I love my Axis but....

[tonelover]

Superb guitar but the fretboard gets dirty almost just by looking at it. I make sure my hands are washed and I wipe it down after each play but it discolors faster than anything I've ever seen. I am trying to determine if the light browh that shows up while I play is simply a disturbance in the waxy surface that can be removed/minimized, or whether it is permanent. I have the oil soap, Tru-Oil and gun stock wax and will treat it next time I change strings to see what happens, but man it discolors quickly.

 

[Trent]

Dirty Board

I get this too BUT I like the look.
The played look is WAY better to me than the NEVER TOUCHED Look.
Just what I like, playing wear is ok so long as you don't beat the heck out of the guitar.
I wonder what others here think?
Cheers

 

[andynpeters]

I agree with the OP, which is why I would never buy another EBMM with maple fretboard and why my ASS MM90 doesn't get the playing it should. For me the unfinished maple fretboard just requires too much maintenance & I really hate my guitars to look dirty.
Rosewood fretboards for me every time withEBMM

 

[hbucker]

Careful about what you put on it. You could end up sealing teh gunk in.

I've had good luck with a soft toothbrush and Murphy's Oil Soap, undiluted. Brush it and wipe it off. Then Lemon Oil w/the brush. Wipe it off. Let it set for 24 hours or so.

Then wipe it again and string it up.

If having a perfectly pristine looking neck is what you desire, then an oiled/unfinished neck is not for you. But I've found that with the cleaning outlined above along with hand washing before I play, my EVH stays looking really nice. Played. But nice.

 

[azazael]

Maple only looks good when its got wear.

 

[Kesmi]

I've found my maple Silo neck gets dirty real fast as well. Every Sunday after a weekend of sweating and gigging I wipe it down with a Wonder Wipes fretboard tissue, and it's good as new again.

 

[andynpeters]

I've found my maple Silo neck gets dirty real fast as well. Every Sunday after a weekend of sweating and gigging I wipe it down with a Wonder Wipes fretboard tissue, and it's good as new again.

Hmmm interesting....have just bought some Wonder Wipes off EBay.....let's see if they solve the problem.

 

[tonelover]

I certainly prefer the look of pristine maple, and it's a shame that the nice birdseye figuring on these can get covered up so easily. It seems clear that keeping it clean looking will be an effort in futility, or just too much work. I am so pleased with the guitar itself though that I will just have to learn to live with it.

 

[Smellybum]

 

[azazael]

I certainly prefer the look of pristine maple, and it's a shame that the nice birdseye figuring on these can get covered up so easily. It seems clear that keeping it clean looking will be an effort in futility, or just too much work. I am so pleased with the guitar itself though that I will just have to learn to live with it.

You have it backwards.
Wear, dirt and aging brings out the figuring of the woods.
It makes flame or birdseye more pronounced.

 

[4Boogie]

I like the dirty look too

 

[travs]

the look and feel of maple is worth the dirt and cost of Wonder Wipes. my dry lizard skinned meat hooks never dirty up my neck. but then my ADD and poor playing do not help.

 

[bbake1]

WW for my 25th every time I am done with it. Still looks new. Same for my older Axis' which have aged nicely.

 

[Spudmurphy]

When Leo Fender saw that his maple neck guitars were looking dirty on TV he decided to introduce rosewood necks. It's a given that maple needs maintenance.

Murphy's oil soap as mentioned will get the gunk off. I have used lemon oil on maple afterwards and it gives a great finish (ask Travs). I've also used a small amount of wax on the fretboard.

My second hand EVH doesn't have a dirty neck - but it looks awesome now that it has aged - it's acquired a fantastic patina.

 

[Sweat]

When Leo Fender saw that his maple neck guitars were looking dirty on TV he decided to introduce rosewood necks. It's a given that maple needs maintenance.

Murphy's oil soap as mentioned will get the gunk off. I have used lemon oil on maple afterwards and it gives a great finish (ask Travs). I've also used a small amount of wax on the fretboard.

My second hand EVH doesn't have a dirty neck - but it looks awesome now that it has aged - it's acquired a fantastic patina.

Nice bit of guitar fact Spud

With that said all guitars require maintenance on fretboard no matter what flavor of wood, body neck etc. Just take care of it EBMM products are great and other thing that can be done.

With that said love the look of worn in Maple Also it could be the acidic nature of your hands, think about it and google

 

[Spudmurphy]

Jeff Beck uses a lot of Talcum powder on his hands when he plays - it may help?

 

[azazael]

This might make you physically sick...

Super Sport.

 

[brasco68]

I took some wonder wipes to the maple neck on my Super Sport....good as new. It's a simple process.

 

[MetroGnome]

What heavenly dirt those guitars have. The bovine species would be proud!!

I cleaned my neck up and am working real hard to get it dirty again. It just looks better.

 

[hbucker]

I think applying potting soil directly to the neck is getting a little carried away...