Help! Is this what EBMM uses on their maple necks?

[Norrin Radd]

I'm thinking I might want to clean up an old neck and re-oil it. Just want to know:

1. If the stuff in the pic is the right stuff
2. What is the best way to clean the neck?
3. Any good instructions on applying the oil?

Thanks for your help lads! My Albert neck is getting pretty dingy after a decade plus of playing.

 

[Larry]

Need this too

 

[Norrin Radd]

So what's the application process? I need specific directions as I'm not the sharpest tack in the room!

 

[Razzle]

1. Clean with Murphy's Oil Soap, let dry
2. Oil with Gun Stock oil, let dry
3. Seal with Gun Stock wax, let dry
4. Enjoy

 

[Norrin Radd]

1. Clean with Murphy's Oil Soap, let dry
2. Oil with Gun Stock oil, let dry
3. Seal with Gun Stock wax, let dry
4. Enjoy

Thank you!

 

[dibart77]

​

 

[IceCreMan]

Don't forget to wipe off the excess dried wax. Just like you'd do with your car.

 

[IceCreMan]

This actually leads me to something I've been pondering. Hope it's not considered a thread hijack since it's directly related.

Anyone know why they say not to do this to a the maple fretboard as well? I never understood that since it's all the same wood. Seems like it would be a good idea to seal the board too.

 

[DrKev]

Anyone know why they say not to do this to a the maple fretboard as well? I never understood that since it's all the same wood. Seems like it would be a good idea to seal the board too.

Not to do it to a varnished/lacquered maple fretboard! Many other guitar brands' maple fretboards are lacquered, just like the rest of the neck is. The oil/wax treatment (and Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner) will do nothing useful for finished neck and fretboard and will only make a big mess to be cleaned off.

Re: oil/wax, here's some notes based on my experience and past forum posts...

Back in knucklehead factory tour days, someone witnessed the magic factory oil/wax treatment. It was literally, wipe on, wipe off, no drying required. That's certainly been my technique and works great.

Only use a enough oil and/or wax to lightly and evenly coat the neck, avoid the temptation to use a lot. Remember, you can always add more but too much just a makes a mess to clean off, especially if you leave it dry. Some people have applied tons with their fingers and let it dry, resulting in a sticky goopy mess that had to be sanded back and re-done. Remember we are not applying the oil and wax as a finish, the way people would do on gunstock or a guitar body. It's more of a light protective surface treatment, that's all.

Those two last point above are why I personally don't recommend leaving it to actually fully dry. There is really no need. Small amount on a paper towel, wipe evenly over neck, buff off with fresh paper towels. Result is neckular loveliness.

Some people use just Tru-Oil, some people use just Gunstock Wax, some people use Tru-Oil followed by Gunstock Wax. All produce good results.


600 grit sandpaper does a great job all on it's own. If you have 1000 or 1200 grit sandpaper great. Following with 0000 steel wool is better again but not necessary.


Wonder Wipes fretboard conditioner works great on any unfinished wood, though the wipes are quite 'wet' and there is a lot of excess to wipe off, especially on less porous woods like maple and ebony. Don't use Fretboard conditioner wipes on lacquered necks, fretboards, or bodies. It'll make a mess.

Wonder Wipes instrument Polish is great on lacquered/varnished necks and fingerboard, just as it is for the body. Compared to the Fretboard wipes, instrument polish wipes seem very dry. That's normal and they'll work great.

 

[mikeller]

I'm with DrKev -

If it is an unfinished maple neck & fingerboard: wipe both sides down with a LIGHTLY damped cloth with Murphys Oil Soap - diluted 3 parts water / 1 part Murphys drying it off very quickly with fresh paper towels. Repeat if needed - the key is don't let the wood get too wet and dry it quickly with paper towels. Then I let the guitar sit for 5-10 minutes.

Next - wipe on Birchwood Casey OIL on both maple fingerboard and neck, let sit for maybe 60 seconds max and buff it off with fresh clean paper towels. Repeat and wipe with fresh clean paper towel

Next - wipe on Birchwood Casey WAX on both maple fingerboard and neck and buff off with fresh clean paper towel. I usually repeat this 3 times with the WAX.

