As a luthier, I want to point out a couple very important things here. These problems stem from colloquial terms and semantics. The use of the term "lemon oil" was never intended to mean pure, actual, lemon oil. It was used as a generic brand name for products under that label. Like calling tissues "kleenex". People just took it literally and used actual lemon oil, which is indeed very stupid. The "lemon oil" intended, is mineral oil with lemon scent, naptha, and trace amounts of citric acid to help it dissolve gunk. The lighter fluid thing is a bigger problem. It was actually popularized by Dan Erlewine, who is one of the best guitar technicians/repairmen in the world. When he recommended using lighter fluid, all lighter fluid was pure naptha. In the past ten years, lighter fluid has sometimes been manufactured using different chemicals, which *might* ruin finishes. Pure naptha, however, will not ruin any guitar finish (except FRESH varnish and possibly shellac) and is used regularly by luthiers(luthier supplies sell it by the gallon). Naptha is actually an excellent solvent for cleaning guitars as it leaves no residue and dissolves virtually all residues and oils. So.. It's ok to use "lemon oil" And "lighter fluid" if they fit this description (most of them do).
I just double checked. Ronsonol and Zippo fluid are no longer naptha. Coleman fuel is. But you can buy quarts and even gallons of pure naptha at any lowes/ace/menards/etc for just a few bucks. It's an excellent cleaner. As for "lemon oil" I always use Formbys lemon oil and it works excellent and is cheap. It's 74% naptha, 25%mineral oil, and 1% odorant. It cleans fast and doesn't leave it too oily since it's mostly naptha. Just enough oil to condition. Just want to clear this up. These products are perfectly safe and are the best I've found on the decade I've been building and repairing guitars. Those fancy marketed brands usually aren't worth the money. But guitar "polish" like Gerlitz and Goby are great and worth the money. But use naptha to get rid of the stuff that's hard to clean, like sticker residue.
Rawkerbilly - Coleman’s has an added anti-oxidant in it to prevent rust in the fuel lines. It can leave a residue behind. Your best bet for pure, clean naphtha that works perfect for guitar maintenance is ‘MSR Superfuel’. Cheap, easy to find at a camping store that carries MSR stuff.
Filip Josipović nah man that is something you would want to do yourself to make sure she gets the love and respect she deserves. Nobody would be touching one of my babies but me.
Hey Coop...that was a harsh thing to say, even if you were trying to be funny. Why say it at all? Perhaps to make yourself feel better about...yourself?
@@geraldhenrickson7472 it wasn't really that harsh of a thing to say, so maybe you're just soft. Your comment is definitely a lot more of a douche bag thing to say than his was. It's a joke, not a dick, so don't take it so hard.
SlayerPostBot5000 literally the main reason why I'm going to buy that one as opposed to the other x) seeing something cute and goofy like that every once in a while would just help keep me in a fun mood.
That fretboard looks really dirty Tyler, mine is so clean, like really clean, how did you get it so dirty...........oh .........maybe I shuld practice more.
David Nwokoye Why is it called nut sauce? It is made for lubricating the nut. Why is lighter fluid called so. Becaus it is ment to be used as a lighter fluid. Why you refuse to use the things for the purpose the are made?
the amount of stuff i learned from this video is bigger than i expected.. thanks man! also those fretboards getting cleaned up is the most satisfying thing i have ever seen
Most guitars are finished in nitrocellulose or urethane, neither of which react with naphta/lighter fluid. I don't use it to clean my guitar routinely but it's great for removing stickers off used guitars you buy without leaving a trace and dissolving grease from a heavily used fretboard. It will destroy an oil finish but once again they would also be damaged by many products and they're not too common as a finish.
lol, i got the exact same one the other day, watching this video cause its my first time cleaning and didnt want to screw it up, glad to know i got a good kit
Hey Tyler! I personally discovered (and used) the Dunlop maintenance kit... And it is amazing! It contains cleaning/polish spray and wax to protect your guitars from sweat (which is especially useful during summer on my acoustic guitars.) Fingerboard cleaner AND conditionner, so you can clean your fretboard a little more regularly without the concerns you mentionned when using conditionner, a fast fret type conditionner for your strings, and a little piece of really smooth sandpaper to polish your frets! I did a full cleaning of my acoustic guitar 1 month ago and it blew me away how much it affected the tone and comfort. As soon as I'll get new strings for my electric guitars I plan on doing the same! Cheers from France, keep up the good work!
I have been using Dunlap 65 for guitar polishing for nearly 15 years of my 34 years playing. One thing you should do while you have the strings off is also take off any pick guards or pickup rings to get under them because they will get dirt up under them like it or not after years of playing. You should also avoid directly spraying your volume, tone, and selector switches. Its better to apply it to the cloth sparingly and wipe on and polish off. I don't care what it is an says its safe, no liquids of any kind is good to get around electronic parts or the chance of seeping down into them.
learned that the hard way, my volume and tone knobs are broken, however pickup switch and pickups still work, the guitar do still work which is all I really care about rn lol
I normally use Eucalyptus or green tree oil, feels nice and looks good. Its great for removing all the gunk and leaving the guitar smelling nice and fresh. Never had any problems, been doing it for a few years now. thanks for all the content Tyler!
I have a Dunlop 65 guitar maintenance kit. It comes with a string cleaner that extends the life of strings, a fretboard cleaner, a fretboard conditioner, a wax for the body that is great on little scratches, and body polish. It's a great little kit, comes with a microfiber cloth, maybe two if I remember right. I use the fretboard cleaner to get the gunk off the neck, then the conditioner to treat the wood once it's clean. That seems like a better process than what Tyler does here, but to each his own. Just thought I'd share since I love that kit, very convenient to have everything in one package. And it was only about $20 on amazon. Rock on everyone 🤘🏻🎸
Definitely recommend the 65 kit, as J Har said, for the price you can't beat it and it treats everything that needs care. Been using them for years and always makes a used guitar look new.
