Help! My frets are turning kinf of green

[Gerardo Ojeda]

Hey bros, I have a Stingray rosewood, with the shiny finish edition. My problem is that the frets from the 15 to the 21, the gray parts (frets) are turning a kind of green, and I'm really scared. because a friend told that could be fungus or something like humidity, and that will hurt my fretboard in the future, it is really fungus, and how can I put it out?

 

[stingray96191]

It's the copper in the fret wire oxidizing. It is generally nothing to worry about.

 

[Soulkeeper]

See Verdigris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I use the Dunlop 65 lemon oil to clean my rosewood fretboards. You could try something similar the next time you change your strings.

 

[tbonesullivan]

I use Gorgomyte to clean frets. It's a cotton cloth with some kind of waxy polishing material in it. It seems to be pretty much non abbrasive but can still take off the oxidation on the frets. It also cleans the fretboard. What i usually do is put lemon oil on the fretboard, then use Gorgomyte on the frets. This keeps the oxides from staining the board.

 

[TNT]

Yeah, I used to get freaked out everytime I went shopping, escpecially at JCP or Macy's. It seems that the flourescent lights they have would turn my frets this weird greenish color as I shopped. Then when I would go out to my car, in natural light, it would change back to normal.

 

[adouglas]

Another alternative. Get some painter's tape (blue masking tape… they probably have it in Mexico, but if not any masking tape will do) and mask off the fretboard, leaving the frets exposed. Then use some metal polish to clean the frets. A brand called Flitz is really good, but there are others.

The reason for the tape is that the polish can get into the open grain of the rosewood, where it will leave white deposits. I don't think these harm the wood but they don't look good.

 

[five7]

a pencil eraser will work

 

[Spudmurphy]

a pencil eraser will work

Stewmac sell some fret cleaners that are just like pencil erasers - strange thing is though, I can't find them on the site at the mo ??

 

[tkarter]

I would not worry I would want them to get greener and turn into dollar bills.

tk

 

[LawDaddy]

Stewmac sell some fret cleaners that are just like pencil erasers - strange thing is though, I can't find them on the site at the mo ??

I got those, but had mixed experiences with them. I ended up preferring 1000-grit sandpaper, and that little aluminum fret stencil they sell.

 

[lovechick]

I do the same as adouglas: use blue painter's tape to protect the fretboard and expose the frets, then swab a thin coat of Brasso on each fret. Wipe off after 20 minutes, then remove the tape, and hit the finger board with one of those Wonderwipes. Looks and feels like new with fresh strings.

ALSO @ TNT: it's been a long day, and perharps I've misread your post, but do you take your bass shopping with you?

 

[tkarter]

TNT is a guitard not a bass player. He has a lovely bass player too.

tk

 

[TNT]

TNT is a guitard not a bass player. He has a lovely bass player too. tk

Thanks Tom!! So, yes, I DO take my "bass" shopping with me (she shops, while I play the guitar)!! lol,lol,lol Tom knows what I mean!