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Cleaning

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martinez
Posted 2012-04-04 2:02 PM (#452784)
Subject: Cleaning


Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 260

Location: Spain		Hi All

What's the best thing to use for cleaning the neck of my Elite? I particularly want the little arrow fret markers to blow folk's minds...

I've tried "Fastfret" but not impressed at all. Hoping you guys know some kind of cool homemade idea?

Cheers
Craig
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Monttexan
Posted 2012-04-04 3:24 PM (#452797 - in reply to #452784)
Subject: Re: Cleaning


Joined:
January 2012
Posts: 53

Location: NW Montucky		Well, I make no claims as to this being the "best" way to go about it, but here's what I did to clean up the neck on my 6868 Elite that I bought a few weeks ago. I based all of my actions on information from Dan Erlewine's book, "How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!" The strings had been detuned for shipping the guitar to me and were visibly old and corroded so I removed them. I used an old credit card to gently scrape collected dirt and "grod" from along the frets. Next I used a few cotton swabs with rubbing alcohol to clean away the rest of the dirt. I used a Scotch Brite Pad (not sure what you'd look for in Spain, but a nylon kitchen scrubbing pad often sold as part of a kitchen sponge) to gently rub up and down the length of the neck. This gently polished away the oxidation on the frets, brightening them up, if not really polishing them. I wiped the neck with a lint free cloth to get rid of any debris left from the polishing action. I then used Teak oil and cotton swabs to moisten the fretboard. I prefer Teak oil to Tung oil or Linseed oil for most things. I got a cotton swab wet with the oil, rubbed it on a portion of the fretboard, and then went back and wiped off the excess, slowly working my way the length of the fretboard. Another swab of Teak oil went on the bridge to moisten it up and bring out the grain, again wiping off the excess after giving it a minute to soak in. I buffed all of my work with the lint free cloth and then strung her up! It really brought this dull and dirty fretboard to life.
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martinez
Posted 2012-04-04 3:37 PM (#452799 - in reply to #452784)
Subject: Re: Cleaning


Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 260

Location: Spain		Thanks for the answer mate. Frets are all new so no worries there, but I'll follow the steps to try and clean the fret markers. They're beautiful, might as well see them! :-)

Cheers
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jay
Posted 2012-04-04 4:55 PM (#452806 - in reply to #452784)
Subject: Re: Cleaning



Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249

Location: Texas		On the "fretboard", I use 0000 steel wool. Takes care of the years of fretboard build up and fret tarnish. Then I follow up behind that with some colortone finishing oil. I think ol Dan E actually advertises for Colortone.
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kitmann
Posted 2012-04-04 7:34 PM (#452812 - in reply to #452784)
Subject: RE: Cleaning



Joined:
April 2010
Posts: 1227

Location: Connersville, Indiana

This is what my good friend Iffy gave me. Evey time I buy a guitar from him he does all of this before shipping.  I am now waiting for him to ship me the Ovation Patriot a/e I'm buying from hjm.  Hope this helps.

Iffy’s Beauty Treatment

 

 

 

 

Initial cleaning procedure:

 

1  Remove the strings, tuners and TRC.

2  Lift the pickup/saddle assembly out of the bridge, noting parts location/configuration.

3  Using 0000 steel wool and mineral oil (MO), clean the frets/fretboard, going parallel to the frets.

4  Using a clean/lintless cloth, thoroughly remove MO and 'crud'.

5  Repeat 3 & 4 if necessary.

6  Liberally apply MO to the fretboard using finger(s) insuring total coverage.

7  Let 'soak' for an hour. While waiting for the MO to be absorbed...

8  Using fingers again, apply and gently rub in 'Formby's Lemon Oil Treatment' (FLOT) on the body top, back of neck and headstock. Amazing what is ‘lifted’ with this step.

9  Also apply FLOT to the wooden bridge. I use a Q-tip to insure coverage in the saddle slot, the strings entry/exit points and the bottom of the bridge where it meets the body top.

10  Using a clean/lintless cloth, remove all FLOT except for the bridge. Buff with micro-fiber cloth (M-FC). Inspect and repeat if necessary.

11  Remove the MO from the fretboard and buff with M-FC. If still 'thirsty' repeat step 6, 7 & 10.

12  Buff the bridge using M-FC. If still ‘thirsty’ repeat 9 &11.

13  Polish the tuners. I use ‘Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloth’. If the tuners are really ’cruddy’, then I use  0000 steel wool and MO, wipe clean, then the polishing cloth.

14  If possible, using the MO removal cloth, I ‘dust’ the inside of the body cavity.

15  Then using ‘Dunlop 65’, polish/buff the entire guitar, except the fretboard. NOTE: This step may not be necessary if you’re pleased with the FLOT process.

16  Reattach tuners/TRC and reinsert the pickup/saddle assembly.

17  Restring, tune up and wear it out!

 

Some folk do not like to use 0000 steel wool on their fretboards due to possible ‘snags’. I’ve had no issues whatsoever with my method thus far. If you get snags, you have another issue.

 

I think that just about covers my ‘Iffy’s Beauty Treatment’. I’ve been totally pleased with it and have received many compliments on the appearance of my guitars.

 

If you have ANY questions, fire away.


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Patch
Posted 2012-04-04 8:26 PM (#452814 - in reply to #452784)
Subject: RE: Cleaning



Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4226

Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent		I can't believe Iffy's selling his Patriot!
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kitmann
Posted 2012-04-05 1:10 AM (#452826 - in reply to #452784)
Subject: Re: Cleaning



Joined:
April 2010
Posts: 1227

Location: Connersville, Indiana		Hey said he had two, the one he is sending me is the acoustic electric, not sure if the other one is. Can't wait to record with it.
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Damon67
Posted 2012-04-05 9:25 AM (#452835 - in reply to #452784)
Subject: Re: Cleaning



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City		I personally wouldn't use alcohol at any point while cleaning a fretboard
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Monttexan
Posted 2012-04-05 12:09 PM (#452841 - in reply to #452784)
Subject: Re: Cleaning


Joined:
January 2012
Posts: 53

Location: NW Montucky		Damon67; I understand where you're coming from. I was concerned about its drying effect. I debated with myself before using it. Other recommended solvents in Dan Erlewine's book included Mineral Spirits and lighter fluid. I didn't have either of those on hand, but I did have alcohol. I decided that since I wasn't using very much, just a Q-tip's worth at a time that I'd give it a shot. I observed the wood of the fretboard closely when I first started to see how it was reacting and it did not appear to be drying it out. I'd guess that the oil existing in the fretboard was keeping the alcohol from penetrating at all, just as it would with water. I could not see any difference on the same fret from where the alcohol had been and where I had yet to use it. I had further reasoned that even if there was a slight drying from the alcohol, I was already planning on giving the fretboard a light oiling so I'd be taking care of it right away. I also like how quickly alcohol evaporates off of something. All that being said, will I use it again? Maybe. It depends on what else I have around the house. Will some other project have required I pick up some Mineral Spirits; who knows? The alcohol worked and I'm not one to go buy a likely overpriced industry specific product when some more mundane product will achieve the same results. Just the way I am. Use what works for you!
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