Dude! Neverrrrrrr spray any product directly onto your guitar! Always spray it onto the cloth. If you spray it right on the guitar, it could come out too fast or drip into the electronics and ruin something. Even if they say it’s safe, it’s better to err on the safe side. Always spray onto the cloth!
You could cover your electronics in water and as long as you let it dry out before plugging it in they will be fine. I've heard of computer technicians doing this to clean their shit. I'm not ballsy enough to try it, but apparently it's a thing.
@@jedidiahhavard7622 You can but it's best to use distilled water. I have given my keyboard a 2 day bath after spilling a soda on it and it cleaned up fine and I'm currently typing on it. Just make sure it's dry.
Another great cleaner is dunlops 65 series cleaning kits. If you just want to use something around the house. You may use pledge or an indust IF AND ONLY IF IT IS A FINISHED SURFACE. So not for rosewood or ebony. Must have clear coat or sealer on finish to use pledge.
Thanks for this, mate. Excellent video! Amen to your comment about letting the oil sit on your fingerboard for 20-30 min. From the very first time I started doing that, many moons ago, fretboard happiness has ensued. And if my fretboard is happy, I'm happy. Cheers!
finaly someone who knows what he is talking, i have been trying to explain lots of players not to put lemo n oil but they never listened.....thats why they dont have a guitar now and i thank you for sharing that
Hi Tyler, I have guitars with unfinished, or uncoated maple necks and/or fretboards. I used a VERY small amount of Danish Oil wood treatment on a cloth, to give some protection to the fretboards. It works perfectly well, and stops the maple from absorbing most of the sweat and grime from your hands, so it also keeps looking good for longer too. I just forget where I picked up this tip, but it seems to work, and my guitars are perfectly fine and play great. Thanks for all the great content buddy, I've learned loads from you, keep it going. 👍❤️
I use Dunlop 65 guitar polish and cleaner on the body, the neck (not fret board) and headstock. Then for the fret board I use Gerlitz GGH guitar honey fingerboard oil. Been using that combo for about 7-8 years now, hasn't steered me wrong yet. :).
The examples of lemon oil displayed here are not lemon oil - they are lemon-scented petroleum distillates (i.e., mineral oil.) Food-grade lemon oil, available in gourmet food shops, is an entirely different beast. If your goal is to remove finger gunk, the oft-criticized Olde English furniture polish (it's actually mildly-lubricating and not harsh) is good for occasional cleaning and for the worst cases, there's naptha (which WILL dry out your fretboard.) Follow that up with a bit of real lemon oil or "bore oil" for the moisturizing finish.
My luthier is a qualified string instrument repairer (ie violins, violas, cellos and basses), who does guitar work as a side line. He recommends olive oil for fingerboards and fretboards (the cheapo stuff - extra-virgin olive oil goes smelly and sticky). It'll also remove gunk, although you can use a mineral-oil based cleaner first if the fretboard is really crapped up. Apply very sparingly and polish off with a dry cloth. I use a lint-free cloth very lightly moistened with olive oil to wipe down the fretboard about once a week. Keeps the fretboards clean and slick (and stops the strings from going gunky and rusty). The lemon-smelling stuff used in some fretboard cleaners is D-limonene, a degreasing solvent extracted from citrus fruit peel.
This video has been very helpful. I have been putting lemon oil on my fretboard everytime I change strings, and kept wondering why my strings would get so grimy and disgisting so quickly.
Cleaning? - Depends on the gunk involved. For general dirt I use a gentle household surface cleaner spray (current favourite - Method Multi Surface Cleaner Pink Grapefruit) applied to a cloth, not sprayed willy nilly on to the guitar. If the gunk needs a solvent to shift it I'll use Isopropyl Alcohol either neat or with a little water in it. Isoprope aka Isopropanol, Propan-2-ol doesn't attack finishes and plastics the way that some more aggressive solvents do. I don't worry about the solvent drying out a fingerboard because I will use Boiled Linseed oil very shortly after cleaning it. I avoid Raw Linseed Oil because it never really dries whereas the Boiled one will dry and harden. After rubbing in well applied to a cloth a couple of drops at a time I leave the oil to sink in for 5 minutes max then rub it all off with a clean dry cloth (lint free), all that hasn't soaked in. Once or twice a year is enough for the linseed oil finish. I have some D'Addario "Lemon Oil" but I only use it for cleaning, not for treating the neck, although it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to use. A major thing to avoid is silicone based furniture polish. If that silicone gets into the grain of your rosewood or ebony it can damage the structure. If that superglue won't come off it'll need to be cut back, maybe scraped first then 800,1200,2000 then buffed back to a shine. Have fun with that. It'll look like you've ruined it right up until the buffing is finished ... Although Acetone will soften superglue, it will also wreck most lacquer finishes... just don't.
Most lemon oil isn't oil from lemons, it's lemon-scented mineral oil. I use Old English furniture polish, it's lemon-scented mineral oil. It's designed for wood.
The very first page of Dan Erlewine's Guitar Player Repair Guide suggests naphtha (lighter fluid) as a safe degreaser/cleaner for guitar necks, fretboards, bodies and metal hardware. It's safe for nitrocellulose and poly finishes. I don't douse my guitar bodies with the stuff, but it's good for getting gunk off. I especially use naphtha to clean my fingerboards, then follow with Dr Ducks AxWax to moisturize. I personally don't use nor believe in lemon oil. I've used different varieties in the past and most of them deaden my strings prematurely. I recommend buying and reading Dan Erlewine's book. It has lots and lots of useful information by a respected Luthier.
I don't oil fretboard either. I don't let my guitar get so bad I need to use naphtha either. just good ole water. I don't use waxes either. they build up and cause problems.
I clean the fretboard & neck of my Suhr Modern Satin with lighter fluid. This is a recommendation from Suhr Customer Support. I'd love to see you slapping John Suhr's face, because you're so smart.
