Neck Maintenance Question (POST-search function)

[LowDownDave]

Hi everyone. I have used the search function on this board to learn all I can about neck maintenance, and yes I've read the F.A.Q., but there seems to be a lot of conflicting information (on the board anyway). I've just bought a second hand stingray (2003) with maple unfinished neck. The neck isn't overly dirty (mojo negative) YET but I like to be pre-prepared. I've purchased the pure lemon oil, BC gunstock oil and BC gunstock wax, though I'm quite afraid to touch my guitar with the latter two products Will the oil darken the colour of my maple guitar neck? And from what I've read I believe I can use the lemon oil all over the neck and the fretboard, but should only use the gunstock oil and wax on the back of the neck? It just seems strange to only treat the BACK of the neck and not the fretboard (though I assume it would be difficult to get good, even coverage between all the frets) thus leaving the FRONT of the neck completely untreated. Seems like a job half done to me.

PS. For any interested UK residents, 'thegunshop.co.uk' sells the birchwood casey products this site recommends, but now I wonder if MI5/6 are keeping an eye on me for ordering products from such a site, ha-ha.

Cheers for any info,

LDD

 

[Lee-Man]

I'd really like to know the answer to this one as well, I'm too scared of damaging my 'ray

 

[Aussie Mark]

Use the lemon oil to clean your neck and fingerboard, and condition your fingerboard. Keeps it simple.

 

[coldtrain]

+1

I also use a green scotch-brite pad with a liberal amount of lemon oil to scrub out accumulated dirt. Makes the neck look almost brand new and oh so smooth...

I had a repair guy tell me not to hit the fretboard with lemon oil too often, or the frets could loosen over time. He said no more than twice a year...something to think about.

 

[Morrow]

I only clean my necks once a year -generally in the spring. My hands do not sweat much so it's never really been an issue.

 

[saplingg]

What's this "mojo" you guys refer to?

The back of my neck is yellower and slightly darker than the headstock, and it's slightly sticky. I sweat alot because of the heat here, so I was wondering if lemon oil would do the trick in taking the stain off. Any recommendations?

 

[dlloyd]

What's this "mojo" you guys refer to?

Dirt.

It's well documented that the finest musicians have dirty instruments, and widely hypothesised therefore that dirt somehow contributes to your skill as a musician.

There's some truth to it. I decided to clean my Stingray the other night after drinking a couple of bottles of red wine. It came up lovely, but when I strapped it on I found I could hardly play.

 

[bovinehost]

The back of my neck is yellower and slightly darker than the headstock, and it's slightly sticky. I sweat alot because of the heat here, so I was wondering if lemon oil would do the trick in taking the stain off. Any recommendations?

Hit it with some really fine sandpaper, not hard, just sort of buff it a bit - in fact, you'd be better off using that 000 steel wool. Then apply the gunstock oil treatment, not a lot is necessary, then buff it out again either with fine steel wool or superfine sandpaper. Repeat if necessary.

If the dirt is in the pores of the wood, I wouldn't fool with it but the steel wool will clean the surface and the gunstock oil will seal it up so it's not sticky anymore.

Now this is all assuming you don't have an older poly-finished neck. What year is your bass?

 

[saplingg]

Oh gosh this was a mistake on my behalf - sorry, I'm not yet familiar with the boards so I just searched "neck maintenance" and posted at the nearest thread, not realizing I was on the bass board.

Anyway, I'm playing a 2004 John Petrucci Musicman Guitar. I think the neck is unfinished, or just has a layer of oil or something, so I really didn't want to mess around with substances until I knew exactly what I was doing.

Do I have to still buff it with the steel wool? I think the dirt is mostly on the surface (It's a new guitar, less than 6 months old) so if I just wipe it down with the gunstock oil will that take off the dirt?

Thanks very much for your help.

 

[LowDownDave]

I thought it was unusual to see my post repeated 5 months later! I believe the gunstock oil is for POST-cleaning the neck, it is not to remove any dirt/grime/mojo. I seem to think that is what the lemon oil is for (removing grime and hydrating the wood methinks). Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. If I were you I'd clean the neck with the lemon oil, and if you want to re-condition/stain/seal the neck wood, then use the gunstock oil. I've yet to touch my neck with any cleaning products, I'm too damned scared, ha-ha

 

[dlloyd]

I thought it was unusual to see my post repeated 5 months later! I believe the gunstock oil is for POST-cleaning the neck, it is not to remove any dirt/grime/mojo. I seem to think that is what the lemon oil is for (removing grime and hydrating the wood methinks). Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. If I were you I'd clean the neck with the lemon oil, and if you want to re-condition/stain/seal the neck wood, then use the gunstock oil. I've yet to touch my neck with any cleaning products, I'm too damned scared, ha-ha

Yep.

I'd remove the mojo (fingerpoo) with lemon oil. I wouldn't bother with the gunstock oil at this stage of the game.