The fingerboard, or fret-board on fretted instruments, is a crucial part of the majority of stringed instruments. It is a thin, lengthy strip of material, typically wood, bonded to the instrument’s neck’s front. Between the nut and bridge, the strings traverse the fingerboard. In order to modify the pitch of the instrument, the musician presses strings on the fingerboard. Stopping the strings is the term for this. With the hand not fretting the notes, the musician may bow, strum, or pluck one or more strings, depending on the instrument and the type of music. On some instruments, such those with hammer- ons and electric guitars, notes can be produced only by the fretting hand.
Materials used to make fret-boards
The fingerboard of bowed string instruments, including the violin, viola, cello, and double bass, is often constructed of ebony, rosewood, or another hardwood. Some guitars have a single maple piece that serves as both the fingerboard and neck. Some contemporary luthiers have made their fingerboards out of lightweight, non-wood materials like carbon fiber. For the fingerboards of fretted instruments, a variety of impregnated wood materials are employed.
Parameters for a fret-board
guitar, mandolin, ukulele, or other comparable plucked instrument, the fingerboard seems flat and wide but may be gently curved to create a cylindrical or conical surface with a relatively large radius in comparison to the fingerboard width. The fingerboard’s radius of curvature at the head nut is the radius specified in a string instrument’s specification.
For each string’s bow clearance, the majority of bowed string instruments employ a fingerboard, nut, and bridge that are clearly curved. A fingerboard’s timbre may be influenced by its size, breadth, thickness, and density. These elements can adequately characterize the majority of fingerboards.
- w1 — width at nut (close to headstock)
- w2 — width at half of scale length (if fretted, usually the 12th fret)
- h1 — profile height (thickness) at nut
- h2 — profile height (thickness) at half of scale length
Advantage of maple fret board
- Bright, snappy tones are produced by maple, a rich, strong tone-wood. This refers to notes that are exact, articulate, and have strong bite and a tight bottom end when used in the context of a guitar fret-board. With maple necks and lighter body tone-woods like alder, maple fingerboards are frequently coupled.
- There are two ways maple fingerboards are most frequently used in guitar construction. The maple neck is the first and only component. The truss rod is inserted via a channel in the back of the neck and physically built into the same piece of wood that also serves as the fingerboard.
- The Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Precision basses all have this traditional Fender design. Naturally, a lot of guitar manufacturers now offer necks and fret-boards constructed in this manner. A smooth, sturdy feeling is the end product.
A brief overview on how to clean maple fretboard
A maple fret-board may be recognized by its creamy, pure white hue and the powerful tones that emanate from its solid wood. The Fender Standard Telecaster and Stratocaster models frequently have maple fret-boards if you’re more familiar with vintage guitars. The tone and playing technique you use might vary depending on the type of maple used in your fret-board.
Steps showing how to clean maple fretboard
Depending on whether the maple fret-board has a raw or glossy surface, there are many cleaning techniques that may be used.
How to clean maple fretboard (unfinished or unprocessed)
- Apply dabs of any suitable oil-based cleaning immediately between the frets.
- To clean the area around each of the spaces, use a lint-free cloth.
- Given that the cleaning ingredient permeates into the wood, you might not notice an immediate sheen.
- After cleaning the maple of all the debris for 2 to 10 minutes, wipe off any excess oil with a dry towel.
- Throw away both the garments after you’ve finished cleaning the fret-board.
How to clean maple fretboard (Finished or shiny)
- For straightforward access, cut or loosen the strings.
- Check your fret-board for cracks since these might allow the cleaner to seep into the wood.
- Pick up a bottle of fret-board cleaning and mist it onto the cloth you’re using rather than directly on the fret-board.
- Clean the guitar’s neck downward with the cloth.
- If additional spray is required, turn the towel, apply it again, and repeat.
- Once finished, throw the cloth away.
Further details about how to clean maple fretboard
- Consider taking the strings off to deep clean your maple fret-board if it’s too filthy. While treble keys may be loosened by turning them clockwise, bass strings can be done so by rotating the keys counterclockwise. Start with the thickest string, then progress to the thinnest. The strings may be readily extracted from their hole by first removing the bridge pins with a tool.
- Wash hands properly before playing the guitar. Frequent handling of the guitar causes dirt to settle on the fret-board as well as the strings causing changes in tones.
- Clean regularly as mentioned above so that you can continue playing without any hassle.
- Keeping the guitar on a bag or a case also helps prevent dust or dirt settlement.
- Cleaning fret-boards is the main thing to do as it the most to get wear and torture. Extreme sweat and dust deposition might cause permanent damage.
Another way showing how to clean maple fretboard
- A lacquered maple fingerboard should only be cleaned with a damp (or dry) cloth. The sheen can be removed with steel wool to leave a matte-like finish, and the sheen can be similarly removed with lemon oil to dull the finish. Use a dry or barely dampened cloth without exception.
- also using 0000 steel wool, which is incredibly fine, is one of the finest ways to clean an untreated Maple fret-board. This gets rid of grime without harming the frets. You may also use a little moist cloth, especially on maple with a satin finish, but typically stay away from doing anything else.
Conclusion
Finally your question of how to clean maple fretboard is answered in this article. Maintaining a maple neck and fret-board is no rocket science; all it takes is a few precautions to keep your guitar looking like new with little work. Avoid cleaning a maple fret-board with water or dish cleaner. Also, each time you clean it, use a fresh lint-free cloth.
Now if someone asks you How to clean maple fretboard, you are prepared.