Years ago I bought a pint of good old fashioned Mineral Oil from my local Pharmacy for $1.99 for fretboard conditioning. That same day I whipped by my local Hardware Store and grabbed a quart can of Naphtha for $7.99 to clean my solid body electric guitars. This was over a decade ago and both work just as well as the high dollar guitar store crap. I also use 000 steel wool on the fretboards to polish the wood (a little) and the frets (a lot). So in the last decade, I have spent around $11.00 on my guitar cleaning supplies, and I have not even come close to using 25% of any of it!
I treated the Ebony fretboard of my second electric guitar with antique wax for furniture over 40 years ago. After that, I only wiped it with a cotton cloth every now and then. I also wiped the guitar lightly twice a year with a cotton cloth. About 3 years ago a fretleveling was done and the bridge was newly gilded, otherwise the part is in very good condition. The fretboard feels very smooth and hard, almost like glass. The wood is preserved and resistant to everything. Perfect for me. so, have fun and Rock on 🙂 🐈
So I was always told to never take off all strings at once because of the neck tension. But also if you do, not to leave them off for too long. Is there a time limit for having all the strings off at once?
As far as I know, guitar Lemon Oil is called so for the scent, but it has no actual lemon oil in it. It is just a mixture of some mineral or some shit like that. Actual lemon oil will dry out your fretboard which will cause little cracks. Anything that dries out fast(like rubbing alcohol or lighter fluid etc.) will get you such result. I use flax oil, but I can't recommend it to anyone, since I only cleaned my guitar couple times. It stands well, but who knows, maybe I'm doing the wrong thing. I also brush fretboard with tooth brush covered in soapy water before applying flax oil.
I used Music Nomad products not long ago to clean my fretboard and guitar, and it turned out beautifully! The fretboard cleaner has absolutely NO lemon oil in it at all, which is why I bought it.
Oh man, the conditioning oil only goes after you've already cleaned your fretboard with alcohol swabs , cause the oils won't clean the wood for the most part, they generally only seal the dirty instead of removing it
I don't oil my rosewood fretboard at all. I use a lightly moistened toothbrush and a dry cloth. I use the same brush to clean the chrome bridges too. I only use water to clean everything. all that guitar polish is shit.
I use lemon Pledge on my guitars, rosewood and maple.I use an old clean teeshirt, cut into squares and my fingernail to clean the grit above and below each fret.
I use 3 in 1 oil. Its what Martin recommends and thus far ive been extremely happy with the results. it sounds wierd, but actually its a mild solvent and a long lasting mineral oil in one bottle. plus its like $3 at any walmart or hardware store.
Only if you use too much of it. Don't soak the frets in it. It will crawl under and lift the frets. The bottle says "a little goes a long way" for a reason. Just make sure you wipe everything off once it's conditioned for like 3 minutes. It's not my favourite, but it does the job.
I use Gibson polish. Spray on a cloth and wipe down the neck and fretboard after each session. I find this keeps my strings brighter for longer and it also feels fast each time I pick her up. Use the same on the body too.
For years i just used a very light damp soft cloth to remove the gunk on the fretboard . then buffed with dry cloth until felt enough moisture was removed that i may have put on.but just now i am researching to find the best conditioner for my rosewood.heard good things about the f-one oil/conditioner so i might try that.steer well clear of anything with lemon or oil in the name period.most folks should know that anything citrus contains delamin.
Matthew Sawicki One time I was sick and vomited all over my guitar. but yes, i use spit to clean mostly, rather than vomit. (it djent'd better after applying vomit)
One big Game Changer for me was cleaning the frets itself with 3600/6000 grit sandpaper because while playing you make the frets quite rough, especially when playing live. So clean them and have a nice "new guitar" feeling :D
I use Nevr Dull (original) to clean/polish the frets (available at auto shops), and once a year, I rub in a small drop of F-Oil on the fret board (not maple) in between each fret to nourish the wood. Use another rag to wipe off any excess. I typically use a damp rag to wipe the guitar body. Never thought to use polish.
I use 0000 gauge steel wool on my guitar necks and frets. Use gentle firm pressure first against the grain-then with the grain and wipe the residue between each step. For the body I use Macguire's Mirror Glaze number 7. A little dab at a time with a clean cloth. It's work, but it works.
Looks more like lemon oiling your grime that's already on there. Now you have oiled gunk. Would be better to have a CLEAN fretboard first before oiling it. Kind of like waxing a car AFTER a carwash. Not before.
Sounds like good advice, However when you let the fret board conditioner sit and soak in for 20/30 minutes I will always use a second dry cloth to buff and double dry so the strings don't come into contact with any conditioner residue......just a double check before re-stringing !
Machine wash medium/cold water 18 minutes does the trick. :) Thanks for the video, I was just noticing on my Fender Strat the fretboard looks like its getting dried out!
Lighter fluid is used to clean hardwood fret boards because it cleans phenomenally and it drays so fast it doesn’t have enough time to soak in to the wood, so not necessarily for clear coat....
If there's sticky stuff left over from tape or stickers then using lighter fluid sparingly will get rid of that. Simple Green Max works for your fretboard and body. Just spray it on the rag first, and use an old toothbrush for rosewood and ebony. And if you're cleaning a Les Paul take the pickguard off. That place gets dust in it no matter what you try to do.
I was that guy with the lighter fluid 😅 hate lemon oil always used orange oil. Thanks for the vid Ima check out those fret board conditioner and polish 👌🏼
thnx for the video, really helpful! The guy at the local music shop gave me a dunlop cymbal cleaner to polish/wipe the metalic parts of the guitar. ......i cannot say that i am happy with the results. On the contrary, now my pickup covers look tarnish.
Naptha you mean. It's not an Issue it's used to clean the same paint jobs used on cars. I wouldn't use it. windex works great to get the DNA off the painted surfaces. I use the dunlop 65 cleaner polish & the lem oil w/the dabber on the end also 65 product line the only two you need.
