Question Maple fretboard and frets care

[Grand Wazoo]

Right you guys I am not asking how to maintain a maple neck, that has already been covered, what I'd like to know is something that reading through this forum has left me a little baffled due to various contrasting opinions.

1) Lemon oil - is it bad for maple fretboards, YES or NOT? due to the fact that I read somewhere that the wonder wipes were only really good for rosewood f/board I'd like to know if this is true and if a little lemon oil to make things smooth is really bad for maple.

2) What is the best product to use to make the fretboard feel faster and not sticky, I am referring to something similar to FASTFRET or if you guys remember it FUNK DROPS (of the late 80's) that stuff was lovely but its no longer sold.

3) some of the upper frets on my bass are a little rough edged, is there something I can do with a gentle rubbing of 0000 steel wool or sand paper of the same grade, be safe to use or do I really need to take it to my local repairman.

Thanks

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Re the Lemon oil:

It should not be used on maple fretboards that are sealed (Polyester/laquer) as found on the earlier EB and all Pre-EB necks. These are merely wiped clean (with or without a bit of guitar polish). In relation to the more recent EB necks (ie the ones finished with gunstock oil and wax from c. 1993 onwards) I believe it's used sparingly to clean dirt from the Maple fretboard only and is not used as a conditioner as you would with Rosewood.

After the Maple fretboard has been cleaned with the lemon oil I believe it is then finished with the the oil and wax (the same as the back of the neck) rather than left bare but check this specific point with customer service as some say you do and others say you don't!!!

On the other hand, lemon oil is used to both clean and condition all Rosewood fretboards regardless of whether the back of the neck is the sealed type or finished with oil and wax.

Re the upper frets:

It could be easy to stuff up. I would rather take it to a tech.

 

[ekb16b]

Lemon oil/WW work great for maple, but just make sure you wipe off the excess

The steel wool should be fine but make sure you put some tape over the pickups.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Thank you both, you've been most helpful, I will use a little lemon oil and then the gun oil/wax combo to finish it off as suggested but as for the frets I will let a tech have a look at them see if they need stoning or a gentle rub.

Cheers

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Thank you both, you've been most helpful, I will use a little lemon oil and then the gun oil/wax combo to finish it off as suggested but as for the frets I will let a tech have a look at them see if they need stoning or a gentle rub.

Cheers

Don't forget to check first with Customer service re the oil and wax on the fretboard.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

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[GGK]

Wonder Wipes

I was originally told by my dealer not to use the WW fretboard conditioner on a maple board. I was since told by CS that it in fact can be used on a maple board. I have used it numerous times and think it does a wonderful job. I put it on, let it sit for a few minutes and wipe it down. Smacking good stuff.
Re; frets, not sure about that
Take care

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I was originally told by my dealer not to use the WW fretboard conditioner on a maple board. I was since told by CS that it in fact can be used on a maple board. I have used it numerous times and think it does a wonderful job. I put it on, let it sit for a few minutes and wipe it down. Smacking good stuff.........
Take care

And then what do you do....oil & wax the fretboard????

 

[Grand Wazoo]

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[GGK]

Oil/Wax

And then what do you do....oil & wax the fretboard????

I would plan on doing the oil/wax yearly (my own opinion) I am pretty much a hobby player and my Bass does not see too much of the outside world. I wipe it down before I play and wipe it down after. I wash my hands before picking it up and always put it away in the hardshell case. We are in winter this time of year, thus I warm my car up before putting the bass in (I don't even do this for myself usually) I have being gving it the Wonder Wipe conditioner every two weeks and so far so good. Heck I even use it clean the strings and that seems to work too.
Season's Greetings !!!!