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Posted by: Keilnoth Oct 10 2009, 06:50 PM

After more that 5 years of use, I decided to clean the fretboard of my guitar. Let's say it was really dirty. I am showing you the result. I must say I am really happy with it !

Before :







After :







The tool is that, Steel Wool Grade 0000 which cost about $5 :



Please note a few things if you wanna do that :

#1 protect the part where the fretboard join the body because the steel wool is not very nice with the body paint
#2 if possible, remove the pickups or cover them, pickups = magnets, steel = magnetic
#3 better do that in your garage or outside because it makes a lot of dirt in your keyboard and on your desk
#4 don't use anything else than grade 0000 steel wool...

Hope this help.

Posted by: Sollesnes Oct 10 2009, 07:00 PM

That was a big difference! Must be good to have it done

Posted by: Bondy Oct 10 2009, 07:09 PM

Wow thats a massive difference 0)

Posted by: Chokehold Oct 10 2009, 07:19 PM

And I thought I had a dirty guitar. It's really a huge difference.

Posted by: Neurologi Oct 10 2009, 07:26 PM

Perfect opportunity for me to inform of a product few are probably aware of called Gorgomyte. It not only polishes frets but the same treated cloth can be used to treat the wood of the fretboard getting rid of all the gunk in the process. There is absolutely no damage caused to the instrument and no need to mask up the guitar to protect the finish. It is a little expensive but I managed to polish, clean and treat all seven of my guitars with one cloth - you cut it up into equal sized portions and use more or less for a given guitar depending on the initial condition. The use of steel wool is the time honored favourite of luthiers everywhere but Gorgomyte is much more efficient and produces better results with less chance of ANY damage to your instrument. There are testimonials of luthiers who only use this product now once they tried it!

To put this in perspective, my guitars had been unused for five years. For at least a year of that they were sitting in a shipping container waiting to be transported to their destination as I moved continents (i.e. Australia to Europe). So you can imagine the condition they were in what with extreme changes in humidity and temperature. I can honestly say that for some guitars they have never looked or played as good even when brand new. The treatment of the fingerboard brings up the grain of the wood beautifully!

More information can be found at: http://www.gorgomyte.com/ but any good music store should be able to order for you.

Posted by: Sensible Jones Oct 10 2009, 08:19 PM

True for some!!!
Personally I still prefer to use Lemon Oil, a Rag, Time and effort!!!

Posted by: Neurologi Oct 10 2009, 08:22 PM

I am sure next I need to do this won't as hard so I may go the cheaper option for sure next time!

Posted by: Sensible Jones Oct 10 2009, 08:28 PM

Exactly!!!

A little cleaning but more often!!

Posted by: skennington Oct 11 2009, 02:21 AM

Same for me! I also use a worn out super soft tooth brush to really get at the frets and all down into the saddles. Compressed air for all the cavities as well.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Oct 11 2009, 12:05 PM

Good job man! I like the before and after pictures!

For cleaning I use some sort of polishing cloth by fender in combination with Lemon Oil, Fastfret or plain water. Works well.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Oct 11 2009, 08:04 PM

Wow, some very useful tips here!

Skenny, you opened my eyes man, I was doing the good ol' bang-it-with-the-wet-cloth approach for quite some time, instead of using some cheap soft toothbrush!

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Oct 11 2009, 08:36 PM

5 years???

Posted by: David Wallimann Oct 11 2009, 09:03 PM

Very impressive!
I'll take a bottle too! :-)

Posted by: Santiago Diaz Garces Oct 11 2009, 10:31 PM

5 years without cleaning?. I can't stand not cleaning my guitar every week and you didn't clean it for 5 years?. I think that now I know who the crazy guy is. hahaha

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Oct 11 2009, 10:34 PM

I very rarely clean my guitar's neck. Haven't cleaned the one I have now since I got it, which is about 1½ year. Same with other guitars. I might do it the next time I change strings though.

Posted by: Neurologi Oct 11 2009, 10:37 PM

It all depends on how old they are. I have bought some second hand. I was surprised to learn the other day that one was made somewhere between '77-'79. Funny though. That wasn't the one with the most tarnish on the frets. That prize goes to the Fender! If you stay on top of it as Sensible Jones suggests ... we will all come out on top!

Posted by: Keilnoth Oct 12 2009, 06:47 AM

Well, I haven't been playing much during the last 5 years. I played like mad during 2 years and then stopped during 2 years. I usually cleaned the neck with a wet cloth but as you can see, it's not really efficient.

But now I will clean my guitar every time I change the strings.

Posted by: Laszlo Boross Oct 12 2009, 07:05 AM

I've never heard of it before but maybe I will also try it. I know it is much better to play on a clean guitar.

Posted by: Sensible Jones Oct 13 2009, 06:00 PM

That's the best way!