Sweet I legit just got kyser lem oil and the myser polish good to know you also use i paid a pretty penny for my schecter hellraiser and its not even 2 weeks old yet I am really trying to keep this one brand new looking
In case anyone was wondering, he shows Old English as being bad but it isn't. It actually doesn't contain lemon oil. It's lemon scented mineral oil. Perfect for finished or unfinished wood conditioning. Prevents cracking, which is the point of oiling a fretboard. Use it, it's cheap. Don't buy the same thing from Dunlop for more money.
I wanted to suprise my husband by cleaning his collection. Some were built others he collected through his yrs in bands. Does it make a difference what the body is made of if I use the two that were suggested? They're hanging on the walls and are dusty too, should they be dusted before cleaning? With a micro fiber cloth.
I have been using Dunlop lemon oil 65 for the fretboard and the Dunlop 65 cleaner & polisher for the body. It's an old squire I had for like 20 years so I wasn't worried about issues. I just use It to try out the products before moving on to my other guitars. An so far I like the results. But the brands you talked about did a nice job. So I might just pick some up and see if their better than the Dunlop brand.
I'm cheap so I always used a slightly damp rag to just give the body a wipe down being careful about the electronics and then buffing with a clean cloth, occasionally I'll use a tiny amount of metal cleaner on my frets to take off any gunk and make them shine, making sure to not apply any to the fretboard. I have a poly finish on the body and neck so water doesn't do anything to the wood, I'd be more concerned if it was an open poor finish or satin neck.
I swear by Dr.Duck Ax Wax, a separate bottle for fretboard and the body of the guitar. It lasts forever! However, when I do eventually run out of this bottle which will be in about 50 years, I’ll defiantly give your suggestions a try. I will be 78 by then lol.
I got a bottle of that one and it’s great my bottle says it’s safe for all surfaces so I was able to clean my guitar moisturize my fret board and live up some moving parts and friction points all from the same bottle and it barely used any of it you need so little it’s amazing
As a luthier, I want to point out a couple very important things here. These problems stem from colloquial terms and semantics.
The use of the term "lemon oil" was never intended to mean pure, actual, lemon oil. It was used as a generic brand name for products under that label. Like calling tissues "kleenex". People just took it literally and used actual lemon oil, which is indeed very stupid. The "lemon oil" intended, is mineral oil with lemon scent, naptha, and trace amounts of citric acid to help it dissolve gunk.
The lighter fluid thing is a bigger problem. It was actually popularized by Dan Erlewine, who is one of the best guitar technicians/repairmen in the world. When he recommended using lighter fluid, all lighter fluid was pure naptha. In the past ten years, lighter fluid has sometimes been manufactured using different chemicals, which *might* ruin finishes. Pure naptha, however, will not ruin any guitar finish (except FRESH varnish and possibly shellac) and is used regularly by luthiers(luthier supplies sell it by the gallon). Naptha is actually an excellent solvent for cleaning guitars as it leaves no residue and dissolves virtually all residues and oils.
So.. It's ok to use "lemon oil" And "lighter fluid" if they fit this description (most of them do).
I just double checked. Ronsonol and Zippo fluid are no longer naptha. Coleman fuel is. But you can buy quarts and even gallons of pure naptha at any lowes/ace/menards/etc for just a few bucks. It's an excellent cleaner.
As for "lemon oil" I always use Formbys lemon oil and it works excellent and is cheap. It's 74% naptha, 25%mineral oil, and 1% odorant. It cleans fast and doesn't leave it too oily since it's mostly naptha. Just enough oil to condition.
Just want to clear this up. These products are perfectly safe and are the best I've found on the decade I've been building and repairing guitars. Those fancy marketed brands usually aren't worth the money. But guitar "polish" like Gerlitz and Goby are great and worth the money. But use naptha to get rid of the stuff that's hard to clean, like sticker residue.
By "pure naphtha" you mean petroleum naphtha correct? Because that's what colemans campfire fluid is and I wanted to double check lol
Rawkerbilly - Coleman’s has an added anti-oxidant in it to prevent rust in the fuel lines. It can leave a residue behind.
Your best bet for pure, clean naphtha that works perfect for guitar maintenance is ‘MSR Superfuel’. Cheap, easy to find at a camping store that carries MSR stuff.
(pushing up this excellent comment)
yeah... formby's lemon oil is the bees knees... not only it cleans and oils the wood, it makes my guitar smells like lemon for weeks..
How to clean the guitar like a "boss"?
- make your employees clean it for you.
that literal exact thinking.
Filip Josipović this deserves to be pinned.
you beat me to it...
Filip Josipović nah man that is something you would want to do yourself to make sure she gets the love and respect she deserves. Nobody would be touching one of my babies but me.
chill dude. it's a guitar, it's not your girlfriend lol. i get it though
Or tell it what to do, if you are the boss!
The rammstein method is to pour lighter fluid on the guitar and actually set it on fire
JaguarGod yeeeeeeeeesssssss
Play Through the Fire and Flames while guitar is on fire
Mario Galindo i think you mean: Jääääää
Rob L Jimi hendrix
Rofl😂🤣
❤✌🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
7:01 i thought that any second Back in Black would start
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Lmao, you won ahahhahahaha
😂😂
Alexander Kohlhepp hahah
You deserve a capo,my friend
I use the t-shirt I'm currently wearing.
Lol
I us my girl’s Thongs 👹
A trick : watch movies at flixzone. I've been using it for watching lots of of movies recently.
@Landen Dominick yea, have been using Flixzone} for months myself :D
Lmao these bots r terrible
"Never use lighter fluid on your guitar!" *gets residual fidget spinner glue on guitar* a true authority in guitar maintenance
Hahahah I was thinking the same thing. And those SE's aren't cheap either.
Jimi Hendricks got rich doing just that
Hey Coop...that was a harsh thing to say, even if you were trying to be funny. Why say it at all? Perhaps to make yourself feel better about...yourself?
@@geraldhenrickson7472 it wasn't really that harsh of a thing to say, so maybe you're just soft. Your comment is definitely a lot more of a douche bag thing to say than his was. It's a joke, not a dick, so don't take it so hard.
