Best fretboard cleaner?
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
Steel wool and the edge of my credit card. I juice it up with some type of fretboard oil (linseed oil perhaps?) I purchased from my local shop. It's in a bottle labeled "Fretboard Oil", and is yellowish in color.
Steel wool and the edge of my credit card. I juice it up with some type of fretboard oil (linseed oil perhaps?) I purchased from my local shop. It's in a bottle labeled "Fretboard Oil", and is yellowish in color.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
That's likely similar to the oil I mentioned. To actually clean rosewood, you just scrape the crap off of it. Using the fine steel wool gets rid of the gunk, and polishes the frets.
BTW, I just read your signature, and I'm incredibly jealous.... I've been GASing for an LG for years
That's likely similar to the oil I mentioned. To actually clean rosewood, you just scrape the crap off of it. Using the fine steel wool gets rid of the gunk, and polishes the frets.
BTW, I just read your signature, and I'm incredibly jealous.... I've been GASing for an LG for years
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
I haven't tried it yet ... but have been tempted. Anyone ever used Gerlitz Guitar Honey ?
I haven't tried it yet ... but have been tempted. Anyone ever used Gerlitz Guitar Honey ?
Philcguitars
New member
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
I know it isn't the normal thing to do, but I've been using Gibson guitar polish for absolute years, and my rosewood fretboards are in great condition. The polish came with my 12 string in '95, and I will soon need to get some more.
I know it isn't the normal thing to do, but I've been using Gibson guitar polish for absolute years, and my rosewood fretboards are in great condition. The polish came with my 12 string in '95, and I will soon need to get some more.
RW James
New member
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
Yes. I use it on all my guitars every time I change my strings. I like the results.
Yes. I use it on all my guitars every time I change my strings. I like the results.
Robert Delahunt
Showmasterologist
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
Dean Markley Love Potion #11
In a perfect world, however: rosewood oil
Dean Markley Love Potion #11
In a perfect world, however: rosewood oil
BigAlTheBird
Guest
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
Fret Doctor is the best (that I know of, and in my opinion) fretboard conditioner/oil there is.
Fret Doctor is the best (that I know of, and in my opinion) fretboard conditioner/oil there is.
BigAlTheBird
Guest
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
It's good stuff. Really good. I use it only every few months, because (to me) that's all you need. Then again, my fingers are very clean and not oily.
It's good stuff. Really good. I use it only every few months, because (to me) that's all you need. Then again, my fingers are very clean and not oily.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
Conditoner is not cleaner.
For ebony and rosewood boards, use lighter fluid and buff the entire board and frets with 0000 steal wool. after, use a conditoner that is MADE for a guitar. Dont root through a hardware store for something. Yes, it is worth it. I use Stew Mac fretboard conditioner.
This questions is posted every week on here. Something should be permantly posted.
Conditoner is not cleaner.
For ebony and rosewood boards, use lighter fluid and buff the entire board and frets with 0000 steal wool. after, use a conditoner that is MADE for a guitar. Dont root through a hardware store for something. Yes, it is worth it. I use Stew Mac fretboard conditioner.
This questions is posted every week on here. Something should be permantly posted.
Bezmotivnik
New member
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
The alleged "correct" way to do this is with naptha and 000 or 0000 steel wool. It works well enough, but if the board's really filthy, you may want to swab it down with something more absorbant than steel wool on the first few passes.
Along with Dan Erlewine, I'm skeptical of the repackaged snake oil sold to credulous musicians. He recommends unboiled (food grade) linseed oil, but I find that it's too gummy. Personally, I find that extra-virgin olive oil works as well as anything, doesn't gum up and you already have it in your gourmet kitchen anyway, right?
I don't use any oil containing petroleum distillates on my fingerboards.
The alleged "correct" way to do this is with naptha and 000 or 0000 steel wool. It works well enough, but if the board's really filthy, you may want to swab it down with something more absorbant than steel wool on the first few passes.
