Author Topic: Fret board cleaners (Read 336 times)

tmoney61092 · « **on:** November 13, 2009, 10:13:24 PM »

i know this has been discussed many times, but i need to what the best fret board cleaner is that i can buy at a store, i realized this when i was cleaning my brother's Univox Goldtop Les Paul copy(yes, he is very lazy) and notice a lot of gunk and stuff on the wood between the frets, so if anyone can help, this would be amazing

~Taylor Watterson

keith_h · « **Reply #1 on:** November 14, 2009, 08:47:06 AM »

Pure lemon oil. Also called essential oil. You can find it in the aroma therapy section of your local health food store (such as Whole Foods). Do not use lemon scented mineral oils (such as Formsby's).

Keith

slawie · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2009, 05:39:08 PM »

I concur with Keith,

I have used pure lemon oil for years with great success.

Last thing you would want to do is use a solvent
that will dissolve the natural oils in the timber.

slawie

peoplechipper · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2009, 08:22:11 PM »

Scrape the majority of the crud off with a pick or plastic scraper(old credit card?) then use the lemon oil...works wonders...Tony

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2009, 04:33:08 PM »

thanks guys, looks like pure lemon oil it is, i'll have to pick some up next time i'm out, just wanted to make sure i wasn't going to destroy any wood on the guitars that i'm going to be cleaning, what about body cleaners? right now i'm using Martin Guitar Polish that works really well

~Taylor Watterson

elwoodblue · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2009, 05:00:11 PM »

When you start to run low on the Martin guitar polish, consider trying the Alembic polish.
It's good for cutting through gunk and leaving a nice shine with no abrasives.

lbpesq · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2009, 05:36:53 PM »

The Alembic polish is also an excellent eyeglass cleaner! (Susan turned me on to that one).

Bill, tgo

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2009, 05:42:19 PM »

alright i'll definetly check out the Alembic poilsh next, hahaha, thanks Bill, next time i get a scratch on my windshield i'll be sure to throw some Alembic polish on it, or my glasses, which ever happens first

~Taylor Watterson

gtrguy · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2009, 09:29:15 PM »

I have also been using WD40 sprayed on a rag and then applied to the fretboard, for years. I have guitars that I have owned since the seventies I have been using this on with no ill results.

Dave

jazzyvee · « **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2009, 04:04:55 AM »

I recall seeing a band called the Hamsters about 15 years ago and they do hendrix and ZZ top covers. Fantastic band actually.
Their guitar player called Snails Pace Slim used to spray his fretboard liberally during the gig with WD40. I often wondered if that was a good idea although I refrained from trying it myself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3fBaXvxdlQ&feature=related
Jazzyvee

gtrguy · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2009, 09:17:59 PM »

I read an odd post about what is actually in WD-40 not too long ago. It was pretty interesting. I am careful to wipe it off after using it.

edwin · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2009, 10:01:27 PM »

I would hesitate to use WD40 on my instrument. Maybe I'm being overly cautious, but I think there are more appropriate things to use. I use aromatherapy grade lemon oil on my fingerboards (being married to a person who is a perfumer gives me access to all kinds of groovy oils. She's made a special oil for an upright player who wanted a certain vibe to emanate from the instrument as his playing warmed up the fingerboard as well along with the protection of the ebony) and Alembic polish on the rest of it. Truth be told, I don't do either very often.

Edwin

sonicus · « **Reply #12 on:** November 26, 2009, 01:47:56 AM »

I would concur with you Edwin regarding the use of WD40 on a fingerboard. WD40 has contents that might not be appropriate . Who knows how it might effect the glue on the laminates of wood over time ? I use Aromatherapy grade lemon oil as well for the fingerboard on my Alembic's and my Guild Starfire.Perhaps the use of WD40 on a solid maple neck with out any laminated fingerboard is another topic .One must also consider WD40's effect on the finish. I LIKE to use WD40 on my TOOLS to keep the moving parts well lubricated. It works VERY well to keep the surface of my TABLE SAW from rusting and it keeps the fence on my TABLE SAW sliding nicely.

My 2 cents worth ________

rockbassist · « **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2009, 09:23:31 AM »

I use pure lemon oil. It can be found in aroma therapy and bath & body stores

gtrguy · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:04:37 AM »

I have used WD-40 on guitars for 40 years now with no ill effects. It cleans and helps get the frets shiny. I just make sure to wipe it off carefully when done. I use it on ebony and maple fretboards.