How to Perform Guitar FretBoard Cleaning

Find out how to clean clean guitar neck and fretboard cleaning the right way (and safely). Watch this video now. To see more tutorials and free lessons please visit http://GuitarPlayLearn.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• fretboard cleaning
• how to clean guitar neck

[dvm200289]

Is there an alternative to 0000 grade steel wool? I'm finding it difficult to get one where i stay. BTW I'm from Guwahati, India.

[shockalotti]

@dvm200289 00 grade or 0 grade. But they are much coarser, so you have to be MUCH gentler with them, and much more careful to follow the grain of the wood. As below, you can alternatively try a plastic scrubber... it's much the same idea, only it's even more genlter than 0000 grade wool.

[PunkHardSisters]

that way ur taking off a thin layer of the fretboard wood and ruin the polish... I think it is not recommended on electric guitar maple boards like those of a strat or a tele...

[shockalotti]

@PunkHardSisters Theoretically, yes... actually all polishing practices remove a thin vineer of material. For hardwood fingerboards like rosewood or ebony, there is no polish to speak of so you are only removing wax, dirt, or grease. But practically speaking, this does not damage the fingerboard. Even lacquered maple fingerboards are fine with this, because it's very gentle.

[pacovl46]

i've had my guitar for like 10 years now and it never was as dirty as the one in this video. i always wash my hands before i play and i usually use fast fret before and after i play.

[shockalotti]

@pacovl46 Nice - yeah unfortunately most people don't bother cleaning their hands before playing. And even I used to clean my hands before playing but I'd still get dirt build up. Nothing like this guitar of course... But some people have a lot higher grease and acid content in their fingers. Don't ask me why, it's just something I've noticed over the years.

[shockalotti]

@FloppyBaby Actually, I have a Masters Degree from the University of Auckland, NZ in Chemical and Materials Engineering. I wrote a Thesis called the "Drying of Porous Thin Layer Materials, A Thermodynamic Approach". My paper is cited in several further followup studies.

But to answer your somewhat interesting response... yes, the oil in the pores of the wood, prevent wax from being deposited. And no, the oil and wax are not mutually soluble.

[shockalotti]

@kyemuzza8 takes one to know one :P

[ourscienceisasham]

a lot of ado about nothing. clean it with what you want. i personally find it really easy to get it off with a pick and a microfiber rag. works just as fast. don't know why the hell you would need steel wool, but it is not really harsh. try to rub your hand with it, doesn't really take skin off. if you guys are afraid to use it just use some plastic scrubber and a microfiber rag. which also works to remove any grime from the body.

[shockalotti]

@FloppyBaby oh welcome back! This thread has really missed you.... NOT. Anyway, if you're looking for social proof The University of Auckland it is ranked in the top 20 Universities in the world. And the Engineering School is ranked higher than that I believe.

But it doesn't matter, I find that stuff boring, and only pull it out to shoot down snotty nosed self important pricks like you.

[FloppyBaby]

@shockalotti Oh, University of Auckland? How prestigious!

Hahahahahahaha

[Enkaged]

i just use a toothpick.. asnd a pick