Help! Neck Oil.

[Klon Solo]

Hey guys, a local shop I was at today mentioned it was okay to use lemon oil on my ernie neck. We also happened to be standing near a pile of it, and there was no real alternative.

I use lemon oil on my ebony fretboard, but that's about it. I usually just clean the neck with a fine steel wool and leave it at that.

What do you guys use, if anything?

(I did a neck oil search on the forum and didn't come up with anything, so my apologies if this has been done to death already).

 

[Roxy]

Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner. I wipe the back of the neck too.

 

[Stratty316]

I use wonder wipes and they do a great job.

 

[lock-ny]

can u cleqan the body with wonder wipes too? OK for the finish?

 

[Stratty316]

No, a nice polishing cloth for that. I don't use product on the body anymore as a little water goes a long way but I used to use the polish by Martin. I think EBMM makes a polish as well...

 

[Klon Solo]

Ok, thanks guys. I'll keep an eye out for them.

 

[mark197d]

I'm new to the EBMM clan, but I just cleaned the necks and finder boards on my Axis, and my Peavey Wolfgang. Both have unfinished birds eye maple neck and finger board. For both neck and finger board I used Murph's Oil Soap diluted 3:1, then 0000 steel wool, then Tru-Oil, and finally Gun Stock Wax. All of which is recommended on the EB site if you look deep enough. The steel wool can be used between any of the steps to soften the application if desired. completely wipe/rub in anything that you use on the neck and finger board. Use everything in small amounts. If do small amounts the guitar can be strung and played immediately...

Or if you have a GC near by use the EB wonder wipes...

I honestly think the Tru-Oil actually took off more dirt than the soap. I bought both guitars used, the Axis neck was pretty clean, but the Wolfgang is a 1997, and the neck was in great condition, but I don't think that it had ever been cleaned.

That's my 5 cents worth.

 

[DrKev]

There was a recent thread just about this, you should have a look.

BTW, both EBMM (and Martin guitars) discourage using lemon oil as it can be corrosive to frets and finish.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Lemon oil is fine to use but in moderation. Don't flood it onto fretboards!!! Why? Because it WILL seep under the fret tang and possibly raise the fret. It's a trick used by some guitar repair men to help prevent wood breakout when refretting - they literally soak the fret board with lemon oil and sometimes leave overnight.
The frets raise a bit and it makes removal a bit easier

I have seen a guitar that had the fretboard flooded in lemon oil during a "conventional clean & set up" - it was taken back by the owner because the frets had raised.

So please remember - "Everything in moderation"

What have I used on bare wood (necks/fretboards) ?
- Lemon oil
- Johnsones Baby oil on Rosewood
- Birchwood Casey tru oil followed by Birchwood Casey wax. I've used the wax on necks and also a little on fretboards.
- Good Ol' Ernie Ball wipes

... everything in moderation

 

[Defender2000]

On a really dirty and grimy neck, I use Murphy's oil soap and a soft bristle tooth brush to clean everything up real good. Then I follow up with the tru-oil and wax. Every once in a while I'll take some #0000 steel wool on the back of the neck before the tru-oil treatment. That really smooths the neck out nice.

Listen to Spud! Whatever your method, moderation is key. Too much of a good thing can be a disaster.

 

[Klon Solo]

There was a recent thread just about this, you should have a look.

BTW, both EBMM (and Martin guitars) discourage using lemon oil as it can be corrosive to frets and finish.

I had no idea. I'm gonna keep my eye out for the wonder wipes.

since I've only set the guitar up myself a couple of times, I'm sure I haven't done any damage. Thanks for the heads up.

I typed neck + oil in the search bar and couldn't anything. This is better any way - look, we're havin' a chat!!!

 

[Roxy]

I've ordered the Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes on Amazon. Sometimes, GC will have them in stock.

 

[DrKev]

Roxy, you can order ANY Ernie Ball product direct from the Ernie Ball online store (to US and Canada, UK & Ireland, an France). They'll never be out of stock.

I had no idea. I'm gonna keep my eye out for the wonder wipes.

since I've only set the guitar up myself a couple of times, I'm sure I haven't done any damage. Thanks for the heads up.

I typed neck + oil in the search bar and couldn't anything. This is better any way - look, we're havin' a chat!!!

Yeah small amounts for short periods of time will be fine. Just don't want it seeping under the frets (like Spud mentioned). but ya know, some people will soak the neck and leave it for a while, which is definitely not advised.

Great way to search the forum is in Google, just add site:ernieball.com to the end of your search terms. Works a treat!

Haivng a chat indeed. Nice to have a good chinwag in the morning.

 

[mark197d]

If you do use the Murphy's Oil Soap, EB recommends diluting it 3:1. 1 part oil soap, and 3 parts water (this should really only be used on real dirty necks and boards). Remember anytime that you put water of any sort on an unfinished wood it will soak in and raise the grain of the wood. So remember to NOT let it soak into the neck and finger board, and then use 600 & 1000 grit sand paper, or #0000 steel wool. Even if you choose to not use the Murphy's Oil Soap, you should use the #0000 steel wool to smooth out the neck and finger board. I personally don't like to use sand paper on the frets, but the steel wool does a great job polishing them. Then apply the Tru-Oil, and then the Gun Stock Wax (THIN COATS). The better you rub in the Tru-Oil and Gun Stock Wax the smoother the neck and finger board will be.

 

[BrickGlass]

I've never had any issues with using lemon oil. Like others said, just don't saturate it in the stuff. At the end of the day you are just trying to clean the fretboard/neck and restore a little bit of moisture that may have been lost. In a climate like I live in here in Utah fretboards get all sorts of screwed up, especially when people don't use a humidifier when it is needed. It is just really freaking dry here for the most part. No humidity in the air and then you have your furnace running all winter...not too kind to guitars. Lemon oil can help if you are smart with how you use it. The EB wipes are honestly just great too.

 

[jbliguori]

Here a EBMM video on how to care for the neck and fretboard Caring for your Music Man neck & Fretboard - YouTube

 

[Klon Solo]

Thanks for the video. That gives me a decent idea on how to deal with the total neck.