Author Topic: Fret board cleaners (Read 344 times)

eligilam · « **Reply #15 on:** December 17, 2009, 02:15:32 PM »

So what would be best to clean a laquered fretboard (such as Rickenbackers have)? Still use lemon oil or something else? Thanks...

elwoodblue · « **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2009, 02:31:15 PM »

I would bet the Alembic polish would work well for a laquered board. With good buffing action it has a silky and clean feel (no sticky residue).
Lemon oil wouldn't be absorbed so I wouldn't use that as the strings would pick up the residual oil.
I'm guessing any polish that you like for a finished body would be a candidate as long as it didn't have any cutting agent (abrasives).

tomhug · « **Reply #17 on:** December 19, 2009, 08:05:29 PM »

There used to be a pure lemon oil called Parkers. I bought a huge bottle back in the '80's and I am down to the last 1/2 inch. I've been trying to find a source for this for years. It's pure and
I've used it on all my basses and guitars. Anyone aware that this can be purchased anywhere?

David Houck · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:18:29 AM »

This may be the company that is the Parker's you're looking for. If so, they apparently no longer sell pure lemon oil.

jeffbass4 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2009, 09:47:36 AM »

I wanted to add another option. A friend of mine who is a guitar tech for several big bands turned me on to a fret and fretboard cleaner called Gorgomyte. You can find it at Guitar Centers. It is a treated cloth that you cut up into small squares. I watched him use this and it was amazing! It did a great job cleaning and conditioning the fretboard,cleaning the frets and the brass hardware and it is really quick and easy. Afterwards I bought some and went over all my basses. I highly recommend this as my bass necks look like new again. He told me this is the product of choice for a lot of guitar techs these days.

chuckc · « **Reply #20 on:** December 27, 2009, 08:52:59 AM »

Has anyone been using extra virgin olive oil? I seem to recall a post on here that referenced using it instead of lemon oil but it's been a while.

u14steelgtr · « **Reply #21 on:** December 27, 2009, 09:42:11 AM »

For cleaning fret boards I use a ScotchBrite pad. These pads will remove all the dust/crud that attaches itself to the oils there-on, and it will polish the frets nicely (even on ancient corroded frets).

I can not vouch for Olive oil but I can tellyou that it can go rancid so I have NEVER been tempted to experiment with it.

keith_h · « **Reply #22 on:** December 27, 2009, 01:53:33 PM »

Paul TBO used olive oil on his fret boards as I recall. I also remember him saying it worked well in salad dressings. :-)

Keith

tomhug · « **Reply #23 on:** January 02, 2010, 02:29:09 PM »

I did some more research. Apparently the company that made the Parkers was sold and is out of business. Too bad.

If anyone finds unused stock of this polish, I recommend it highly.

The companies address is/was C.W. Parker, 1415 - 2nd Avenue, Des Moines Iowa 50314

(Message edited by TomHug on January 02, 2010)

poor_nigel · « **Reply #24 on:** January 03, 2010, 12:50:56 AM »

I have been using Pure Lemon Oil for a long time. I buy it off the internet at what ever the lowest price is at the time I need more. The last bottle I bought is by Boyajian and I believe I paid $11 for a five ounce bottle and shipping was about $3.00. The bottle I bought three years ago was about $6. This is 100% lemon oil used in cooking. However, I do not keep it in the fridge and it does not spoil or go rancid. As far as logic goes, 100% lemon oil is about as pure of lemon oil as one can get? A rose by any other name, perhaps? As for using other things to treat my fretboards twice a year, I like the results I get from lemon oil, so to each their own.

chalieholmes · « **Reply #25 on:** February 28, 2010, 05:17:39 PM »

I started using Citrus Limonum (Pure Essential oil)From the HEalth Food Store for like 5.00

xlrogue6 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 01, 2010, 09:09:30 AM »

While lemon oil can soften up fingerboard crud, on instruments with heavy deposits I usually use it just to condition the fingerboard after cleaning the gunk off with naptha and a white Scotchbrite pad. The naptha will cut the crud much faster and more effectively than the lemon oil--just be sure to wipe the board thoroughly before applying the lemon oil. BTW, Dunlop sells lemon oil ( www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=222 ) in a bottle with an applicator that I've been happy with. If your local shop doesn't carry it (and I suspect most of them don't!), Dunlop sells direct, at least for US customers.

alembickoa · « **Reply #27 on:** March 02, 2010, 09:24:21 AM »

Dr. Ducks Ax Wax...works on everything. Been using it for years.