Wonder Wipes/Birchwood Casey...how do they fit together?

[adouglas]

Apologies for ANOTHER WW question, but the search function isn't really helping me because "wonder" is too common, "oil" and "wax" are too short, and every other search I've been able to think up results in too much noise. I've tried, but I can't find the answer to my question.

Since I now own an SR5, I have to consider neck maintenance.

My question is this: How do Wonder Wipes fit into the Birchwood Casey maintenance routine?

The pre-WW method as I understand it was
1) Clean the neck with lemon oil or diluted Murphy's
2) Apply Tru-Oil (once a year)
3) Apply Gunstock Wax

So...does WW Fretboard Conditioner replace just the lemon oil step? Replace lemon oil and Tru-oil? Replace everything (just use WWs and nothing else)?

Basically I'm looking for a prescriptive routine that includes WWs beyond just "use 'em, they work great!" Understanding how all these products relate to one another would help.

 

[bovinehost]

Andy,

The fretboard conditioner (WW) works great for rosewood boards and casual maintenance of maple boards.

The oil and wax treatment is more of a 'finish' treatment and doesn't have to be done very often whereas the WWs can be used every day (a bit excessive, but hey, it sells more WWs).

Think of the WWs as a wash for your car. The oil and wax is like a wash and wax and detail and whatnot.

That help?

Jack

 

[roburado]

Yeah. I don't think an "official" answer has been put out there at any point in time. I think what I'm going to do is use WW on a day-to-day, week-to-week kind of basis. Then, annually, I'll do an oil/wax (possible sanding beforehand) unless someone from EBMM proposes/recommends something different.

Of course, Jack just beat me to the punch with his answer.

 

[adouglas]

Thanks, Jack.

I was kind of leaning towards the "WW as cleaner" point of view. It shows how words can trip you up...calling them "conditioner" implies properties similar to Tru-Oil.

So clean with WW, then follow the routine from the FAQ for periodic maintenance.

 

[bovinehost]

I don't know anything about maple boards anymore, but 'conditioner' certainly applies to the WWs when it comes to rosewood boards.

And when you say "clean with WWs", I think it depends. The finish on the body can certainly be cleaned with the WWs. I have proof of this!

And the fretboard wipes will do a fairly decent job of removing surface grime, too, which is (hopefully) all you'll really get on the body, but the neck can be a different issue (ground-in grime, you nasty boys).

 

[asianjeff]

Kinda on the same line... does the conditioner WW hurt the strings? Or I should always apply it after I take all my strings off.

 

[Jazzbassman23]

So the Tru Oil/wax treatment only needs to be done on maple boards? I guess after seven years my Sterling is due for something, but if you look up procrastinate in the dictionary, there I am.

 

[roburado]

I don't know. I do the fretboard with WW fretboard conditioner. Then, I use the string cleaner WW to take off any incidental oils that may have gotten on the strings. I do instrument polish last to get rid of incidental oils from the fretboard conditioner.

 

[roburado]

So the Tru Oil/wax treatment only needs to be done on maple boards? I guess after seven years my Sterling is due for something, but if you look up procrastinate in the dictionary, there I am.

Oil/Wax is something that I have really only done on the back of the neck (on my instruments with rosewood boards). No idea about using it on a maple fretboard, but I suppose it makes sense. I only have one maple board, and I haven't done an oil/wax on the neck at all yet.

 

[asianjeff]

We don't need to do any treatments on the Bongo neck do we?

 

[midopa]

...
And the fretboard wipes will do a fairly decent job of removing surface grime, too, which is (hopefully) all you'll really get on the body, but the neck can be a different issue (ground-in grime, you nasty boys).

The String Cleaner WWs also do the trick I bleeb. I had a really nasty grungy pickguard with finger crap and stuff all on it and part of the String Cleaner WWs brushed against the pickguard while I was cleaning strings one day and the grunge was gone! BAM! I tested them out again on an old nasty grungy keyboard and BAM! THE GRUNGE WAS GONE! STRING CLEANER WONDER WIPES! BAM! GRUNGE IS GONE! BAM!




ever notice how in those cleaner commercials the guys are always loud and yelling

 

[adouglas]

I discovered the string cleaner thing too. This SR5 that jumped on my back and would not let go was *just* starting the show the dreaded gray finger mung marks. String cleaner got rid of 'em like nothing else, but I have to believe that it would also seriously dry out the fretboard. So once it was clean and dry, I hit it with WW fretboard conditioner to make sure it stays moisturized.

Note to self: Americans will buy anything, especially ridiculous services. Open a guitar "skin care" spa. Make up all kinds of tripe about proper care of your precious guitar. Offer volcanic mud baths, moisutrizing and toning treatments, caviar soaks and seaweed wraps for guitars. Charge outrageous prices.

 

[nashman]

I think the WW's and B-C products co-exist rather than replace each other. For the (unfinished) neck ... clean with lemon oil and use the B-C oil and wax to finish. Use appropriate WW products for (rosewood) fretboard, string cleaner, polish.

 

[scottbass71]

Sorry if I sound like an Asshat
So the wonder wipes can be used on a maple fretboard?

Just read the FAQ looks like they can
Are Wonder wipes available in Australia yet?

 

[Aussie Mark]

Are Wonder wipes available in Australia yet?

Yep.

+"wonder wipes" +"ernie ball" -ebay - Google Search

 

[Big Poppa]

what jack said

 

[Colin]

Sorry if I sound like an Asshat
So the wonder wipes can be used on a maple fretboard?

Just read the FAQ looks like they can
Are Wonder wipes available in Australia yet?

Scott, I have them in stock

 

[AnthonyD]

...Think of the WWs as a wash for your car. The oil and wax is like a wash and wax and detail and whatnot...

Excellent analogy!


BTW - At rehearsal last night I brought "presents" for my three guitarists. Pocket-sized Instrument Polish Wonder Wipes. They absolutely LOVED them and it was funny to see them all popping them open and wiping down their guitars when we were done, complete with the "ooohs and aaaahs".

 

[Brian]

The Fretboard conditioner works great on all types of wood. Woods that don't have pores (maple) etc. need to be wiped down with a dry cloth afterwards. The Rosewood necks have pores and the conditioner evaportates into the pores.

The Fretboard conditioner does not harm the strings at all.

Brian

 

[tkarter]

Thanks for finally putting it in plain English Brian. I was beginning to think maple was designed to be dirty.

tk