I seem to remember Hendrix using a bit of lighter fluid on his guitar !
that was a sacrifice, different situation hahaha
He sacrificed it to the flames of lighter fluid
That's for the sacrifice ritual tho😂😂😂
Goby wins because of it's name and it has a fish on the bottle. Any other arguments are invalid.
Also goby seemed to annihilate whatever gunk was on that fretboard.
And reminds me of Goby Valley from Banjo Kazooie. Ordered 20 bottles
Yeah, same reasons why I preferred it.
SlayerPostBot5000 literally the main reason why I'm going to buy that one as opposed to the other x) seeing something cute and goofy like that every once in a while would just help keep me in a fun mood.
Its the fish off ren and stimpy
That fretboard looks really dirty Tyler, mine is so clean, like really clean, how did you get it so dirty...........oh
.........maybe I shuld practice more.
HellionWildChild lol
I use "big bens nut sauce"
Edit: It was on ryan bruce's channel. Aka fluff.
Why pay money to Big Ben? Use your Own!
I regret searching that up on google
I don't even want to know.
David Nwokoye
Why is it called nut sauce? It is made for lubricating the nut. Why is lighter fluid called so. Becaus it is ment to be used as a lighter fluid. Why you refuse to use the things for the purpose the are made?
Normally just run it through a carwash and then throw the strings in the washing machine, works great :D
Wavy Sleet same, but i usually boil my strings so they last longer
I literally destroy everything
When my guitar gets dirty i just buy another one
Lmao
Oooh that’s smart! I should try that next time! ;D
I just buy a new guitar when i need a restring or when it needs cleaning...
I envy you
Boudewijn Verduin meanwhile I can barely afford new strings...
Tune? I'll just buy a new, already tuned guitar!
fuck my squier costed the entire savings of my life
Chamge them after 6 months
the amount of stuff i learned from this video is bigger than i expected.. thanks man! also those fretboards getting cleaned up is the most satisfying thing i have ever seen
Most guitars are finished in nitrocellulose or urethane, neither of which react with naphta/lighter fluid. I don't use it to clean my guitar routinely but it's great for removing stickers off used guitars you buy without leaving a trace and dissolving grease from a heavily used fretboard. It will destroy an oil finish but once again they would also be damaged by many products and they're not too common as a finish.
The Dunlop 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit has never done me wrong
lol, i got the exact same one the other day, watching this video cause its my first time cleaning and didnt want to screw it up, glad to know i got a good kit
Hey Tyler! I personally discovered (and used) the Dunlop maintenance kit... And it is amazing! It contains cleaning/polish spray and wax to protect your guitars from sweat (which is especially useful during summer on my acoustic guitars.) Fingerboard cleaner AND conditionner, so you can clean your fretboard a little more regularly without the concerns you mentionned when using conditionner, a fast fret type conditionner for your strings, and a little piece of really smooth sandpaper to polish your frets!
I did a full cleaning of my acoustic guitar 1 month ago and it blew me away how much it affected the tone and comfort. As soon as I'll get new strings for my electric guitars I plan on doing the same!
Cheers from France, keep up the good work!
I have been using Dunlap 65 for guitar polishing for nearly 15 years of my 34 years playing. One thing you should do while you have the strings off is also take off any pick guards or pickup rings to get under them because they will get dirt up under them like it or not after years of playing. You should also avoid directly spraying your volume, tone, and selector switches. Its better to apply it to the cloth sparingly and wipe on and polish off. I don't care what it is an says its safe, no liquids of any kind is good to get around electronic parts or the chance of seeping down into them.
learned that the hard way, my volume and tone knobs are broken, however pickup switch and pickups still work, the guitar do still work which is all I really care about rn lol
when MIW and samuraiguitarist post at the exact same time 🙏
Some Classic Earrape They didn't?
Some Classic Earrape two of my favorites youtuber.
My favorite cleaner for the body is macguire’s car polish... it will drastically reduce any minute scratches and leave a gorgeous high gloss shine
I normally use Eucalyptus or green tree oil, feels nice and looks good. Its great for removing all the gunk and leaving the guitar smelling nice and fresh. Never had any problems, been doing it for a few years now.
thanks for all the content Tyler!
Abaddon Music awesome thanks
I have a Dunlop 65 guitar maintenance kit. It comes with a string cleaner that extends the life of strings, a fretboard cleaner, a fretboard conditioner, a wax for the body that is great on little scratches, and body polish. It's a great little kit, comes with a microfiber cloth, maybe two if I remember right. I use the fretboard cleaner to get the gunk off the neck, then the conditioner to treat the wood once it's clean. That seems like a better process than what Tyler does here, but to each his own. Just thought I'd share since I love that kit, very convenient to have everything in one package. And it was only about $20 on amazon. Rock on everyone 🤘🏻🎸
65 for the win. Been using it for years and years. It just works well.
Trash.
Great kit, Dunlop is the shit.
Definitely recommend the 65 kit, as J Har said, for the price you can't beat it and it treats everything that needs care. Been using them for years and always makes a used guitar look new.
Dude! Neverrrrrrr spray any product directly onto your guitar! Always spray it onto the cloth. If you spray it right on the guitar, it could come out too fast or drip into the electronics and ruin something. Even if they say it’s safe, it’s better to err on the safe side. Always spray onto the cloth!
You could cover your electronics in water and as long as you let it dry out before plugging it in they will be fine. I've heard of computer technicians doing this to clean their shit. I'm not ballsy enough to try it, but apparently it's a thing.
Guitar companies soak their pickups in hot wax before putting them in
@@jedidiahhavard7622 You can but it's best to use distilled water. I have given my keyboard a 2 day bath after spilling a soda on it and it cleaned up fine and I'm currently typing on it. Just make sure it's dry.
Dude! The instructions say otherwise so...do your own thing if you must.
Another great cleaner is dunlops 65 series cleaning kits. If you just want to use something around the house. You may use pledge or an indust IF AND ONLY IF IT IS A FINISHED SURFACE. So not for rosewood or ebony. Must have clear coat or sealer on finish to use pledge.
