Cleaning frets

**Space_Cowboy** · 10.13.06, 04:33 PM

A lot of crap as accumulated in the frets of my Wolf Special and I was woundering if anyone knew the best way of cleaning it?

**A&Z Guitar Repair** · 10.13.06, 05:45 PM

To clean frets, not FRETBOARDS, I use super fine steel wool, to buff the tops. If there is alot of fromunda cheese on the frets, a razor blade works well to scrape the cheese off. Be careful not to scratch the fret. All you're wanting to do is remove the cheese. After that I use X-Treem metal polish. It's an impregnated cloth that works great for polishing frets. Allways remember to mask the fretboard before doing any fret work. It'll help keep the fretboard clean and free of unnecessary knicks/scratches.

Stewart Macdonald sells the X-Treem polish, here's a link... http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishin...al_Polish.html

**WinterlessIceness** · 10.13.06, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by A&Z Guitar Repair

If there is alot of fromunda cheese on the frets, a razor blade works well to scrape the cheese off. Be careful not to scratch the fret. All you're wanting to do is remove the cheese.

Anyway, just wipe them with some random material while changing strings, I do it both monthly. Keeps your tone and fret(board) clean.

AT · 10.14.06, 03:02 AM

Originally Posted by Space_Cowboy

A lot of crap as accumulated in the frets of my Wolf Special and I was woundering if anyone knew the best way of cleaning it?

Dude, I own 16 Wolfgangs, and I play and routinely take care of every single one of them.

Steel wool is a good thing to use, but it leaves a big mess and can in fact "scratch" your frets.

Here's what I recommend (you'll need to take a trip to the hardware store):

This process is best done during string changes. Using an old credit card or something similar in size (the plastic envelope strings come in works too), cut a slit just wide enough for a fret to pass through so you can lay it on top of each individual fret and not have much neck exposed--if any at all. Lay the slotted homemade protector on each fret, and one at a time dab simichrome polish (comes in a small tube) on the fret and work it back and forth with a cloth rag. Try to avoid getting simichrome polish on the neck itself (step two will likely clean it up, though, if you do). Once you've done all 22 frets be sure to clean off any excess polish. Next, pour about a cap-full of Murphy's Oil Soap (check in the cleaning section of the hardware store) into a bowl and mix it with about one cup of water. Using a small soft-bristled brush (like a fingernail brush), dab the solution over the entire neck, fingerboard and back, and work the brush around each part of the neck in small circles; this process helps clean out the pores of the wood without damaging anything. When you're done, use a clean rag to wipe off the entire neck, and let it sit for a few minutes. Finally, apply a thin coat of lemon oil to the entire neck and spread it evenly. A little bit goes a long way in this case. Allow the lemon oil to sit and absorb into the wood for a short while. When you're ready to put new strings on, wipe down the neck to rid it of any excessive "oily-ness." (I've heard some folks say it's good to use wax-free lemon oil; I've had no problems either way.) Also, an alternative to lemon oil if you get frustrated with the about 24-hour complete drying time is Bor-seal oil, which is a clear solution sold as a lubricant for clarinets.

I've been able to keep all of the necks on all of my Wolfgangs in very good--and in very clean--condition using this process at every string change.

**Space_Cowboy** · 10.14.06, 09:40 AM

Sounds like a project on its own but definately worth doing. The local music store does it for about 60 bucks I think so I'm not doing that. Thanks for the advice..

AT · 10.14.06, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Space_Cowboy

Sounds like a project on its own but definately worth doing. The local music store does it for about 60 bucks I think so I'm not doing that. Thanks for the advice..

The whole process for me (complete guitar cleaning and re-stringing) takes about an hour and a half. That's not bad for keeping your instrument in top shape and considering it's a Floyd Rose.

**cyberfiddl** · 10.15.06, 06:03 AM

I've been using 0000 steel wool on the frets, fb, and neck for years. Many years. Why go to all the trouble NOT to get any on the fb? I've only been concerned with getting steel 'woolies' in the neck pickup so I usually keep it covered when performing this twice weekly ritual.
Getting the cheese off the crannies of the frets IS important though because the fret will ultimately pop loose.

**fast98dodge** · 10.15.06, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by AndrewThomas.net

Dude, I own 16 Wolfgangs, and I play and routinely take care of every single one of them.

16 Wolfgangs??? Where's the pics, bro??? Don't be holdin' out on us!!!

I'm sure you have at least one first year quilt in there somewhere!!! I have a red one, any amber ones that may be for sale??? I only ask 'cause the amber is what I originally wanted but the first one my local store got in was a red one and I fell in love with it immediately...

