Fretboard cleaning

[gtrwun]

Naphtha

 

[maddnotez]

Where are you guys getting the Fret Doctor?

I see on Amazon but the bottle has a link doctorsprod.com. I figured I would see what the website says but I do not see it listed there. Only bore cleaner and things for woodwind instruments.

 

[squank]

Unless an unfinished neck sits unplayed for a long time, your natural oils on your hand should be all that's needed.

That's kind of nasty.

The sweat and oil from our hands are full of dirt and bacteria. That's the shit we are trying to get off the neck and fretboard when cleaning it.

 

[squank]

Guys, it's important to remember that cleaning and conditioning are (or should be) two separate processes, and they should be done using different products. Think of it like cleaning a gun. You use the solvent to loosen and remove the carbon, and after you get all of that off, you apply the lubricating oil to make sure the clean parts move smoothly. Same idea with wood.

Many cleaners can safely be used on unfinished wood, even naphtha (or soap and water), as long as you condition the wood soon thereafter. As for conditioning, most of the shit sold as "lemon oil" is a lie. Check the ingredients - it's just cheap mineral oil with a lemon scent added. Actual lemon oil is a citric acid and would not condition wood - it would dry it out. Mineral oil isn't much of a cleaner, but it is a petroleum distillate, and I wouldn't want petroleum products left on my unfinished guitar wood.

I would avoid linseed oil in that repeated applications will change the wood's color (it has a yellowing property). I am a big fan of Fret Doctor as a conditioner, as it is a carefully designed penetrating oil that restores wood's natural (not dried out) color without adding its own tint. It is a bit pricey, but as has been said here already, a little goes a long way. A bottle lasts me several years and I have had tons of guitars and I clean and condition each of them 2-3 times per year.

I know Wilcutts sells FD.

 

[PBGas]

I use the Fret doctor stuff maybe once a year. I use it very sparingly. As pointed out from everyone, you use too much and something else will lift or come loose.

 

[Evil Z06]

I have found the best to me for cleaning the fretboard and frets is Gorgomyte and then use Music Nomad f-one oil to condition it.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

I use naptha to clean the gunk off the board and then a little bore oil to condition.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Where are you guys getting the Fret Doctor?

I see on Amazon but the bottle has a link doctorsprod.com. I figured I would see what the website says but I do not see it listed there. Only bore cleaner and things for woodwind instruments.

http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm

Order here Mang.


Naptha to clean, fret doctor twice a year, once in spring once in fall.

FD is bore oil and the best and ive used it all in 40 years.

Lemon oil contains mineral oil which has water in it and actually dries out your fret board, not good.

 

[maddnotez]

Where are you guys getting the Fret Doctor?

I see on Amazon but the bottle has a link doctorsprod.com. I figured I would see what the website says but I do not see it listed there. Only bore cleaner and things for woodwind instruments.

http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm

Order here Mang.


Naptha to clean, fret doctor twice a year, once in spring once in fall.

FD is bore oil and the best and ive used it all in 40 years.

Lemon oil contains mineral oil which has water in it and actually dries out your fret board, not good.

So the naptha I can use all the time? Like with every string change or every few?

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Yes but use it sparingly a lil goes a long way on a clean cloth.

Don't drown the fretboard.

Charcoal lighter fluid is Naptha basically.

Don't ever use acetone or harsh chemicals like that, will totally screw up a fretboard.

 

[rstites]

I use naphtha to clean really gunky fret boards. I use linseed oil or lemon oil on my necks once a year or two. I put it on pretty liberally, let it set a couple of minutes and then wipe the excess off with a rag.

Most of my necks don't have a finish on them, so it's important to apply oil to them to protect the necks. Unlike some others above, I use oil on my maple necks due to this.

Unless an unfinished neck sits unplayed for a long time, your natural oils on your hand should be all that's needed.

Possibly, but it certainly doesn't hurt anything to rub a bit of oil on there every year or two. There's no downside to it. Pretty much every guitar tech recommends it, and pretty much everyone who works with wood in any capacity recommends a finish or a regular re-oiling of wood.

Plus, I'm not dripping personal body oil.....I bathe on a regular basis!

 

[rstites]

So the naptha I can use all the time? Like with every string change or every few?

Personally, I wouldn't use it that often. I only break out the naptha once the necks have built up some gunk. When I used to play out a lot, I'd change strings weekly, but only do cleaning/oiling at my semi-annual or annual truss-rod adjustment and intonation set up.

It probably doesn't hurt anything, but I really don't like using chemicals on the neck that often.