Music Nomad fretboard conditioner. Natural oils and zero lemon oil. Best stuff there is IMO.
Thanks for this, mate. Excellent video! Amen to your comment about letting the oil sit on your fingerboard for 20-30 min. From the very first time I started doing that, many moons ago, fretboard happiness has ensued. And if my fretboard is happy, I'm happy. Cheers!
finaly someone who knows what he is talking, i have been trying to explain lots of players not to put lemo n oil but they never listened.....thats why they dont have a guitar now and i thank you for sharing that
Hey Tyler you should make another satisfying guitar video and make a timelapse on cleaning your dirtiest guitar
Hi Tyler, I have guitars with unfinished, or uncoated maple necks and/or fretboards. I used a VERY small amount of Danish Oil wood treatment on a cloth, to give some protection to the fretboards. It works perfectly well, and stops the maple from absorbing most of the sweat and grime from your hands, so it also keeps looking good for longer too. I just forget where I picked up this tip, but it seems to work, and my guitars are perfectly fine and play great.
Thanks for all the great content buddy, I've learned loads from you, keep it going. 👍❤️
The only time it's OK to pour Lighter Fluid on a Guitar is if you are Jimi Hendrix.
I use Dunlop 65 guitar polish and cleaner on the body, the neck (not fret board) and headstock. Then for the fret board I use Gerlitz GGH guitar honey fingerboard oil. Been using that combo for about 7-8 years now, hasn't steered me wrong yet. :).
The examples of lemon oil displayed here are not lemon oil - they are lemon-scented petroleum distillates (i.e., mineral oil.) Food-grade lemon oil, available in gourmet food shops, is an entirely different beast. If your goal is to remove finger gunk, the oft-criticized Olde English furniture polish (it's actually mildly-lubricating and not harsh) is good for occasional cleaning and for the worst cases, there's naptha (which WILL dry out your fretboard.) Follow that up with a bit of real lemon oil or "bore oil" for the moisturizing finish.
I actually just bought a DIY guitar kit and I was going to use lemon oil on the fretboard, so this was really helpful.
My luthier is a qualified string instrument repairer (ie violins, violas, cellos and basses), who does guitar work as a side line. He recommends olive oil for fingerboards and fretboards (the cheapo stuff - extra-virgin olive oil goes smelly and sticky). It'll also remove gunk, although you can use a mineral-oil based cleaner first if the fretboard is really crapped up. Apply very sparingly and polish off with a dry cloth. I use a lint-free cloth very lightly moistened with olive oil to wipe down the fretboard about once a week. Keeps the fretboards clean and slick (and stops the strings from going gunky and rusty).
The lemon-smelling stuff used in some fretboard cleaners is D-limonene, a degreasing solvent extracted from citrus fruit peel.
This video has been very helpful. I have been putting lemon oil on my fretboard everytime I change strings, and kept wondering why my strings would get so grimy and disgisting so quickly.
I have been using planet waves lemon oil for quite some time. I guess they also use the mineral oil with just the lemon scent. I surely hope so.
Vinit Gorakh All he was implying was it's a bad idea to put furniture polish oil on your guitar as its not for unfinished wood.
Cleaning? - Depends on the gunk involved. For general dirt I use a gentle household surface cleaner spray (current favourite -
Method Multi Surface Cleaner Pink Grapefruit) applied to a cloth, not sprayed willy nilly on to the guitar.
If the gunk needs a solvent to shift it I'll use Isopropyl Alcohol either neat or with a little water in it.
Isoprope aka Isopropanol, Propan-2-ol doesn't attack finishes and plastics the way that some more aggressive solvents do.
I don't worry about the solvent drying out a fingerboard because I will use Boiled Linseed oil very shortly after cleaning it.
I avoid Raw Linseed Oil because it never really dries whereas the Boiled one will dry and harden.
After rubbing in well applied to a cloth a couple of drops at a time I leave the oil to sink in for 5 minutes max then rub it all off with a clean dry cloth (lint free), all that hasn't soaked in.
Once or twice a year is enough for the linseed oil finish.
I have some D'Addario "Lemon Oil" but I only use it for cleaning, not for treating the neck, although it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to use.
A major thing to avoid is silicone based furniture polish. If that silicone gets into the grain of your rosewood or ebony it can damage the structure.
If that superglue won't come off it'll need to be cut back, maybe scraped first then 800,1200,2000 then buffed back to a shine. Have fun with that. It'll look like you've ruined it right up until the buffing is finished ...
Although Acetone will soften superglue, it will also wreck most lacquer finishes... just don't.
Most lemon oil isn't oil from lemons, it's lemon-scented mineral oil. I use Old English furniture polish, it's lemon-scented mineral oil. It's designed for wood.
OddTimeMan I also use old English good results.
Is there an echo in here?
Is there an echo in here?
Is there an echo in here?
@@geraldhenrickson7472 Nope, but thanks for asking.
I don't know the exact manufacturer for Gibson guitar polish (it says manufactured for), but I think it really gets the job done for any guitar.
Time stamps for me
6:35 guitar polish
1:22 fret board
ive been using a Wampler bag to clean my butterscotch tele and it has radically improved my toan
I wipe my guitar with dry cloth everytime after using it also the strings to keep it clean at all times, cause i love my guitar
The very first page of Dan Erlewine's Guitar Player Repair Guide suggests naphtha (lighter fluid) as a safe degreaser/cleaner for guitar necks, fretboards, bodies and metal hardware. It's safe for nitrocellulose and poly finishes. I don't douse my guitar bodies with the stuff, but it's good for getting gunk off. I especially use naphtha to clean my fingerboards, then follow with Dr Ducks AxWax to moisturize. I personally don't use nor believe in lemon oil. I've used different varieties in the past and most of them deaden my strings prematurely. I recommend buying and reading Dan Erlewine's book. It has lots and lots of useful information by a respected Luthier.
