinion lighter fluid (naptha) evaporates too quickly to be absorbed in any meaningful way. I have no qualms about its use in this context, save for the usual safety considerations whilst actually handling/dispensing the stuff out of the tin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I use a type of lemon oil that I was put on to when investigating oils for darkening a rosewood fretborad - here's the link [url="http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm"]http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm[/url] Has to come from the US (took about a week) but does the job really well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantdosleepy Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I agree with Luke - the funk is in the funk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozbass Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 For very dirty boards, I've used very fine guage wire wool (followed by oil) and can report good results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirky Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 A local violin teacher recommended using slightly watered down whisky. Worked well on my very dirty fingerboard. And finally a worthy use for a large bottle of Red Label my father in law bought a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_the_bass Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 [quote name='Clarky' post='325783' date='Nov 10 2008, 11:11 AM']I use a type of lemon oil that I was put on to when investigating oils for darkening a rosewood fretborad - here's the link [url="http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm"]http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm[/url] Has to come from the US (took about a week) but does the job really well[/quote] It's good innit?! I am quite pleased with the results I've had so far - my SG in particular must be so dry that it's absorbed a dozen or so coats so far, but it's getting darker all the time. I recently used it on my Crafter acoustic and it took so much muck off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 1. Leave the gunge alone. James Jamerson did for 20 years, and he played his bass far more than most of us will ever do. 2. Use Pledge or similar. Bernie Goodfellow does, I do and so do a lot of players. I did read that polish sprays containing silicone are not good for some finishes, though. 3. Use proper guitar cleaner; eg Fastfret or Dunlop DR polishes. All of the above are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huggy and the Bears Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 [quote name='dlloyd' post='325821' date='Nov 10 2008, 11:52 AM']If it's caked with a lot of fingerpoo, I scrape the worst of it off with an old credit card, wipe off the rest with a rag soaked in ethanol, then oil with lemon oil. Comes up a treat.[/quote] I've got the sweatiest hands ever and wreck strings in no time and my MM maple fretboard gets discustingly dirty. You will probably cringe here, but I use washing up liquid (diluted slightly with water) and a new sponge/scouring pad combination thingy (from under the sink). I do it really quickly so it doesnt get soaked. Probly a couple of minutes to do the whole neck then wipe it quickly with a towel. By the time its re-strung its dry and like new. Lemon oil wouldnt do it for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 i use an old toothbrush getly across the neck ,and then use dunlop 65 (?) lemon oil on RW boards, but just the toothbrush and a gentle wipe with MN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 [quote name='Huggy and the Bears' post='325838' date='Nov 10 2008, 12:15 PM']I use washing up liquid (diluted slightly with water) and a new sponge/scouring pad combination thingy (from under the sink).[/quote] I just use warm water and one of those green plastic dish scrubbers, works fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 White spirit and some kitchen roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 [quote name='neepheid' post='325611' date='Nov 10 2008, 12:05 AM']I used lighter fluid to clean up the manky fingerboard of the old Hagstrom: Left: before, right: after[/quote] My old guitarist's gibson explorer is about twice as bad as that and about half the age! Also if you really want to get the dirt out of the pores of the wood, give it a good old scrub with some lemon oil and a bit of scotchbrite. took me about half an hour to do and the frets needed polishing after but it looked good. It didn't last long though so i probably wont bother again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I think i've only ever cleaned my bass once, well it was more of a got-splashed-by-flying-beer-at-a-bike-rally moment really, although I did use my sleve to wipe a bit off after the song. Do you people never wash your hands? my main bass (4 years old) hasn't been cleaned ever (except by beer), and apart for a bit of dust at the pickups there's no crud at all. Played for at least an hour every day, plus gigs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Window cleaner for me! Seriously! My fingerboard is phenolic though... ped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosebass Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Meths , Meths and more Meths or denatured alcohol as it is also known. I also use it with fine wet and dry when finishing as being a solvent it does not soak into wood as water will. Using water on a rosewood board will harm it as it opens up the pores of the wood. As it is a solvent care should be taken and if using on a finished surface test first. Also it burns with a clear flame so you cannot see it even if it is alight. If it wasn't for the toxins put in it and the coloring it would also make a nice aperitif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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