String up, check setup, intonation and play.

NOTES - on my guitars with rosewood fingerboards - I clean the rosewood board with Wonder Wipes and do the exact above on the back of the neck. I also treat the back of the neck on my L3 HH with full rosewood neck as per the above.

Of course if the neck is finished - no need. Personally, I do this once per year and sometimes clean with wonder wipes inbetween, and play with clean hands.

 

[MajtasticVoyage]

This is inspiring. I think I'm gonna strip the neck and fretboard on my F***** Strat*caster and make it as nice as my JP15's

 

[gurtejsingh]

Interesting, but I'm a bit confused about the finished and unfinished bit. Can I use the wonder wipes on my JP15 fretboard? Not the neck, but the fretboard?


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[IceCreMan]

Thanks for the explanation fellas. I knew not to do it to a lacquered / painted surface. I guess everything I read was about those types of maple boards even though it wasn't expressly stated.

It makes a lot more sense now.

 

[DrKev]

Interesting, but I'm a bit confused about the finished and unfinished bit. Can I use the wonder wipes on my JP15 fretboard? Not the neck, but the fretboard?


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The JP15s are oil/wax neck, not varnished. So you can use the Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner wipes, which are intended for use on unvarnished woods.

If like on most strats and teles, the fretboard was varnished, then you wold use Wonder Wipes Instrument polish.

 

[Norrin Radd]

One last question - do either the oil or the wax have a hue and will they color the wood? If you look at an unfinished maple neck it is pretty plain looking "unstained". But the EBMM maple necks all seem to have a golden/Amber hue. Does that coloring come from the oil, the wax, neither or both?

I ask because I have a maple neck that was done in and "aged oil" finish (which is pretty close to just plain maple) . I am wondering if I use the Birchwood Casey oil and wax, if I will end up with the EBMM maple neck coloring?

 

[gurtejsingh]

The JP15s are oil/wax neck, not varnished. So you can use the Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner wipes, which are intended for use on unvarnished woods.

If like on most strats and teles, the fretboard was varnished, then you wold use Wonder Wipes Instrument polish.

Thanks DrKev!


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[DrKev]

One last question - do either the oil or the wax have a hue and will they color the wood? If you look at an unfinished maple neck it is pretty plain looking "unstained". But the EBMM maple necks all seem to have a golden/Amber hue. Does that coloring come from the oil, the wax, neither or both?

I ask because I have a maple neck that was done in and "aged oil" finish (which is pretty close to just plain maple) . I am wondering if I use the Birchwood Casey oil and wax, if I will end up with the EBMM maple neck coloring?

The oil and wax do have an orange colour, it's obvious in the EBMM video when Drew dabs a little onto the paper towel and starts putting it on the neck. But once it's on there it is spread so thin that it makes very little difference at all, especially on a neck that is already tinted.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Dr K has nailed it in his replies .. just a wipe on and wipe it straight off. You can do that as many times as you want before applying a (really small) amount of wax. When jonguitarz (a former EB employee) was on her, he said that you could also apply a really small amount of wax to the fretboard - I've tried that too and it works - can I emphasise SMALL AMOUNT in all the above.

 

[Pain-Free Music]

Do we need to do this to our necks? I have an Axis Sport that I bought new in 1997. I haven't treated the neck in those 19 years and I have played the heck out of my guitar. It has traveled with me around the country and down to Puerto Rico.

To my hands, and perception, the finish of the neck feels as great and worn in since the day I bought it. So my question is do I need to treat my neck again with this stuff? Perhaps I'll wait until next year and give it a 20th anniversary spa day.

 

[DrKev]

No, you don't. If you are happy with your neck you have nothing to worry about. Some forumites oil/wax once a year (which is about as often as I do it), some more often, some less often, and some never feel the need at all. It's all good.

Truth is I think many of us don't really need to do it as often as we do, we just like to.