The ESP Guitar Company

The fretboard is undoubtedly the most important part of a guitar. So, it makes sense to know the right way to clean it. Ask any professional electric guitarist, and you'll know that striking the right balance is the key. You don't want to end up overglazing things or leaving a crust of grime. Both ways, it affects your playing when you pull or pluck at the guitar strings randomly.

This guide will help you understand different fretboards, explore cleaning lubricants, and discover expert maintenance tips. Dive in!

Finished and Unfinished Fretboards 

The guitar community is torn in a debate about whether the material of a fretboard makes any difference. Some believe that a rosewood fretboard is markedly different from ebony, while others say there's hardly any difference. But when it comes to cleaning, you will need to be cautious. 

Primarily, the focus is on fretboard cleaning, but other guitar parts are involved, like the neck and tuning pegs. And if your electric guitar has a fretboard that uses unfinished wood, things are tricky, demanding extreme caution. So, it's recommended to oil unfinished fretboards for obvious reasons.

• When you leave wood for a long time, it turns hard, thereby making it difficult for the truss rod-neck adjustment. 
• Unoiled fretboards can also crack in places that look bad and hamper your guitar play.
  
  

The question is: how often should you be oiling fretboards. Well, it depends on various factors, such as climate, playing frequency, and how much your hands sweat. Typically, 2-3 times a year should do it.

On the flip side, finished fretboards don't need much attention. They are protected with a lacquer finish. But don't try to clean a fretboard using the same lubricant as cleaning guitar strings. Now, let's find out what you'll need to clean the fretboard.

The Accessories You Need  

Ideally, your electric guitar should come with cleaning and care instructions from the manufacturer. If you don't have it, always seek advice from an expert. To get started, you will need three things:

• A dedicated cleaning cloth- Microfibers work best. A GHS Gorgomyte Cloth is the best cleaning and conditioning cloth made exclusively for guitars. If there's too much dirt or heavy grime, use superfine, quad 0-grade steel wool. But stay away from "00" or "000" grades as they are coarse and will scratch the surface.
  
  
• Fretboard cleaner or lubricant- Lemon oil and popular products like Dunlop 6502 Formula 65 are generally preferred. Avoid using polish,as it will press on the grime more, making it difficult to remove. 

How To Start Cleaning Your FretBoard 

For maple fretboards, you don't have to spend time oiling. Typically, they are pre-hydrated with carnauba wax that wicks away excessive dirt. So, you can start right away by wiping at the neck and body using a slightly damp microfiber cloth.

In contrast, you must use lemon oils to hydrate rosewood and ebony fretboards. Take a small cotton bulb, lightly moisten it in lemon oil, and rub it along the fretboard and neck. Make sure you dust out any excessive dirt before.

Expert Tips :

• Before you start cleaning the fretboard, always loosen the guitar strings. If you're a beginner, use a special string cleaning tool to push the grime under the strings.
  You can buy one from e-commerce stores selling online guitar parts and accessories. 
• Always tape the pickup before starting to clean a fretboard.
• Lie down your guitar on a sturdy surface. Ensure the neck is well supported and the fingerboard is kept horizontal. 

You'll generally find a lot of grime underneath the strings. It's the main culprit behind subpar sound production when tested using guitar tuners. So, it's always advised that you clean your guitar strings after each session. That way, you'll never have to work hard later to clean it. 

Some popular guitar string cleaners are GHS Fast Fret and Dunlop String Cleaner 65. If you don't get either of them, a wet cloth should do the job. After the fretboard is cleaned, apply some fingerboard oil for conditioning.

Also, pay attention to the back of the neck. That's the area you hold most when you are playing. In most cases, it comes finished. However, if your guitar uses unfinished wood, use fingerboard oil to even it out. 

Closing Thoughts 

Cleaning an electric guitar fretboard is easy, provided you know what you're doing. This guide will help you clean and maintain your fretboard for smooth playing. Should you have any further queries on cleaning a fretboard, we'd be happy to answer. Drop in your thoughts in the comments below. Happy playing!