Ground in dirt on maple fingerboard - sanding the only option?

[johnthebass]

I have a 2002 'Ray with a maple neck and fingerboard. The dirt appears to be ground in, such that the wonder wipes and a microfibre cloth won't shift it - I have read in the FAQs that if the dirt has become worn in, that the solution is to sand it, but to be honest I don't fancy taking the sand paper or the wire wool to it, as I don't really have the requisite skills.

Any suggestions other than take it to a luthier and get them to do it?
At least then I have somebody to blame if it goes wrong!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Are you in the States? - if so Murphy's oil soap is supposed to do the trick.

 

[fogman]

wouldn't Wonder Wipes take care of that???

 

[MK Bass Weed]

Watch this

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24yWr2LRmJY]YouTube - Caring for your Music Man neck & Fretboard[/ame]

 

[Headstock]

Might need to use a toothbrush, repetition, and the Murphy's for the really ground in dirt.

 

[TNT]

First off I would never sand to get rid of stain or dirt, only to "modify"!!

Use Murphy's Oil Soap for the difficult cleanings. Keep working at it - you'll get it. Besides a little dirt never hurt anything especially if you are using the axe to gig with (I assume it's not a collector piece to be displayed).

 

[five7]

Thanks for posting the video!

 

[TNT]

Yeah, that was a great video!

Just one thing I might ad: when you sand the back of the neck be sure NOT to sand over your "side fretboard markers" - it'll scratch them and dull them.

 

[RoboChrist]

What you need to do is buy a new bass and take it to a guy who will defret the neck and spray it with a satin poly finish. Or you can go back in time to the early nineties when MM was making them that way from the factory.

 

[mynan]

Or you can go back in time

Kinda like you went back in time to revive this thread...

 

[rizzo9247]

If you are the original owner, I say keep it.

A wise man once said, "The funk is in the funk"

Edit:

Kinda like you went back in time to revive this thread...

Ahhh, good catch!

 

[zombi]

Dirty maple fretboards are the best... I say leave it. It's about as "road worn" as it's gonna get.

 

[RoboChrist]

kinda like you went back in time to revive this thread...:d

I often wonder what it would take to make people be a little more demanding on this forum and a lot less fanboy. Maybe if this thread was about exploding necks guys would be all like, yeah! Exploding necks ftw!

 

[Basspro]

+1.... Yes leave it, it's part of the mojo. You know now days you pay extra for something
like that (relic).

 

[RaginRog]

Dirty maple fretboards are the best... I say leave it. It's about as "road worn" as it's gonna get.

I'm with you on this. I used the Murphy's oil to get excess dirt off- but a bit of grime never hurt anyone!

 

[RaginRog]

+1.... Yes leave it, it's part of the mojo. You know now days you pay extra for something
like that (relic).

Yeah, like Fender having the nerve to charge $1200 for a Road Worn-Mexican made bass.

 

[bovinehost]

I often wonder what it would take to make people be a little more demanding on this forum and a lot less fanboy. Maybe if this thread was about exploding necks guys would be all like, yeah! Exploding necks ftw!

I don't even know what that means but it makes me laugh!

 

[strummer]

Maybe if this thread was about exploding necks guys would be all like, yeah! Exploding necks ftw!

Hell yeah, I'm all for instruments with a bit of S H O W

 

[Basspro]

Kinda brings back memories of the early Who days.

 

[tkarter]

Needs more bubble bath.

tk