Fretboard cleaning

[mart 63]

I've been learning to play guitar now for around 9 months. The fretboard is looking a bit dirty, its a fender strat with a maple fretboard. Whats the best product to buy to clean, and do i need to change the strings or just put the original strings back on. The guitar came with 09-46 strings, is there much difference in the 09-46 and 09-42 as i have a set.

[macdaddy11]

I don't know about the best product, but I use Jim Dunlop Fretboard cleaner with a microfibre cloth. It seems to do the job and smell nice. It is better to do it with the strings off, but not essential. If you've been practicing for 9 months then perhaps it is worth a change anyway, you'll notice a difference in the sound. I always stick with the same size strings, but give the other ones a go, they may work just fine. Enjoy!

[mart 63]

Thanks for the reply.

[singlecoil]

Assuming the fretboard is lacquered then isopropyl alcohol is good. If you can't get that then white spirit is a satisfactory, though smelly, substitute.

If you like to make the strings last then cleaning them from time to time with FastFret is a good idea and worth doing.

[Yahonza]

mart 63 said:

I've been learning to play guitar now for around 9 months. The fretboard is looking a bit dirty, its a fender strat with a maple fretboard. Whats the best product to buy to clean, and do i need to change the strings or just put the original strings back on. The guitar came with 09-46 strings, is there much difference in the 09-46 and 09-42 as i have a set.

If you've had the same set of strings on for 9 months get them changed as they will be covered in dirt/corrosion. Strats work well with Hybrid Slinkies 09-46, with a maple neck best to wipe down the strings and the neck with a microfibre cloth every time you use it. 09-42 will be okay though. I would avoid putting dirty strings back on, as these will have lost their tone / intonation and are more likely to break.

Edited by Yahonza on Wednesday 7th September 17:30

[mart 63]

Thanks for replies, just ordering hybrid slinky strings. Is Dunlop 65 polish& cleaner ok for fretboards

[singlecoil]

Jim Dunlop products are excellent. I use their strings, their fretwire and their Lemon Oil (perfect for rosewood fretboards).

[CrgT16]

If you change string sizes you will need to recalibrate the truss rod tension and the action/pickup height as that will change, also intonation will be affected. It will also change if you have a floating tremolo setup.

If not familiar with what I wrote go to a guitar shop try a guitar with a heavier gauge and if you like it ask them to set yours up for that gauge.

[Mave]

Depends on how well its set up in the first place, and how much change he's going for - I've changed from 9s to 10s on my sons guitars without particularly needing to set it up again (but it is fixed bridge!) If the OP wants to try different gauges, I wouldn't want him to be put off thinking he needs to spend £££ every time with a guitar tech.

[singlecoil]

I've worked on a lot of Strats and other guitars with the Strat scale length (25.5"), most of the customers opted for 9-42s, you can go heavier (or lighter) if you want to, but why would you want to? Don't change unless you have a specific and valid reason for doing so.

[Stealthracer]

On a rosewood fretboard I just irrigate it with boiled linseed oil, leave it for 10 minutes then clean every trace of the oil off.

Maple and other lacquered boards I use IPA on a cotton bud to clean gunk away from the frets etc. Then a polish off with a duster or microfibre cloth.

Also, I wipe the strings down every time I play, even if it was only for a few minutes. I'm convinced this makes strings last longer, indeed it's years since I broke any.

[Lucas CAV]

singlecoil said:

I've worked on a lot of Strats and other guitars with the Strat scale length (25.5"), most of the customers opted for 9-42s, you can go heavier (or lighter) if you want to, but why would you want to? Don't change unless you have a specific and valid reason for doing so.

This.
Next stop would be putting on ever increasing string gauges for "better tone"

[Yahonza]

The best thing for good tone, at least in my experience, is change the strings - and often!
Going to a different gauge on a Strat, e.g. 9's to 11's, may require adjusting the truss rod.

Edited by Yahonza on Saturday 10th September 19:02

[singlecoil]

On many/most Strats the bridge saddles can't be moved back (away from the neck) far enough to get correct intonation on the thicker strings of heavier gauge string sets. I've frequently had to shorten or even remove the adjustment springs on those saddles to get all the rearward movement I can.

[mart 63]

I had a 3 pack of 09-46 strings delivered yesterday, so will stick with the same gauge. I will pick up some IPA fluid tomorrow for cleaning the frets. Thanks for the replies.
Another question. I bought a Tanglewood sundance acoustic guitar, second hand around the same time as the Strat. I really enjoy practicing on it. A few months later i made a drunken online purchase, a Brand new Taylor 314ce v class. I just can't seem to get on with it. Do i keep it and as i get better, try it again, or just trade it in or sell. I fancy a Les Paul.

[singlecoil]

9-46 is a hybrid set, the plain strings are from a conventional 4-42 set and the wound strings are from a 10-46 set.

[mart 63]

In the end i used glass/window cleaner to clean the frets, seems to have done a good job. The problem now after restringing, is the 46 string slightly touches the frets while playing. Do i adjusted the bridge, or leave it to settle.

[singlecoil]

mart 63 said:

In the end i used glass/window cleaner to clean the frets, seems to have done a good job. The problem now after restringing, is the 46 string slightly touches the frets while playing. Do i adjusted the bridge, or leave it to settle.

Post a few close up photos of the bridge from different angles, and a couple photos of the problem with the strings, and I will tell you exactly what to do.

[Stealthracer]

Could be a problem with the nut, the action or the relief. Photos will tell us which.

[mart 63]

Thanks, will get some photos on here later.