Guitarsid -> RE: Best way to clean a fingerboard (Sep. 14 2013 3:21:35)
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but will not act as a solvent for oil based finishes. Not getting the thread topic right, this cleaning is strictly talking about the cleaning of an unfinished fingerboard, not about cleaning the finish. Finish cleaning is another topic altogether, unless the fingerboard itself is finished and you want to preserve that finish. Rickenbachers have finished fingerboards, but I didn't think flamencos are normally finished. When cleaning a fingerboard, you only need to moisten a rag or q-tip and clean off the residue on the unfinished fingerboard surface. There are a number of good cleaning agents one can use, lemon oil was mentioned, soapy warm cloths, spirits, alcohol, naptha,etc. Alcohol will nicely clean off the unwanted oil and dirt. It can also be used to clean strings that have the same nasty finger deposits and residue deposited within the grooves of the wound strings. This will restore the bright sound and extend the life of the strings to a certain point. Alcohol and naptha both completely evaporate. For finish cleaning, there are a number of caveats and specifics associated with proper cleaning and maintenance and french polished finishes are the most delicate . Avoid any contact of any cleaner with a french polished guitar. Never wipe or clean a french polished surface with a wet cloth, with solvents, or with polishes; do not even use any of the cleaning agents and compounds specially sold for guitars - these are not intended for French Polished instruments. It is possible to clean off a french polished guitar with a very wrung out, slightly damp cloth, but one must excercise caution. But for guitars with other commonly used modern varnishes, a number of cleaners can be used, soap and water, lemon oil, naptha, alcohol, murphy's oil soap, mineral spirits, a mix of turp and oil, commercial guitar cleaner formulations, etc. Even these finishes have caveats, for instance, some should not be used with nitrocellulose, but some should be used for nitrocellulose. As I said, the oiling of a fingerboard need only be done on occasion, wipe off any excess, it is absorbed by unfinished wood and does not get on the strings. I have done it many times, for many decades, to many guitars and I have never seen any problem whatsoever, I have only seem much benefit. I have never ever seen a fingerboard that was over oiled, but countess times, I have seen it greatly improve dried out fingerboards. Very old, worn, and dry fingerboards will soak up oil, some are often literally as thirsty as they can be and are very often badly in need of some oil. As I said, this is a centuries old, time tested, wood treatment that provides benefits without problems.
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