I don't oil fretboard either. I don't let my guitar get so bad I need to use naphtha either. just good ole water. I don't use waxes either. they build up and cause problems.
I clean the fretboard & neck of my Suhr Modern Satin with lighter fluid. This is a recommendation from Suhr Customer Support. I'd love to see you slapping John Suhr's face, because you're so smart.
I did some work with a luthier over the summer, and he always made me use Old English Lemon Oil on rosewood fretboards
Years ago I bought a pint of good old fashioned Mineral Oil from my local Pharmacy for $1.99 for fretboard conditioning. That same day I whipped by my local Hardware Store and grabbed a quart can of Naphtha for $7.99 to clean my solid body electric guitars. This was over a decade ago and both work just as well as the high dollar guitar store crap. I also use 000 steel wool on the fretboards to polish the wood (a little) and the frets (a lot). So in the last decade, I have spent around $11.00 on my guitar cleaning supplies, and I have not even come close to using 25% of any of it!
I treated the Ebony fretboard of my second electric guitar with antique wax for furniture over 40 years ago. After that, I only wiped it with a cotton cloth every now and then. I also wiped the guitar lightly twice a year with a cotton cloth. About 3 years ago a fretleveling was done and the bridge was newly gilded, otherwise the part is in very good condition. The fretboard feels very smooth and hard, almost like glass. The wood is preserved and resistant to everything. Perfect for me. so, have fun and Rock on 🙂
🐈
So I was always told to never take off all strings at once because of the neck tension. But also if you do, not to leave them off for too long. Is there a time limit for having all the strings off at once?
As far as I know, guitar Lemon Oil is called so for the scent, but it has no actual lemon oil in it. It is just a mixture of some mineral or some shit like that.
Actual lemon oil will dry out your fretboard which will cause little cracks. Anything that dries out fast(like rubbing alcohol or lighter fluid etc.) will get you such result.
I use flax oil, but I can't recommend it to anyone, since I only cleaned my guitar couple times. It stands well, but who knows, maybe I'm doing the wrong thing. I also brush fretboard with tooth brush covered in soapy water before applying flax oil.
It's not important that you say it's NOT sponsored, it's only important to let us know when it IS sponsored
I used Music Nomad products not long ago to clean my fretboard and guitar, and it turned out beautifully! The fretboard cleaner has absolutely NO lemon oil in it at all, which is why I bought it.
Oh man, the conditioning oil only goes after you've already cleaned your fretboard with alcohol swabs , cause the oils won't clean the wood for the most part, they generally only seal the dirty instead of removing it
I don't oil my rosewood fretboard at all. I use a lightly moistened toothbrush and a dry cloth. I use the same brush to clean the chrome bridges too. I only use water to clean everything. all that guitar polish is shit.
I use lemon Pledge on my guitars, rosewood and maple.I use an old clean teeshirt, cut into squares and my fingernail to clean the grit above and below each fret.
i thought the fretboard looked cleaner after the goby labs one
I use 3 in 1 oil. Its what Martin recommends and thus far ive been extremely happy with the results. it sounds wierd, but actually its a mild solvent and a long lasting mineral oil in one bottle. plus its like $3 at any walmart or hardware store.
Am I ruining my guitar by using Dunlop lemon oil
Nah, I use that, my neck looks and feels awesome with it
elijah cruz he just meant don't use anything that's not supposed to be used for a fretboard, Dunlop 65 lemon oil is perfectly fine
Ah thanks guys 😂
Only if you use too much of it. Don't soak the frets in it. It will crawl under and lift the frets. The bottle says "a little goes a long way" for a reason. Just make sure you wipe everything off once it's conditioned for like 3 minutes. It's not my favourite, but it does the job.
I use Gibson polish. Spray on a cloth and wipe down the neck and fretboard after each session. I find this keeps my strings brighter for longer and it also feels fast each time I pick her up. Use the same on the body too.
I use lemon oil
I use Pledge orange oil to oil my fretboards and to overall clean my guitars and it works amazingly well!
What about the back?
I use Kyser. What one do you prefer? I've never used Goby. I'll have to pick some up and check it out. Thanks for the videos.
Pet (cat) owners have difficult time cleaning the guitar. We need to clean it after we've cleaned it because of fur :D
gEEEtar Potato I’m so glad someone else has this problem! I have a long haired cat and my guitars are always fluffy. My entire life is fluffy lol.
Yeah, but its worth it!
gEEEtar Potato a thousand percent worth it.
gEEEtar Potato I have 8 cats and my guitars are 80% fur 80% of the time, everytime.
But I leave it there, the tone is much better. ;)
For years i just used a very light damp soft cloth to remove the gunk on the fretboard . then buffed with dry cloth until felt enough moisture was removed that i may have put on.but just now i am researching to find the best conditioner for my rosewood.heard good things about the f-one oil/conditioner so i might try that.steer well clear of anything with lemon or oil in the name period.most folks should know that anything citrus contains delamin.
Who here uses the age old technique of spit and a t-shirt? :P
Matthew Sawicki One time I was sick and vomited all over my guitar. but yes, i use spit to clean mostly, rather than vomit.
(it djent'd better after applying vomit)
I still haven't, the tone is so good!
No, but really I had to replace the electronics so I took the chance to put better ones in.
@@Dslasher99 Dat gastric mojo
I much prefer cleaning with puss. I try to maintain my acne just for it. I know some people who use blood but that's disgusting.
SonicXRage mannn I think you mean pus, with one s it’s pimple juice, with two s it’s a cooch bro
I use Dunlop Fretboard 65 Ultimate Lemon Oil. I like that it has an applicator on the bottle.
7:00 sounded like the intro to Back in Black
The guitar riff reminds me of "livin' after midnight"
One big Game Changer for me was cleaning the frets itself with 3600/6000 grit sandpaper because while playing you make the frets quite rough, especially when playing live. So clean them and have a nice "new guitar" feeling :D
7:01 who else heard the beginning of back in Black
I use Nevr Dull (original) to clean/polish the frets (available at auto shops), and once a year, I rub in a small drop of F-Oil on the fret board (not maple) in between each fret to nourish the wood. Use another rag to wipe off any excess. I typically use a damp rag to wipe the guitar body. Never thought to use polish.
