Care for unfinished maple neck/fretboard - definitive advice

[Tony Greensmith]

Hi everyone.
My first post!

I have read so much conflicting advice on caring for an unfinished Maple neck and fretboard so I contacted EBMM direct. This is the definitive advice on this subject

"We recommend using the Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes fretboard conditioner for general cleaning of the fretboard (during string changes). Murphy's Oil Soap can offer a bit deeper of a cleaning if it's really dirty, but should be used in minimal amounts (apply to an instrument cloth to rub onto the fretboard).


Yes we recommend applying the gunstock wax & oil to the back of the neck when it gets dry (about every 2 years for our climate in the central coast of California). We use the gunstock wax on the fretboard in factory for new instruments, but we don't recommend reapplying it to the fretboard as it can get gunky and difficult to remove."

NO WAX ON FRETBOARD!

 

[GWDavis28]

Tony, welcome, that information is located in the FAQ I do believe under the Guitar section. There is even a video done by EBMM's own Drew Montel.

FAQ | Ernie Ball Music Man

Glenn |B)

 

[Tony Greensmith]

Thanks for your kind welcome.

My uncertainty came from the fact that the video gives plentiful information on an unfinished neck and a rosewood fretboard but nothing on an unfinished maple board.

The FAQ information on the website gives info on the care of an unfinished neck only but again, nothing on an unfinished maple board.

I read as many of the posts on this subject as I could on the Forum and some members posted that an unfinished maple board should be dealt with the same as the neck, with a final coat of gun wax. This is not the case so I thought it might be helpful to post.

Just to conclude. I have had guitars by Tom Anderson, Suhr, McNaught, Tyler, Fender, Gibson, PRS and many more I can't remember. However, having only had my Axis Super Sport for a couple of weeks I can say that the guitar Is the most impressive guitar I have ever owned. I only bought my PRS McCarty 594 5 weeks ago but it is now for sale. Wish I had found this guitar earlier. It would have saved much time and expense.

 

[beej]

Welcome Tony- thanks for taking the time to post that Neck care info is definitely the source of much confusion.

 

[tbonesullivan]

I think a lot of it depends on how much cleaning you do to the fretboard. I had a Stingray 4H in Lava Pearl that had a REALLY grungy neck. The finish on the back was kinda flaking, etc. So I went for the FULL clean.

This involves removing the neck from the guitar. Then with a soft toothbrush and a 1:1 mixture of water and murphy's oil soap, I repeatedly cleaned the entire neck except the bottom of the heel, until the rag I was drying it off with stopped turning black. This removes all of the wax, and often some of the oil finish. I then let it dry off for 2 days, and then re-applied birchwood casey tru-oil over the entire neck surface, except for the heel bottom. Then I wiped it off 5 minutes later, making sure to get all of it off the frets. Then I waited a day for it to dry, and waxed the entire neck.

It. Was. AWESOME. Possibly better than new.

So, it all depends on just how much cleaning you need to do. For MOST necks, I would think that using the gun-stock oil on the fretboard again would be superfluous, but it all depends on how much wear it gets.

 

[YTK]

Hi everyone.
My first post!

I have read so much conflicting advice on caring for an unfinished Maple neck and fretboard so I contacted EBMM direct. This is the definitive advice on this subject

"We recommend using the Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes fretboard conditioner for general cleaning of the fretboard (during string changes). Murphy's Oil Soap can offer a bit deeper of a cleaning if it's really dirty, but should be used in minimal amounts (apply to an instrument cloth to rub onto the fretboard).


Yes we recommend applying the gunstock wax & oil to the back of the neck when it gets dry (about every 2 years for our climate in the central coast of California). We use the gunstock wax on the fretboard in factory for new instruments, but we don't recommend reapplying it to the fretboard as it can get gunky and difficult to remove."

NO WAX ON FRETBOARD!

Tony - I'm a few months late but wanted to thank you for posting this. I just acquired a used Stingray with the raw maple neck/fretboard and have been agonizing over what to do with it. Experienced the same conundrum you did: the FAQ is pretty clear, but the video they link to is somewhat conflicting, and then the forums are a whole 'nother beast entirely. I'm not against anecdotal info at all, but your add'l info from the source is just what I needed. Hopefully this post helps out others as well, glad I found it.

 

[RennerGutierre]

Hi Guys,

I´m having the same issue here w/ my MusicMan Axis Birds Eye Neck. It´s all weared by dirty even after a slight sanding using a fine steel wool that I think removed all, or most of, original wax from the fretboard (It´s less yellowish). We don´t have "Murphy´s Oil Soap" here in Brazil to do a deep cleaning, but we have a transparent and no coloring mineral oil available, largely used by woodworkers (naphthenic and/or paraffinic base mix), and also Gun Stock Tru-oil and Gun Stock Wax from Birchwood Casey. So I ask you guys: How to remove dust completely from my neck? Which product should I use? Can I sand it more with a 1200 sandpaper? How much? After that, what I need to do? Tru-oil + Gun Wax? Please, help me!

 

[Astrofreq]

The only thing I've ever done to my maple necks and fretboards is on a SUPER rare occasion (like every 5 years if ever tops) took some fine steel wool to the grimy spots.

Usually the occasional Wonder Wipe does the trick.

 

[RennerGutierre]

Thanks for your reply @radrock,

We don´t have wonder wipes available here, so which product should I use instead?

I´ve done a light sanding using 1200 sandpaper, removing basically all finish from the fretboard. I think now I can reapply tru-oil and gun stock wax like on a unfinished maple neck. Can I do that? Or maybe I´ve made it all wrong? The fretboard still has grime marks on it.

 

[Astrofreq]

This stuff is great.

https://www.amazon.com/Gerlitz-GGH-...8&qid=1542387040&sr=8-3&keywords=guitar+honey

 

[RennerGutierre]

My tru-oil and Gun Stock wax from Birchwood Casey arrived today and I´ve just applied the 1st layer. Looks fantastic! I´m gonna wait 24 hours to apply 2nd layer, and more 12 hours to apply a thin layer of Gun Stock Wax. All accordingly to product instructions. Wish me luck!

 

[baxbax]

Hi Guys,

I have almost the same issue. I purchased a MM Stringray 2005 maple fretboard. It seems to me that this is (almost) unfinished fretboard. The previous owner used it with very dirty hands...Very. It has gunk on the fretboard, but only where the fingers can touch it, under the strings it is pretty clean.

I attach a picture, it is worse in reality.

Do you have any advice how to get rid of this? Steel wool would be my last option. I've seen Wonder Wipes as an advice above. Could it work, or I need more serious action?

If I have to use steel wool or sanding how/what can do to get back the feel of the neck?

I'm EU based... I do not have access to U.S. stuff.

Thank you!

 

[tbonesullivan]

Wonder wipes should probably help with that. Even with diligent hand washing, eventually the fretboard will stain from dirt and oils. There's really no way around it unfortunately.

 

[baxbax]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice. I see more “types” of wonder wipes... Can you suggest the right one for me?

Thank you.