Keeping the guitar neck clean.

[Crimson Sunset]

Hi guys,
I play / practise guitar for couple of hours each day. Sometimes 3 hours, sometimes 6 hours. I think a lot of people get sweaty hands from time to time when they play guitar, so do I. But what do you guys do after having played guitar for a few hours (and maybe having had sweaty hands) ? What do you do to keep the neck clean ?

I always go over the back of the neck with that "yellow cleaning thing" (don't know the name). But is there anything else I should do ? Because obviously most of the sweat from the fingers comes on the fretboard which you can't clean that easy without removing the strings, can you ?

I have a EBMM JP6 and I want to take good care of the unfinished neck

thanks !

 

[robelinda2]

i keep some steel wool handy, i dont use it heaps, just gently wipe the back of the neck when i finish playing, i clean my strings all the time though. when i change the strings i scrub the rosewood fretboards with some Dunlop stuff, if its a maple fretboard then i steel wool it.

 

[jappy]

I'm going to have to get used to that. For some reason the thought of steel wool near any of my guitars seems like a nightmare!

 

[robelinda2]

hey i used to think the same Jappy! but the guys here were full of advice, put me at ease.

check out the neck below, its a silo that belongs to a mate. when he bought it it was DIRTY. he steel woolled half the neck, you can see the difference.

 

[jappy]

Does it work on rosewood or just maple?

Does it work on the back of the neck?

 

[robelinda2]

you dont use it on rosewood at all, you can just clean that easily with a rag and some sort of cleaning fluid. EBMM maple darkens easily and grubs up due to the oil/wax finish. you can use steel wool on the back of the neck for all EBMM guitars.

another pic

 

[candid_x]

The Birchwood Casey oil/wax treatment, which I gave my necks a few months ago, is holding up like a champ. Of course, it won't eliminate needing an occasional cleaning, but it protects the wood and keeps it looking fresh.

I'm leery of using steel wool too often; you're literally shaving the wood off each time you wool it. 0000 steel wool works great to get past the really nasty stuff, but I'd caution against resorting to it on a regular basis. If a neck gets really dried out and dingy, like the picture Rob's shown, it's best to start from scratch, according to EB's recommendations: Murphy's Soap, Birchwood Casey oil and wax. I plan on doing mine once a year.

 

[Dazza1004]

Murphy's Soap, Birchwood Casey oil and wax.

does anyone in the UK know where the best place to get this stuff is ?.

Thanks

 

[augustyn]

just a little OT:
how do you maintenance a rosewoodneck (ASS RW)?
some oil? something else?

i never clean the MM necks and my JP is well gigged and well played. i love the feeling of a not new neck. just my 2cc.

 

[candid_x]

just a little OT:
how do you maintenance a rosewoodneck (ASS RW)?
some oil? something else?

BC type products are not recommended for rosewood boards. Pure lemon oil is recommended to clean and condition rosewood boards. Avoid lemon scented garbage like Pledge etc. You can order 100% lemon oil from online culinary suppliers. There's also some products on the market designed just for rosewood boards, but I prefer lemon oil.

Lemon oil is also safe to use to clean a maple board, but not to condition it. In other words, not to let it sit and seep into the wood (as you would with rosewood boards), just to quickly clean it then wipe dry. Same with the back of maple necks.

 

[rrhea]

I occasionally use 0000 steel wool to clean rosewood boards, too. It works well, and doesn't hurt anything... I also polish my frets with it after cleaning the board. Just tape off the whole board or use two pieces of tape and move them from fret to fret as you work. Leaves those suckers smooth and yummy.

Cleaning your board regularly is a good thing because it makes the guitar play/feel better and dramatically increases string life. If you have a lot of gunk on the board you're going to instantly transfer that to the new strings as you play.

RR

 

[Crimson Sunset]

And do you guys clean the fretboard every time you've played guitar ? Or only when you change strings ?
Because (for me) after having played a few hours, and perhaps with sweaty hands, the sweat stays on the fretboard... Isn't it bad for the fretboard to put the guitar away like that ? It's not like my guitar is drowning in the sweat or something, it's just a little bit sweat.

 

[dougiefresh]

Shouldn't we really be promoting the "Ernie Ball Wonder Wipe Fretboard Conditioner", featuring revitalizing cleaning agents that eliminate dirt and grime while nourishing and protecting the life of your rosewood or ebony fingerboard in one easy swipe.
I'm looking forward to carrying it in the store where I work. Seems like it would be a little less messy than the Planet Waves Hydrate that we use for restrings now.

 

[Lou]

You can wash your hands before playing and wipe down the neck with a rag when you're done. A little goes a long way.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I never cleans the necks on my guitars. I have had the purple one re sealed once, and the red one done twice. They look as dirty as hell, but play and sound beautiful!

 

[Spudmurphy]

does anyone in the UK know where the best place to get this stuff is ?.

Thanks

I got mine mail order from a gun shop in Belfast

Here's the link
http://www.thegunshop.co.uk/casey.htm

 

[augustyn]

I never cleans the necks on my guitars. I have had the purple one re sealed once, and the red one done twice. They look as dirty as hell, but play and sound beautiful!

thanks man,
i felt lonesome....never clean my guitars a lot.....

 

[Spudmurphy]

Another thing - wash your hands before you play it.

 

[roburado]

I haven't used steel wool on the neck of my JP, but I have used some sandpaper, some lemon oil, and done the oil & wax.

From the EBMM FAQ:
A: To clean the neck, use a high-grade of lemon oil. If the neck is very dirty, try Murphy's Oil Soap diluted 3:1. Some players have found that using a toothbrush for cleaning is very effective.
Since the neck is unfinished, it is more susceptible to humidity changes. A very infrequent dose of gunstock oil will help to keep the neck maintained; we recommend Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil, but any good quality gunstock oil will work. Use a small amount, leave it on for 5 minutes, then wipe it off with a paper towel. After that, apply Birchwood-Casey Gunstock Wax. Be sure to douse the paper towel with water before disposing of it! Read the wax and oil manufacturer's instructions regarding disposal of these used paper towels.
Birchwood-Casey products are available at most sporting goods or gun stores. Their web address is http://www.birchwoodcasey.com.
Rosewood fingerboards should not be treated with the gunstock oil; instead they should be treated with a high grade of lemon oil. Again, for cleaning, try using the same high grade of lemon oil to clean the entire neck, both maple and rosewood fretboards. If the neck is very dirty, you can use a small amount of Murphy's Oil Soap, diluted 3:1 to clean it. Keep in mind that if the dirt has gotten into the wood, it cannot be removed except by sanding it down, which we do not recommend. It is better to keep it clean in the first place. Washing your hands first helps! On an unfinished neck, some discoloration after many hours of playing is normal. Be sure to follow all of the manufacturers recommended safety precautions when using any of these oils or waxes.

URL: http://www.ernieball.com/faq_content.php?subjectcode=mm_guitars

 

[Dazza1004]

I got mine mail order from a gun shop in Belfast

Here's the link
http://www.thegunshop.co.uk/casey.htm

Thanks mate