How do you guys condition your bare necks?

[Lightningflash]

I bought an early 90's EBMM Axis whose neck was very dirty (wish I would have taken pics). It looked like the guy worked on his car before he'd play his guitar! (a little sarcasm there)

I cleaned it with a magic eraser which worked pretty good but the neck has such beautiful birds-eye maple that I wanted to be able to show it off a bit and was still kind of dingy. So I took some 220 grit and sanded it down a little to get rid of the layers of grime but not too much as to really affect the profile or make a step to the lacquered headstock.

I was a bit nervous after this because sanding it took whatever color it had away and made it look white-washed a bit. I followed it up with steel wool. A buddy of mine who is a guitar tech says he uses Tung oil but there's a guitar builder who makes high-quality Fender-like guitars who insists that Mineral Oil is the same as furniture polish, just without all the additives and perfumes (and I already had some mineral oil). I typically use the mineral oil on the rosewood but thought to test the maple and it really looked quite natural and close to what I thought it would look like stock.

So, do you guys use typically treat your necks with Tung oil from time to time or do others use Mineral oil?
Just curious what you guys do to keep your necks clean and conditioned?

As you can see it is still a little dingy but not enough to bother me.
I suppose if it does, I can repeat my process again to see if it looks better.
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq175/lightningflash12/Mobile Uploads/2014-08/20140827_220541.jpg

 

[jzeijen]

Have you watched this one?

Caring for your Music Man neck & Fretboard - YouTube

I bought this, works wonders:

Music Man Care Set MM Pflege 1 - Thomann Nederland

Should be available in the US also I think.

 

[Mikey]

The Birchwood Casey True Oil and Wax are available in nearly every home depot in the U.S. for a couple of bucks. Bought mine over there when I was on vacation. I usually mask the glossy laquered parts (headstock and neck pocket) with tape, sand the back of the neck with 800 and 1000 grid sand paper and give it the oil/wax treatment. depending on how much you are playing, once a year should be enough.
But do not let the oil rest on the neck for too long. It`ll get sticky quickly.

Cheers,
Mikey

 

[ozzyrules]

The Birchwood Casey True Oil and Wax are available in nearly every home depot in the U.S. for a couple of bucks. Bought mine over there when I was on vacation. I usually mask the glossy laquered parts (headstock and neck pocket) with tape, sand the back of the neck with 800 and 1000 grid sand paper and give it the oil/wax treatment. depending on how much you are playing, once a year should be enough.
But do not let the oil rest on the neck for too long. It`ll get sticky quickly.
Cheers,
Mikey

+1. I do ,however, prefer the 0000 steel wool over the sandpaper. I also use the Murphy's oil soap as a cleaner before I apply oil and wax.

 

[DrKev]

In the US, Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil and Gunstock Wax are what EBMM recommend. Any good quality gunstock oil will do, and yes, I'm sure you could use tung oil or mineral oil too. (I've used a drop or two of 3-n-1 oil on a cotton bud to do a rosewood board, no drying required just buff it up with paper towels - came out great, as does Tru-oil for the same purpose).

220 grit sand paper will do the job well, but I generally prefer 400 or finer. If you really want grin-like-a-fool smoothness, try finishing with 1200 grit followed by 0000 steel wool (just masking tape the pickups to prevent steel particles getting in there). Masking tape the finger board and polish your frets with the 0000 steel wool while you're at it.

Dab a little oil on a paper towel, wipe evenly all over the neck, no real need to wait, just grab clean paper towels and thoroughly buff the oil off. Repeat same process with wax if desired.

FWIW, some folks around here only use the Tru-Oil, some only use the wax, some like both. No real problems not following EBMM recommendations to the absolute letter.

 

[Stringtwang]

I just spit on both hands and rub them together. My pick sticks better and the chewing tobacco makes the neck look like it was roasted.

 

[Tollywood]

I just spit on both hands and rub them together. My pick sticks better and the chewing tobacco makes the neck look like it was roasted.

ew. Remind me to never shake your hand.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

ew. Remind me to never shake your hand.

Me too. Ha!

 

[Lanky]

For quick & easy cleaning and maintenance, when no sanding & oiling & waxing is needed yet, EB Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner works very well for the necks. I got confirmation from EBMM suport that this is a valid and recommended thing to do, and it will not do any harm to the necks. I do that always now, whenever cleaning a fretboard with one of these wonder wipes, I also clean all the necks of my 3 EBMM guitars, there is enough oil/cleaner (or whatever else it is) on each wipe. Works great.

 

[EBMMjpXI7]

I recommend a (optional pre- and) pre/post playing regimen:

1) graph tech pre play chops , every time you wash , apply just a drop, optional but my favorite thing, my chick also digs the scent and is less bothered with my playing as well

2) tone finger ease before and after, I spray the fingerboard and back of neck before I play, and then spray the bridge/pup hardware area lightly and the fretboard , to remove any grime or oils that got past "chops "

I tried all the sprays/conditioners, and after getting my EBMM this summer, I wanted to care for it to make the hardware last and increase original part longevity and I landed with this setup

So far, they remain to look fairly unused unlike the usual wear you'd expect with the increased frequency of use

 

[uOpt]

Does anybody have a recommendation for a wax that contains no silicone?

 

[tonelover]

Next time I treat one of my EBMM necks I'm going to see what happens when only using the wax and not the true oil. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but the oil seems to make things sticky, more so than the wax can fully overcome.

 

[jzeijen]

Next time I treat one of my EBMM necks I'm going to see what happens when only using the wax and not the true oil. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but the oil seems to make things sticky, more so than the wax can fully overcome.

Do you leave the oil on, or wipe it off immediately? I had the stickyness once, after I left it on for about half an hour.. Now I apply and right after that wipe it off. Follow up with the wax and it's nice and smooth again!

 

[tonelover]

Thanks for the comment. I don't think I left it on, maybe I use too much but I wiped it off the best I could right away.