- Thread starter dany
- Start date
Grand Wazoo
Well-known member
marillion-freak
Active member
I just cleaned up the neck on a Silo Special that I recently purchased, and I used some grade #0000 ultra fine steel wool. Just be sure to either remove the neck from the body, or cover the pickups, otherwise you'll have tiny metal shavings all over the pickups. The neck on my guitar was in especially bad shape, so I hit the fretboard with some coarser steel wool first to really scrub it down. The neck doesn't look brand new now, but I managed to get it from a dark grey to a very light grey and it at least looks like its made of wood again. Hope that helps.
Gary
Gary
depends on your finish, but i woulden't recommend using steel wool on a maple fingerboard because mostly it's a finished fingerboard and steel wool would ruin the lacquer, if you have an extreme case of dirt, use it, but before that, try using a credit card or something similar to rub the dirt off.
I use this for everything concerning guitar:
Bore Oil for the Fife and Fret Doctor
I use this for everything concerning guitar:
Bore Oil for the Fife and Fret Doctor
bugbus
Well-known member
I didn't know my maple fretboard has lacquer. I was about to use some steel wool on it to remove some stubborn stains. If it was lacquered, I wonder why those stains are so stubborn.
I'd appreciate some more info in this area also.
I'd appreciate some more info in this area also.
candid_x
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2006
- Messages
- 3,272
Suggestion: a Sticky on MM neck cleaning.
Hi Dany,
If you receive search links and such (the one posted didn't open for me), it's because this is so often addressed on this forum. It's a rather lengthy thing to go into because there are variables and personal preferences of procedures. There's no one absolute way it must be done.
My suggestion is to first try the search function, with key words: Birchwood Casey, Murphy's Soap, cleaning necks, neck care, etc. I'll check back later if you haven't found what you need, unless someone else gets to it first.
Bruce
Hi Dany,
If you receive search links and such (the one posted didn't open for me), it's because this is so often addressed on this forum. It's a rather lengthy thing to go into because there are variables and personal preferences of procedures. There's no one absolute way it must be done.
My suggestion is to first try the search function, with key words: Birchwood Casey, Murphy's Soap, cleaning necks, neck care, etc. I'll check back later if you haven't found what you need, unless someone else gets to it first.
Bruce
marillion-freak
Active member
Are EBMM maple fretboards finished? I always thought they were unfinished like the backs and the only finished part of the neck was the headstock. Now I'm curious. That said, I still have no problem stripping an all maple neck of lacquer. I won't do that to my mahogany necked Hamers, but anything with a maple neck is fair game. Never had a problem. My experience has been that any neck with heavy lacquer just doesn't get dirty enough to need cleaning.
The lacquer keeps the neck from getting dirty in the first place. Yes?
I'm still curious.
Spudmurphy
Well-known member
I think that the comment made about the neck being lacquered is a bit misleading.
Ernie Ball does not lacquer their necks - although some like the Sub or Bongo Bass has a painted neck - just like a Les Paul.
EB use Gunstock oil and gunstock wax to treat their necks.
using wire wool and Murphys (no relation) soap works wonders.
3 m scotchbrite also does a good job and it leaves no metal shards.
You could use a coarser wet and dry paper going through the grades - 600 - 800- 1000 - 1200 etc but this works best when the frets are removed. If you are careful then a liberal amount of sanding will no doubt pay dividends. Don't go overboard otherwise you will end up with a scalloped neck
Ernie Ball does not lacquer their necks - although some like the Sub or Bongo Bass has a painted neck - just like a Les Paul.
EB use Gunstock oil and gunstock wax to treat their necks.
using wire wool and Murphys (no relation) soap works wonders.
3 m scotchbrite also does a good job and it leaves no metal shards.
You could use a coarser wet and dry paper going through the grades - 600 - 800- 1000 - 1200 etc but this works best when the frets are removed. If you are careful then a liberal amount of sanding will no doubt pay dividends. Don't go overboard otherwise you will end up with a scalloped neck
roburado
Well-known member
Check the FAQ on the Ernie Ball site: http://www.ernieball.com/faq_content.php?subjectcode=mm_guitars
There is a wealth of information there regarding maintaining and setting up your guitar.
There is a wealth of information there regarding maintaining and setting up your guitar.
