Hi guys, this is the definitive trick to clean your basses or guitars frets without damage your neck.

I've seen many methods with liquids, so if you have a maple neck it's very dangerous, then with steel wool which is dangerous too as you may take off too much of the fret.

This method is used to clean computer's components contacts, ie: Graphic cards contacts.

And we can apply this to any fretted instrument.

First of all you need one of these finger board protectors.
You can find it in any Chinese online store, it generally comes with a fret polisher stone, that you can immediately throw to the recycle bin, or keep to sharpen your knifes. But don't use these stones one your frets.


Then you need the magic, the incredible, the ever efficient , I name it: Staedtler Rasoplast Combi Eraser. It's cheap in any library.

Simply apply the blue part of the eraser to your frets:



This is the result after cleaning half a fret. Left was cleaned, right is not still cleaned.



To clean the border, don't use the blue side, use the white site that is not abrasive, even if it touches the fingerboard it will do no arm:

 

Last edited: May 10, 2018

(I was not able to post more than 5 images, so this is the last part)

These are the frets after polishing with the Staedtler Rasoplast Combi Eraser:



As a last note, you will see that some very small metal particles stick to the eraser:



This make it more abrasive, so cut a slice before using it again.

 

This is really fantastic OLY !!!

A big thank you

 

Thank you buddy. You rock.

 

Thanks Oly

 

I used the eraser trick but it rubbed away all the metal so now I have a fretless. Next time I won't rub so hard!

 

Watch your fingers bro. I know a guy who knows a guy that rubbed so long he plays bass with two fingers now.

 

Was it this guy?

 

Steel wool (very thin one) and lemon oil for dark fretboard (never use lemon oil on maple fingerboard)

 

I have mentioned this in another rant someplace, that there are alternatives to using a highly processed, petroleum based chemical on the beautiful necks of our beloved instruments. Instead of mineral oil, linseed oil is great to use and I have been doing so for over 40 years. On acoustic basses and guitars, if your instrument has a wooden bridge you can also use it there. They can dry out and cause problems over the years.

I myself prefer the organic versus the inorganic if I have the choice. People have been using mineral oil to great satisfaction as well and it is just my personal shtick.

 

Organic things, yes indeed .. chemical things are shit

 

Commonly, lemon oil is mixed with mineral oil in preperations marketed for use with guitars. Unless you are using the essential oil, which in my opinion would be overkill on the odor as well as potentially negatively impactful do to its highly concentrated state, one is for all intents and purposes using mineral oil scented with lemon oil. It is always important to read the ingredient label.

 

Thank you for the information, will check !

 

Great hint, but here's another. I use the white melamine polymer sponges that are sold everywhere, I cut off a piece and use it to clean my frets, it can even eliminate light scratches on a guitars Amps and equipment without damaging the finish on them

 

I usually clean my basses with a low cut around 20hz.

 

Also, best to always wipe down your guitar straight after the gig.
Get the grease off. Don't want corrosion.

 

I just wash my hands before I play.
People don't seem to wash their hands much.
I tried a used guitar from Long & McQuade and cleaned dirt and grease off the fretboard for 2 hours before I would play it.
Now I only buy new guitars.
And new synths, etc.
Wash those greasy, grimy, dirty, butt skritchin' fingers, folks!

 

And no grease will come from your skin during a whole gig. Amazing.
So as long as you wash your hands before every gig, your guitar will stay totally clean, with no corrosion, forever.

 

Thank you for sharing, that is definitely a cool trick. Cleaned that fret up nicely. Going to try this myself when I clean my guitars next.

 

Lubricant helps here

 

Last edited by a moderator: Jan 19, 2021