Cleaning frets with a maple board?

[BloodRose]

This has probably been addressed many times over, so sorry if Im rehashing. My strat has a maple board, and something strange is happening to the frets.. Its a Japanese Squier from the 80s and Ive owned it for a number of years (around 10ish) but have played it very little. I always play with clean hands and wipe down after every play. For some reason, Ive noticed the frets turning brown.. I wiped a couple off today and its kinda sticky.
There is no mung on the board or at the sides of the frets, just the frets themselves. Kind of odd... Anyhow, what would be the best thing to clean this beasty with??

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

SDUGF is a male board.


Sounds like some sort of moisture / corrosion issue. I lived in a flat a couple of years ago where air flow was not too good inside the building and out of the sudden some metal parts started to corrode/colour (greenish, brownish, amish) and rubber/plastic started to peel off. On the object, as far as I can remember I could successfully wipe the dirt off using a standard Dunlop cleaner set. The issue disappeared only after leaving the damp place.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

It happened many years ago to my Charvel after sitting in the case unplayed for 2 years. I cleaned it with a sand paper, but carefully. Eventually everything went away with friction from playing, except a little on the sides of the fretwires.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

yeah, it doesnt get the love it deserves and has been sitting a long while.. Luckily, the stuff wipes off with a polishing cloth and some elbow grease, but I dont want to ruin the polishing cloth cuz it leaves black stains all over it. Its odd though.. Ive had frets get kind of corroded looking before, but never this. Its almost like a thick grease..

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Gorgomyte...works like a charm :bigthumb:

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Considering the toughness of the brown stain, I'm gonna try a carburetor cleaner or an oven cleaner next time.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Not all frets have the same alloy, so some will tarnish faster than others.

Best way would be to get some of the Dunlop 65 Fret Polishing Cloths. They're like a 5000 grit sandpaper. They are reusable and washable so they last for a while. I've used a little bit of toothpaste with some lemon oil on an old t-shirt. You're actually removing some of the metal, and that's why your cloth turns black.

And on the old style full gloss lacquer necks I would use an application of Carnauba Wax to protect the finish. It helps protect the finish, and seems to slow down the tarnish.

If you live in an area where high humidity is a problem, try adding one of the little silica gel packets to your guitar case.

Bill

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Lighter fluid and a toothbrush does wonder on maple fretboards.. That's the old school way to clean gunk on them and works well.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Maybe try some micro mesh paper/pads. They can start as low as about 3000 grit and go as high as 12,000 grit. You can find them in little square pads at places like hobby shops.

StewMac also has those fret erasers that might be worth looking in to.

The maple may or may not come in to play, depending on if it's finished or not. If unfinished, some people like to mask it off to keep the wood from "graying".

 

[ken361]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

This works great on frets no joke! someone told me about this, dont cost much either. Polishes like a buffer wheel! Get the Silver one!
http://connoisseurs.com/jewelry_care/jewelry_polishing_cloths_silver_buff.php

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Tape the fretboard wood off with low tack painter's tape and polish them with 0000 steel wool.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Gorgomyte...works like a charm :bigthumb:

+1000 for Gorgomyte.... Best stuff I've ever used, it's quick, lasts, and was recommended to my by the head of the PRS service department.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Tape the fretboard wood off with low tack painter's tape and polish them with 0000 steel wool.

This is exactly what I've always done. I use one of those metal 'fret guards', too. Keeps them shiny. I do this during every string change so I don't have do ever do a very deep cleaning.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

I use a felt block from Rockler and some automotive buffing compound to clean frets.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Tape the fretboard wood off with low tack painter's tape and polish them with 0000 steel wool.

10/10. I had a problem while working on a Rickenbacker 4001 where I would polish the frets, then 20min later it would start to dull, think it was just due to the alloy used and the fact it was old.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Scallop it,all the mung can/will adhere to whatever!!!!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

thanks all! Ive never had frets get like this before..usually keep em sparkling!! whats odd is its not been played.. I could see it if I played guitar after eating cotton candy or something.. haha

boogiebill, Yeah, Lake City FL. average humidity, 98percent.. need to find a source and get some of those packs for all my cases..

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

Question.. Googling comes up with places selling GHS Gorgomyte. Same thing? If so, next payday Ill order some and some new strings.. thanks

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

This is the stuff:

JJ's GORGOMYTE

^^ He sells 2" square 'samples' on eBay for about $2.00 each that will work for one guitar...easy way to try it out :bigthumb:

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Cleaning frets with a maple board?

The "Miracle Polishing Cloth" with the coconut oil is the SAME thing as the Gorgomyte and sometimes available locally and/or for less $. I know you can get it on Amazon reasonably, including the larger 12" cloth, which, if you cut it up into 2" squares and put the pieces into small zip loc bags, will last you for years:

Whichever one you go with, there is absolutely no reason NOT to use one of those. Seriously, for restoring tarnished frets, the Gorgomyte/Miracle Cloth are the best things ever!

Steel wool is a mess and outdated and if it's bad enough you need to reshape the frets, you won't be using steel wool anyway.

The key with Maple boards is to use the steel fret protecters or simply take 5 minutes and tape off the frets (my recommendation).

I've used the cloths on gloss finished Maple boards without issue, but the dark polishing residue doesn't play well with satin/oiled/raw boards. Still, the polishing cloths are the absolute best way to make those frets silver and shiny without worrying about metal shavings getting everywhere. Plus, start to finish is 15 minutes to do a whole fretboard...can't beat it!