Care & Feeding of Maple Fretboard?

[lbpesq]

I'm looking for some info about maple fingerboards.  Most of my guitars are rosewood or ebony.  I have a 15 year old Rickenbacker 380L PZ with a maple board that appears to be unfinished, at least it doesn't have the glossy coat usually found on Rickys.  The board is a bit dirty and discolored looking.  Is there a way to clean it?  Does one use lemon oil like on rosewood or ebony (I suspect not)?  Do's  and don't's?  
 
Bill, tgo

[cozmik_cowboy]

1. Heat fretboard gently
2. Insert removal knife under fretboard & slide
3. Glue on rosewood or ebony board
 
Can you tell I'm not a fan of maple boards?  Never seen one on a Ric.  When the great Ed Reynolds (now of Ed Reynolds Guitars in Austin) was Soundsmiths in Chicago, one item on his menu of regular services was stripping Ric fretboards; I'm for it.
But that doesn't help you, does it?  I suspect that the only way to clean a maple board is with sandpaper (part of why I don't like them). I clean mine with naptha (for really grungy, pre-oil) but they're all proper boards (read rosewood or ebony) & I don't know what it would do to maple; maybe find a scrap of maple & try that first.  You could hit the scrap with the lemon oil for testing, too.
 
Peter

[keith_h]

I think lemon oil, linseed oil and the like will darken the maple and draw more dirt. I don't know  what they used on Ric's. On my maple neck Jazz Bass I used a polyurethane finish many years ago that has held up well compared to the  original finish. If yours is an oiled board I would try a polymerized oil like Watco or Liberon. Both have clear non-yellowing oils. This should harden enough to keep the dirt down and not get into the strings. Like Peter said best to try on a scrap first.  
 
Keith

[dfung60]

Bill - One of my fave guitars over the years is the Ernie Ball/Musicman Eddie Van Halen guitar from the early 90's.  It has an oil finished maple neck and fingerboard with a thinner finish then most Musicman instruments and really attracts shows the grime.  
 
I called Musicman about the best way to clean the board and Dudley Gimpel, their main designer actually got on the phone.
 
Their best recommendation was to use Murphy's Oil Soap (available at your local Target), diluted with about 4 parts water.  If that doesn't clean the board sufficiently, then you can go with a stronger mix.  Rub gently with the grain.  I found it worked really well and was a better solution than the automotive 3M scrubbing pads that I was thinking about.
 
This leaves you with a clean board down to the oiled finish.  
 
I have sometimes rubbed in a coat of wax, but it doesn't seem to last long on the fingerboard or delay it from getting dirty again.  I am fond of Livos Gleivo liquid wax, which is a German beeswax/carnauba blend that's supposed to be all natural (but smells like it's all solvent).  I got this many years ago at MacBeath Lumber in your neck of the woods, at their recommendation.  
 
Give the Murphy's Oil Soap a try!
 
David Fung

[dfung60]

Bill - One of my fave guitars over the years is the Ernie Ball/Musicman Eddie Van Halen guitar from the early 90's.  It has an oil finished maple neck and fingerboard with a thinner finish then most Musicman instruments and really attracts shows the grime.  
 
I called Musicman about the best way to clean the board and Dudley Gimpel, their main designer actually got on the phone.
 
Their best recommendation was to use Murphy's Oil Soap (available at your local Target), diluted with about 4 parts water.  If that doesn't clean the board sufficiently, then you can go with a stronger mix.  Rub gently with the grain.  I found it worked really well and was a better solution than the automotive 3M scrubbing pads that I was thinking about.
 
This leaves you with a clean board down to the oiled finish.  
 
I have sometimes rubbed in a coat of wax, but it doesn't seem to last long on the fingerboard or delay it from getting dirty again.  I am fond of Livos Gleivo liquid wax, which is a German beeswax/carnauba blend that's supposed to be all natural (but smells like it's all solvent).  I got this many years ago at MacBeath Lumber in your neck of the woods, at their recommendation.  
 
Give the Murphy's Oil Soap a try!
 
David Fung

[pace]

Cool Ric Bill! I didn't know they had a hollowbody in that run. My college buddy has a 4001 style bass with a similar wood/hardware recipe. I think the finish is a sealer coat at the least, a satin urethane at the most.....  
 
Murphy's Oil Soap is the the only thing I've ever had recommended to me. I tried it on the maple board of an Ibanez RG/Wizard pawnshop score back in the day w/ limited success. I'd just as soon go the Keith Richards route and expose the neck to a moderate to heavy amount of nicotine.

[keith_h]

I use Murphy's Oil Soap for other wood things around the house. My only concern is being water based will it end up lifting the grain if the wood isn't sealed well.  
 
Keith

[peoplechipper]

I think part of the appeal of an unfinished maple fretboard is the dirt and wear spots; I have an old Tiesco/Raven Tele copy and long ago I refretted it...when I did it I cleaned and sanded the fretboard; all those cool play spots were gone and that was kinda sad...Tony

[5a_quilt_top]

Rumor has it that EVH instructs his techs to NOT clean his maple fingerboards...different strokes...
 
Unfortunately, dirt and wear are downsides to unfinished maple fingerboards. I have a few in my collection and, when needed, I use a DAMP Q-tip to clean them - no chemicals, only a little water.
 
I've found the best way to keep maple fingerboards clean is to make sure your hands (and strings) are clean prior to playing. Avoiding wear is trickier, especially if you have a heavy touch. Fortunately for me, I have a pretty light touch.

[hydrargyrum]

No matter the fretboard material of the guitar I'm playing, I see consistent wear in the portion corresponding to the key of E.  I should stray a bit more from my favorite licks.