guitar cleaning question

[classguitar24]

hello everyone.

I've got a question about cleaning the fretboard of my guitar. I purchased a Kohno from gsi about 8 months ago and i put about 20 hours playing/practice time per week. Each time i change strings i do a good wipe down of the fretboard with a polishing cloth but i have noticed that some of the normal dirt build up isn't getting cleaned off. I would imagine that normal guitar polish would not be good for the board since it is not laquered. I had heard that some people will use lemon oil or linseed oil on the fretboard. what is the best method to cleaning off the build up?

[KBurke]

I've wondered about this, too. Anyone know the answer?

[keith]

0000 steel wool (that is 4 zero's) removes the black gunk and polishes the frets to a nice shine. 0000 steel wool does not remove wood and steel (as in the fret board and frets). this method is recommended by many luthiers and dealers. obviously you will want to drape the guitar/sound hole and move the steel wool the length of the fretboard (not side to side).

if you want a super polished fret--buy a jewelers polishing cloth which will shine those puppies without any physical wear to the fret. i use a popsicyle stick and wrap the cloth and move side to side (e to e).

some recommend a very light oil (as in light or lighter than WD-40) once a year preferably late spring (before the high humidity season). i am not sure if that is really necessary and defer that opinion to the luthiers.