What do you use to clean your fretboard?

Karl Hungus · 13-08-2005 10:25PM #1

In light of someone (Who shall not be named so long as they buy me a pint) using steel wool on their fretboard, I thought it might be prudent to start a thread for trading information on fretboard cleaning methods, to avoid any such mistakes happening again.

Personally, I've been using Fast Fret, but recently the stick of it I have has gotten fairly grubby, so I've decided to try something else. Today I picked up some Peavy Lemon Oil, which I just used a little dab on a toothbrush to give my fretboard a bit of a scrub, wiped it down with some kitchen paper and it cleaned it up marvelously! Got rid off all those natty bits of grime that can build up. I certainly think I'll be using it again on all my guitars.

Anyone else care to add their own methods, or agree/disagree with my method?

NotMe · 13-08-2005 10:27PM

I have some D'Andrea guitar polish that I bought from Thomann ages ago. Spray on stuff.... it does the job. Having said that I don't clean my guitar very often.

Doctor J · 13-08-2005 10:37PM

Steel wool is legitimate enough once you use the finest stuff available. I've yet to go to the lengths in that link, usem lemon oil and a toothbrush so far.

Mystic Fibrosis · 13-08-2005 11:01PM

Dr. Stringfellow's Lemon Oil Fretboard Cleaner over here. And a cloth, obviously.

Karl Hungus · 13-08-2005 11:19PM

Mystic Fibrosis wrote:

Dr. Stringfellow's Lemon Oil Fretboard Cleaner over here. And a cloth, obviously.

What, no toothbrush?

Mystic Fibrosis · 13-08-2005 11:29PM

Bit too hardcore for me

(Or is that ghetto?)

Karl Hungus · 13-08-2005 11:42PM

Man, you need to have a toothbrush for cleaning your board of fretting. Don't be doing things half arsedly.

Mystic Fibrosis · 13-08-2005 11:47PM

I'll have you know I'm a handy man with a cloth. My wood is in fine condition.

John · 13-08-2005 11:48PM

Clean? I scrape anything off that needs removal with my nail (build up of dead skin against the frets) but other than that no cleaning will be had.

Ravelleman · 14-08-2005 12:10AM

I do the same as you Karl 'cept with Yamaha lem oil. It really works wonders.

kika · 14-08-2005 12:58PM

0000-grade wire wool but ONLY 0000-grade.

I used it to do the finishing on my guitar when i built it too. Its by far the best. I will clean dirt out of the smallest little crevaces a toothbrush cant even imagine. U gotta be careful tho. rub it across the grain and you'll be left with billions of little scratches. do it right and yer board will shine.

I was shown the stuff by a luthier when I was making me own yoke.

do the board. bit of linseed oil/polish and do the board again... Beautiful!

feylya · 14-08-2005 01:50PM

Stringfellow's lemon oil and a cloth. I don't use a toothbrush either.

Droogie · 15-08-2005 02:33AM

D'andrea Lemon Oil with a cloth... I never thought of using a toothbrush...

Spicy Lauren · 15-08-2005 10:04AM

Elbow oil on a damp cloth works fine with me!

egan007 · 15-08-2005 10:05AM

sleve

Quattroste · 15-08-2005 12:39PM

I used Steel Wool. Great stuff!! Who needs a shiny smooth fretboard anyway. That's for whimpy guitarists. I like my fretboard to feel scratched and bumpy so I know the effort required to slide and bend.

I'm off now to polish my car. I was told if I used a brick and some cif you can get a really good shine.

68 lost souls · 15-08-2005 10:04PM

Havent tried it yet but I hear good things about nailvarnish remover. The acetone in it will take out all the dirt.

feylya · 15-08-2005 10:10PM

Hmmm, will is it that acetone is screaming at me about finishes and dissolving?

BossArky · 16-08-2005 10:27AM

Q: What do you use to clean your fretboard?
A: Erosion

68 lost souls · 16-08-2005 11:56AM

Thats why I havent tried it, might be ok on an unfinished fretboard if you tap of the edge to avoid it spilling over. It most definately will remove everything though. Just dont go trying it on anything more than a squire.

daram · 16-08-2005 04:31PM

mr sheen?

Doctor J · 16-08-2005 04:49PM

68 lost souls wrote:

Thats why I havent tried it, might be ok on an unfinished fretboard if you tap of the edge to avoid it spilling over. It most definately will remove everything though. Just dont go trying it on anything more than a squire.

It can't be good for the wood either? Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

What do you use to clean your fretboard?

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