The way he says "slap" gives away as a Davie504 fan
I use 0000 gauge steel wool on my guitar necks and frets.
Use gentle firm pressure first against the grain-then with the grain and wipe the residue between each step.
For the body I use Macguire's Mirror Glaze number 7.
A little dab at a time with a clean cloth.
It's work, but it works.
i use Dunlop 65 ultimate lemon oil. it doesn't state how many % of lemon oil in there.. is it good for rosewood fret board?
Yep, it's basically scented mineral oil which is what you want.
I use Boss Detailer and the detailer cloth. Always happy with there results
Looks more like lemon oiling your grime that's already on there. Now you have oiled gunk. Would be better to have a CLEAN fretboard first before oiling it. Kind of like waxing a car AFTER a carwash. Not before.
Lmao😆😆😆
Sounds like good advice, However when you let the fret board conditioner sit and soak in for 20/30 minutes I will always use a second dry cloth to buff and double dry so the strings don't come into contact with any conditioner residue......just a double check before re-stringing !
Like if Goby Labs did better.
Machine wash medium/cold water 18 minutes does the trick. :) Thanks for the video, I was just noticing on my Fender Strat the fretboard looks like its getting dried out!
*_Deep cleansing_*
Lighter fluid is used to clean hardwood fret boards because it cleans phenomenally and it drays so fast it doesn’t have enough time to soak in to the wood, so not necessarily for clear coat....
6:29 when she takes her top off
If there's sticky stuff left over from tape or stickers then using lighter fluid sparingly will get rid of that.
Simple Green Max works for your fretboard and body. Just spray it on the rag first, and use an old toothbrush for rosewood and ebony.
And if you're cleaning a Les Paul take the pickguard off. That place gets dust in it no matter what you try to do.
Well fuck, I've been using washing up liquid and steel wool for years.
Devyn Beasley really? Ive been soaking my guitar in gasoline and lighting up on fire. Worked perfectly well for me...
Kirk Wahmmett You know, I've heard good things about that method.
I was that guy with the lighter fluid 😅 hate lemon oil always used orange oil. Thanks for the vid Ima check out those fret board conditioner and polish 👌🏼
Hey man I have been a sub since 300subs man u r so cool
ur gay llol
thnx for the video, really helpful!
The guy at the local music shop gave me a dunlop cymbal cleaner to polish/wipe the metalic parts of the guitar.
......i cannot say that i am happy with the results. On the contrary, now my pickup covers look tarnish.
"I've been using lighter fluid on my guitar for years."
How many people will *slap* that like button.
Naptha you mean. It's not an Issue it's used to clean the same paint jobs used on cars. I wouldn't use it. windex works great to get the DNA off the painted surfaces. I use the dunlop 65 cleaner polish & the lem oil w/the dabber on the end also 65 product line the only two you need.
84
David Nwokoye “punches”
i can’t like it, it’s on 420, on the day 420, and i must not break the prophecy
Davie will not
Sweet I legit just got kyser lem oil and the myser polish good to know you also use i paid a pretty penny for my schecter hellraiser and its not even 2 weeks old yet I am really trying to keep this one brand new looking
Missed a spot
In case anyone was wondering, he shows Old English as being bad but it isn't. It actually doesn't contain lemon oil. It's lemon scented mineral oil. Perfect for finished or unfinished wood conditioning. Prevents cracking, which is the point of oiling a fretboard. Use it, it's cheap. Don't buy the same thing from Dunlop for more money.
But does it djent?
D E A D M E M E
PAP enough!!!
I wanted to suprise my husband by cleaning his collection.
Some were built others he collected through his yrs in bands.
Does it make a difference what the body is made of if I use the two that were suggested?
They're hanging on the walls and are dusty too, should they be dusted before cleaning?
With a micro fiber cloth.
Can't we just use a baby wipe?? That's what I do. My guitar looks perfectly fine
Zachariah Cargo lol I was thinking about using baby wipes too
perfectly safe for everything.
I have been using Dunlop lemon oil 65 for the fretboard and the Dunlop 65 cleaner & polisher for the body. It's an old squire I had for like 20 years so I wasn't worried about issues. I just use It to try out the products before moving on to my other guitars. An so far I like the results. But the brands you talked about did a nice job. So I might just pick some up and see if their better than the Dunlop brand.
I usually just dump my guitar into a tub of bleach, in fact it actually improves the guitar tone
I use Roche Thomas finger board oil. I like using an old toothbrush to apply. I use Gibson pump polish for the body.
I just put my guitar in the shower on the stand and a little old spice body wash. Smells great after.
Can my guitar smell like your guitar?
I'm cheap so I always used a slightly damp rag to just give the body a wipe down being careful about the electronics and then buffing with a clean cloth, occasionally I'll use a tiny amount of metal cleaner on my frets to take off any gunk and make them shine, making sure to not apply any to the fretboard. I have a poly finish on the body and neck so water doesn't do anything to the wood, I'd be more concerned if it was an open poor finish or satin neck.
What you said is completly irrelevant to me.
I like irony, too.
I swear by Dr.Duck Ax Wax, a separate bottle for fretboard and the body of the guitar. It lasts forever! However, when I do eventually run out of this bottle which will be in about 50 years, I’ll defiantly give your suggestions a try. I will be 78 by then lol.
I got a bottle of that one and it’s great my bottle says it’s safe for all surfaces so I was able to clean my guitar moisturize my fret board and live up some moving parts and friction points all from the same bottle and it barely used any of it you need so little it’s amazing
Clean it like "boss"? hei b0$$ cen i habe the puci pls?
Ro Zonmu filthy frank is pretty much dead now
I use Dunlop 65 String cleaner/Polish and Dunlop 65 lemon oil.
I also clean my strings frequently because I'm too lazy to change them. ;)