Dirty AL

[dannymusic]

me AL has been played much since Feb.. The maple fretboard has gotten very dirty looking. In a way it's kinda cool, but is it....... normal? I do wash my hands all the time before I play, but this seems VERY quick.

 

[Sweat]

I would not call it dirty call it aged, have only had the BFR AL for 6 weeks and the fretboard and neck are darker and yes me washes hands all the time, I think it is normal and adds to the look, very cool, plus I wipe it down as well

 

[travs]

I use the Spudmurphy tested lemon oil for the monthy detail and re string project. a quick wipe and a hand finish and then a couple of swipes with fret fast and its good to go. I am dry hand guy in a mild climate so my neck is cleann and I am not good enough to gig. yet?

I also have fret wear but from what I have read here its all ok.

 

[dannymusic]

i didn't say I didn't think it looks cool. it does. just wanted to make sure it wa z'okay

I love me AL to DEATH!!

 

[mbgreene]

Its all good. All wood will darken with age and use. The lighter it starts the more you notice it. So don't think dirty, think fine golden patina .

 

[fogman]

Its all good. All wood will darken with age and use. The lighter it starts the more you notice it. So don't think dirty, think fine golden patina .

well said.

 

[gbradtke]

I've got dirty fingers too. Dousn't matter how much I wash them I always get neck filth. I've ordered a silo with rosewood partly to avoid this.
Lemon oil is good for removing the oily marks, but you need steel wool for a good clean.
I re-applied gunstock oil and wax as per reccomendations and this helped too.
Do more layers of the wax part and it will build to a more protective layer.
Alternatively play every fret evenly and no one will ever notice.

I have accepted that the dirtyness is a trade off you must accept for the exceptional feel of a MM neck.

Look at old pictures of the necks on Clapton or Hendrix guitars (filth city) and you'll feel much better.

 

[Smellybum]

Could I get an evil AL?

Black hardware - black paint and Red logo?
Red pickups
and AL is evil in the inlay!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Yeah do as Travs says and you will keep it in good shape - just liberal amounts of lemon oil - don't get flooding it with lemon oil. Travs asked me about this a while ago and he seems pretty happy with the results.

My AL's are relatively new and the necks haven't darkened that much,but my recently acquired EVH has a lovely patina.

 

[robelinda2]

My sunburst and orange AL's must have that glue treatment, they just dont get dirty ever, but my newer ones do.

 

[dannymusic]

I'm gonna let it go. it makes it look nicely broken in.

 

[candid_x]

Or, give it a good rub down with Wonder Wipes neck treatment, and then wipe it down with a dry cloth, when you change strings. Yes, it's fine to use on an oil finished maple neck. Cleans, seals it a bit, smells good, plays good, won't hurt a thing.

 

[robelinda2]

Tiny bit of steel wool, very light will get rid of the dirt, if you dont get rid of it now it will get really dirty and much harder to get rid of. you can keep it looking good and new if you get on top of it early.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

My necks are filthy..... I love them!