👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
Bongo 2026 Collection

Treatments for maple fingerboards?

Crewood

Crewood

Active member
Joined
May 26, 2007
Messages
38
Location
Derbyshire, UK
When I picked up my new MM Super Sport I was also sold a bottle of Dunlop 65 Lemon Oil to use on my fingerboard when it needed it.

Reading the instruction on the bottle it says: (Note: Not for use on maple fretboards.) Does this mean lacquered fingerboards like the Fenders or all maple boards?

Anyone any advice or opinions please?

Mike
 
So do you just wipe the fretboard over with the wipes ?? Are there any oils you can use to replenish the woods oils ?? like lemon oil on a rosewood fretboard.
 
Crewood said:
When I picked up my new MM Super Sport I was also sold a bottle of Dunlop 65 Lemon Oil to use on my fingerboard when it needed it.

Reading the instruction on the bottle it says: (Note: Not for use on maple fretboards.) Does this mean lacquered fingerboards like the Fenders or all maple boards?

Anyone any advice or opinions please?

Mike
Click to expand...

Hi Mike,

I'd take it to mean any maple board.

Wonder Wipes for fret-boards can be used on rosewood or oil finished maple, front and back of the neck. Just don't leave it on maple long, as you would with rosewood. A quick cleaning and than wiping down with a dry cloth or paper towel is all that's needed.
 
Hi Candid,

Yes, the EBMM fingerboard in particular, I collected my new SS and wnated something ready for the fingerboard when it was needed and I'm now a bit annoyed the dealer sent me out with the wrong product.

I use guitar polish on the F***** lacquered maple fingerboards.

Mike
 
Real lemon oil works on MM maple boards too, if you have a hard time finding Wonder Wipes at present. Lemon does clean off oil and dirt from maple fairly well, and offers temporary protection to oil finished woods. Chances are, even the other stuff you bought won't hurt a MM maple neck. Yes, on finished necks, polish works, though I don't use polish in general. If you do find the board Wipes, though, give 'em a try. Good stuff.
 
The Musicman said:
So do you just wipe the fretboard over with the wipes ?? Are there any oils you can use to replenish the woods oils ?? like lemon oil on a rosewood fretboard.
Click to expand...

You don't need anything but the Wipes. It cleans and seals the wood, both. Yes, just wipe the board, frets, back of the neck, wipe down and buff with a dry cloth. I don't know, yet, how often it needs doing. Seems to last a pretty long time.

If a maple neck is very dried out and grungy, I'd still use the full Murphy Soap, Birchwood Casey oil and wax, though. Then use the Wipes after that.
 
Linseed and Tung oils are finishing oils, not altogether different from the Casey Gunstock oil, which MM uses to finish maple necks. So I would not use them for the purpose of cleaning or nourishing a neck in the same way you would use lemon oil or Wonder Wipes. In addition, Linseed oil takes very long to dry, unless it is "boiled" linseed oil.

I'd stick with Birchwood Casey oil/wax for refinishing, and Wonder Wipes or pure lemon oil for light cleaning MM necks or conditioning rosewood boards. WW works better and lasts longer than lemon oil.
 
Tim O'Sullivan said:
Strings direct have them.
Click to expand...

I checked strings direct but they appear to have run out of the fretboard cleaning wipes. I have ordered some off ebay anyway !

Hopefully strings direct will have more stock next time i need some, i don't really want to have to rely on ebay all the time.

BTW: one last question about these wipes, how long do they last once you have opened them ?? Do they dry out quickly once you have opened the tub ?

Thanks !! :)
 
The Musicman said:
BTW: one last question about these wipes, how long do they last once you have opened them ?? Do they dry out quickly once you have opened the tub ?
Click to expand...

I can't say how long they last cuz I've only had mine a couple of weeks, but...

The dispenser design is effective, keeping the wipes inside well sealed. The board wipes are really saturated. I doubt they'll dry out, if the lid is snapped closed properly after each use.

The string wipes evaporate pretty quickly, though, so it's even more important to close the lid properly of these.
 
Hi there,
I used to use "Dr. Kyser" LemOil for all of my fretboards (ebony, rosewood and maple) and it worked well.
I got hold of some of them Wonder Wipies lately at Mick's and am now using that stuff. Are equally great for fretboard AND the backside of the necks.
Completely satisfied here ! :)
 
Lemon oil on your maple fretboard will be fine - don't drown the thing and you will be ok.
It cleans well and will show off any birdseye to it's best.

I have D'andrea Lemon oil.

My guitar building buddy doesn't like using lemon oil, he recons it goes a bit rancid -
He uses Johnson's baby oil.

The "wipes" have received rave reports too.

If any of your buddies has a pot of lemon oil try a few drops and make your own mind up.
 
I got some Dunlop 65 lemon oil, i don't know if it would be ok though as i doubt it is just lemon oil (if you get what i mean).

I have ordered just the fretboard cleaning wipes based on what people have been saying.
 
I have got my wipes now and tried them out about an hour ago. They worked really well, my fretboard wasn't really dirty but it still made it even smoother than it originally was. I used them on the back of the neck and the headstock aswell (worked great !).

I rubbed the neck down and left it to soak for about 1 minute, is this long enough ? I then buffed the entire neck down with a soft cloth.
 
Axilla said:
Hi there,
I used to use "Dr. Kyser" LemOil for all of my fretboards (ebony, rosewood and maple) and it worked well.
I got hold of some of them Wonder Wipies lately at Mick's and am now using that stuff. Are equally great for fretboard AND the backside of the necks.
Completely satisfied here ! :)
Click to expand...

The Musicman said:
I have got my wipes now and tried them out about an hour ago. They worked really well, my fretboard wasn't really dirty but it still made it even smoother than it originally was. I used them on the back of the neck and the headstock aswell (worked great !).

I rubbed the neck down and left it to soak for about 1 minute, is this long enough ? I then buffed the entire neck down with a soft cloth.
Click to expand...
This is the kind of talk I like to hear. Thank you guys. I have a lot of maple boards and I really appreciate you sharing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Jacquard Straps
Back
Top