AT · 10.15.06, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by fast98dodge

16 Wolfgangs??? Where's the pics, bro??? Don't be holdin' out on us!!!

I'm sure you have at least one first year quilt in there somewhere!!! I have a red one, any amber ones that may be for sale??? I only ask 'cause the amber is what I originally wanted but the first one my local store got in was a red one and I fell in love with it immediately...

I'm off to a recording session today, but I'll try and get a pic up tonight. If you can, check out the 'photos' section of my MySpace page: www.myspace.com/andrewthomassolomusic. There's a shot of several of the arsenal there, and you can see some of them on stage from various gigs.

I in fact do NOT own a first year quilt. Most didn't look very good (hence the reason Peavey switched to flamed maple), and at this point they're too expensive and more of a collector's item. I don't collect guitars--I play them. So I don't see the point of getting a first year quilt. A guy I bought one of my Wolfie's from has one up on eBay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEAR-MINT-Peavey...QQcmdZViewItem

Fuck it... at some point I'll just start a new thread with IDs and photos of all my Wolfgangs. I'm damn proud of them, and I have yet to play any guitar that feels/sounds/looks as good to me. Anyone else have photos of their Wolfgangs they want to post?

**homeunit** · 10.15.06, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by AndrewThomas.net

Dude, I own 16 Wolfgangs

That's fucking hardcore!!

AT · 10.15.06, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by homeunit

That's fucking hardcore!!

Hardcore? My girlfriend is about to have me committed.

AT · 10.15.06, 11:25 PM

Here's a link to a photo of thirteen of them (that was how many I owned when the photo was taken in May): http://www.andrewthomas.net/archives/Wolfgangs_04.jpg.

There are six Wolfgang Standard Deluxes (Dark Cherryburst, Blue, Purple, Red--restored from all genuine parts acquired on eBay, Vintage Gold, Sunburst--the lone stop tail), one Wolfgang Standard (Gloss Black), four Wolfgang Special Deluxes (Green, Amber, Purple, Red--another restored from all genuine parts acquired on eBay), four Wolfgang Specials (Ivory, Purple--another custom assembly w/ coil tap and tone knob added, Sunburst--stop tail w/ DiMarzios, tone knob added, and a coil tap, Gloss Black--stop tail w/ rosewood fretboard), and one true "Frankengang" Wolfgang Special with an EXP blue quilt body, USA neck and hardware, Seymour Duncan pickups (Custom 5 in the bridge w/ coil tap and Phat Cat in the neck) and a tone knob added.

Four of them I "rebuilt" or did a lot of custom work to. I have a body and neck for another, and I think it's going to have a Fernandes Sustainer (I won't overly abuse like EVH).

Welcome to my crazy world. I said before I love these guitars, and I do fully recognize there is no rhyme or reason to owning this many.

**vanzefflin** · 10.16.06, 07:42 AM

Instead of steel wool try those green scotch brite pads. They work great and don't leave the little metal shavings everywhere and they don't scratch the fingerboard.

**SuckaInA3Piece** · 10.16.06, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by AndrewThomas.net

Here's a link to a photo of thirteen of them (that was how many I owned when the photo was taken in May): http://www.andrewthomas.net/archives/Wolfgangs_04.jpg.

There are six Wolfgang Standard Deluxes (Dark Cherryburst, Blue, Purple, Red--restored from all genuine parts acquired on eBay, Vintage Gold, Sunburst--the lone stop tail), one Wolfgang Standard (Gloss Black), four Wolfgang Special Deluxes (Green, Amber, Purple, Red--another restored from all genuine parts acquired on eBay), four Wolfgang Specials (Ivory, Purple--another custom assembly w/ coil tap and tone knob added, Sunburst--stop tail w/ DiMarzios, tone knob added, and a coil tap, Gloss Black--stop tail w/ rosewood fretboard), and one true "Frankengang" Wolfgang Special with an EXP blue quilt body, USA neck and hardware, Seymour Duncan pickups (Custom 5 in the bridge w/ coil tap and Phat Cat in the neck) and a tone knob added.

Four of them I "rebuilt" or did a lot of custom work to. I have a body and neck for another, and I think it's going to have a Fernandes Sustainer (I won't overly abuse like EVH).

Welcome to my crazy world. I said before I love these guitars, and I do fully recognize there is no rhyme or reason to owning this many.

I'm impressed, Andrew. Nice collection. I have the cherry sunburst you have on the end there. Great guitar, but I love the specials more for some reason. They just sound more "meaty."

AT · 10.16.06, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by vanzefflin

Instead of steel wool try those green scotch brite pads. They work great and don't leave the little metal shavings everywhere and they don't scratch the fingerboard.

I brought this topic up at the music store I teach at Saturday, and one of the guys said the same thing about the Scotch Bright Pads. Worth a try...