Suggestion for Axis neck

[alexg]

Hello everyone!

I love my MM Axis. One of the best playing guitars ever!. I'm happy with just about everything on the guitar except one thing: The way the neck gets dirty.

I happen to be one of those people with an oily body chemistry. As a result, my fretboard has a dark tint to it that I can't get rid of. I've tried just about everything suggested on this board except for the sanding. I don't think I want to sand this neck at all.

Anyway, if anybody out there has a cure for me I'd love to hear it (and yes, I wash my hands before playing). Until then, I'd like to make a suggestion....Why not offer the Axis with a finished fretboard? Leave the back of the neck the way it is and lacquer or add more coats of oil to the fretboard only. I just recently put more coats of gun wax on the fretboard so I'll see how it works.

What do y'all think?

 

[Estin]

i sorta agree the fretboard getting dirty is a concern, but if they offerd it with a finsihed neck it just wouldn't be the axis anymore in my opinion. plus they would only be able to offer it thru a custom shop order. i'm ok with the fact the necks turn a little dark and get dirty, i think it ads a little charactor to a guitar. just like those "OOPS!" dings and scratches that show up over a period of time. makes the instrument yours.

 

[alexg]

Hey estin,

I hear what you're saying about the character of the guitar. I think my neck gets dirtier than most, though. You can really see the difference when you take all the strings off. Kind of looks like a zebra. I would buy a finished AXIS fretboard in a heartbeat.

A.

 

[ebmm_axis]

Gosh, I think it's impossible to avoid the neck from getting dirty. You just gotta do what you can, end of story.

I always keep a towel around and wipe my hands while I'm playing, and really give it a good rubdown when I'm done playing.

I treat it with the waxes and tru oils as well, but, it's impossible for it NOT to get dirty. You just gotta live with it.

 

[hbucker]

Body chemistry aside, my oiled fretboards get dirty the way you describe. Every other month or so I change strings and scrub them really well with Murphy's Oil soap and a soft toothbrush. That gets 99% of the gray out. Then I brush on the lemon oil, let is soak in and then wipe it off. This method is extremely effective for me.

Have you tried doing this?

You can also use super fine synthetic steel wool but I prefer not to use something so abraisive.

good luck

 

[Casper]

AHHH Finally!!

Thank you Hbucker! I knew there was a solution to keep maple necks looking spiffy. I'll have to try that out!
Casper

 

[alexg]

Body chemistry aside, my oiled fretboards get dirty the way you describe. Every other month or so I change strings and scrub them really well with Murphy's Oil soap and a soft toothbrush. That gets 99% of the gray out. Then I brush on the lemon oil, let is soak in and then wipe it off. This method is extremely effective for me.

Have you tried doing this?

You can also use super fine synthetic steel wool but I prefer not to use something so abraisive.

good luck

I must have missed the toothbrush part. That sounds like a good idea. I'll have to try it next time. I use Murphy's, but without the toothbrush.

As for the lemon oil, I've read both pros and cons. On the con side, some say it saturates the wood and dampens tone over time. Thanks for the toothbrush idea, though...

A.

 

[hbucker]

I agree it could do that if you used it a lot. But every couple of months or so... I just don't see it. The lemon oil evaporates over time so reapplication after a while won't overload your neck.

good luck.

 

[CubanoSucio]

"I happen to be one of those people with an oily body chemistry."

Are you saying you're GREASY?

I always wash my hands before playing my instruments but the MM does get a little more dirty than the others. This is not a problem at all because I use Old English (not the malt lika') Lemon Oil on it about once a month and it leaves it looking brand new. All I do is put the oil on with a towel and not too much just enough to cover the area and then I let it sit for about 30 minutes and then rub it in and wipe at the same time. It works for me and I doubt it has any bad effects, I've been using lemon oil on guitars for over 20 yrs.

Then again I have so many damn guitars that I hardly play the same one over and over so they stay pretty clean. The ones I play the most are Fender Strat, Music Man SS, Jackson Soloist and another Fender Strat.

 

[Star*Guitar]

LOL...I am on a roll today. This is the second time I have posted here.

The truth being the truth. Your neck only gets dirty from not being properly cared for.

A clear lemon oil at string changes should be applyed...left for 20 minutes and wiped it off

The strings should always be wiped down after playing. The back side of the strings get grimey and stain the neck. This will make your strings last longer too.

You can remove the staining on a neck however if it is real bad the grime gets in the pourous wood and may not be cleaned 100%. A toothbush will help treated with lemon oil if it is already stained.

If you live in a humid enviornment, place something between the strings and the neck while it is in the case...a cut piece from a bedsheet or something similar should work.

Coating those pretty birdseye necks with poly would only serve to make them slower. If you ever played a Fender strat or similar guitar I am sure you noted how the back part of the neck sticks to your palm while sweating and playing.

I hope this helps.