Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

[Charvel1975]

Hello all! Our drummer has a Squier Tele that he brought to our rehearsal space as I was going to try using for the one cover song that we do that uses a Capo, Bryan Adams - Run To You. My other guitarist adjusted the truss rod but it needs new strings, I have D'Addairo .009-.042 gauge strings I was going to put on it and the maple fretboard, which looks like it is unfinished, is pretty dirty so I was going to clean it up when doing string change here at my place.

I have some Gibson Luthier's Choice Fretboard Conditioner here, would that be safe to use or is that for Rosewood fingerboards only? I've been trying to read up on cleaning methods as I've read that Mr. Clean Magic Eraser with some warm water and a soft cotton towel/rag works like "Magic" (on the really dirty unfinished maple necks and boards) but I've also read that just a cloth and some warm water to clean the fretboard too works good? What do you guys think?

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

Lemon oil and an old cotton Tshirt work fine.

 

[shupe13]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

Just a damp cloth.

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[Boogie Bill]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

Damp cloth. Buff dry.

Bill

 

[Cobra1957]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

Distilled water and a clean cotton cloth then buff.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

Unless a previous owner has removed the finish, or its been played so much its been rubbed off, the squier's do not come unfinished. Some have a very light layer of sealer over them, which compared to the typical poly smothering Fender puts on looks like no finish.

If the finish has indeed been removed, I'd get something on there asap.....maple can move a LOT if its exposed to humidity/temp changes.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

Lemon oil and an old cotton Tshirt work fine.

I have read lots of post about not to use lemon oil on maple fretboards, specially unfinished ones

Edit: I once sent an e-mail to Fender about how to keep my Charvel Socal MIM neck clean, here what they replied...

When it comes to maple fret boards and daily maintenance, nothing beats a dry cloth, or even with a tiny bit of moisture. You won't want to put anything with oil or any type of solvents in the grain. When it comes to heavy cleaning your best thing is lighter fluid or Naphtha.

I would leave Naphtha just as a last option.

 

[Old Guy]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

Naptha or lighter fluid on a rag. That'll clean off caked on grime well.

Using oil on a Maple fretboard is a no-no. On the neck you can use Tung oil, but not on the fingerboard.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

excuse me but isn't naphtha the most common solvent?

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

excuse me but isn't naphtha the most common solvent?

Water is the most common solvent. But it's not the most effective.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Tips For Cleaning Unfinished maple fretboard On Squier Tele

I agree with the comments above RE naphta. It's gentle enough to use to clean nitro. Also, I've never seen a Squier with a raw maple fretboard