Along with Dan Erlewine, I'm skeptical of the repackaged snake oil sold to credulous musicians. He recommends unboiled (food grade) linseed oil, but I find that it's too gummy. Personally, I find that extra-virgin olive oil works as well as anything, doesn't gum up and you already have it in your gourmet kitchen anyway, right?
I don't use any oil containing petroleum distillates on my fingerboards.
Ayrton
New member
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
Ditto for cleaning, but I prefer Fret Doctor over lemon oil.
Ditto for cleaning, but I prefer Fret Doctor over lemon oil.
BigAlTheBird
Guest
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
Just to agree with Ayrton, Fret Doctor is the single coolest product you can buy for your guitar! There's not much more I like than the smell and the look of that freshly conditioned board, even if I don't like the oily feel until it dries a few days later.
I'll stop beating the horse now.
Just to agree with Ayrton, Fret Doctor is the single coolest product you can buy for your guitar! There's not much more I like than the smell and the look of that freshly conditioned board, even if I don't like the oily feel until it dries a few days later.
I'll stop beating the horse now.
Robert Delahunt
Showmasterologist
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
Agree to disagree, I guess, but I don't use anything either with petroleum distillates, or any petroleum products on my fretboard. I figure either something made by a reputable company (like Dean Markley for example, assuming you're not clinically paranoid), or the oil from the plant itself (i.e. rosewood oil for rosewood fretboards). Sure, some long-term research might need to be conducted to verify what works best (i'm game ) but ultimately I'd trust something made specifically for luthiers and/or by the company (Fender's product comes to mind for my Strat), or something natural to the wood, to work.
Agree to disagree, I guess, but I don't use anything either with petroleum distillates, or any petroleum products on my fretboard. I figure either something made by a reputable company (like Dean Markley for example, assuming you're not clinically paranoid
), or the oil from the plant itself (i.e. rosewood oil for rosewood fretboards). Sure, some long-term research might need to be conducted to verify what works best (i'm game ) but ultimately I'd trust something made specifically for luthiers and/or by the company (Fender's product comes to mind for my Strat), or something natural to the wood, to work.
Bezmotivnik
New member
Re: Best fretboard cleaner?
What company is it that says not to oil a fingerboard? C. F. Martin? I can't remember offhand.
Something I neglected to mention in my previous post is that if you use naptha, the reason to quickly wipe it down with something absorbent while it's still wet is that it's such a volatile solvent that it will take the dissolved dirt deeper into the grain if you don't. Naptha's amazing stuff, and thank you for not smoking while you're doing all this.:firedevil
The thing about oil is that vegetable oils usually become gummy, so the guitar-care peddlers use petroleum distillates for their magical balms because they don't (and they're also cheaper...funny how that works, huh?). I have read a lot of misinformation saying never to use vegetable oil on a guitar because of this gunkiness, but the assumption that all vegetable oils get nasty is simply wrong. Most have become polymerized through heating and processing, but a fine-quality, cold-pressed oil like extra-virgin olive oil does not. Linseed oil is actually used as a sealant and finish, which is OK, I suppose, but I'm not sure that's what I want to do with my fingerboard.
What company is it that says not to oil a fingerboard? C. F. Martin? I can't remember offhand.
Something I neglected to mention in my previous post is that if you use naptha, the reason to quickly wipe it down with something absorbent while it's still wet is that it's such a volatile solvent that it will take the dissolved dirt deeper into the grain if you don't. Naptha's amazing stuff, and thank you for not smoking while you're doing all this.:firedevil
The thing about oil is that vegetable oils usually become gummy, so the guitar-care peddlers use petroleum distillates for their magical balms because they don't (and they're also cheaper...funny how that works, huh?). I have read a lot of misinformation saying never to use vegetable oil on a guitar because of this gunkiness, but the assumption that all vegetable oils get nasty is simply wrong. Most have become polymerized through heating and processing, but a fine-quality, cold-pressed oil like extra-virgin olive oil does not. Linseed oil is actually used as a sealant and finish, which is OK, I suppose, but I'm not sure that's what I want to do with my fingerboard.
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