I’m about to take my bass apart to do a deep clean. The tuning pegs and bridge especially are a little nasty so I want to take them off to clean them properly.
How would you go about cleaning them without damaging. Is wd40 a good idea, or vinegar?
Also I’d like to give the fretboard a good clean while I’m at it. I’ve seen some advice that seems to be specific to different types of wood, but I don’t know what wood mine is, how can I figure that out?
Finally I want to do a setup as nothing’s been cleaned or changed in at least 20 years.
Before you start cleaning the fingerboard make sure you have the fingerboard lube or oil ready. Cleaning solvents can dry out the wood and you need to replenish that.
I like something like this start with 400 and finish at the max grit for mirror finish
Honoson 20 Pcs Sanding Sticks for Plastic Models Polishing Sticks Assorted Metal and Wood Sanding Tools Accessory for Model Craft Amateur Beginner (Low Grits and High Grits,Double Angle Shape) Amazon.com
Simple Green and a toothbrush should do the trick for the tuners and such. Rinse with water and blow dry. Use fretboard oil and a rag for cleaning there. I would not use any solvents on the wood parts.
Yep, non harsh chemical type cleaner. I wouldn’t hesitate to use denatured alcohol on the metal parts, if available. Heck, even some simple dish soap and water will work.
So I took off the bridge and tuning pegs and gave them a deep clean. Managed to get the sticker residue off the pegs (don’t ask) and get them looking clean but not shiny. Even with metal polish I couldn’t get the parts to look untarnished, I guess that’s just the reality of having a bass that’s over 40 years old.
Interestingly I saw some things I hadn’t seen before. Like some of the screws weren’t original and whoever maintained it before me had used new screws that were too big, so some of the wood is stripped and won’t accept smaller screws now. The same was true with a couple of the pickguard screws, they’re just loose and not actually holding anything in.
So I don’t know the exact history, but my bass was being used at Abbey Road studios before I owned it. So I’m guessing it was some session bass they had. The pickups had been switched out at some point so they’re not original.
I did a setup for the first ever time. The intonation is perfect now, but I’m not really happy with the action. I felt it was too high before so I’ve lowered the strings, but I couldn’t get them very low without introducing buzz so I’ve left it as it is. I didn’t adjust the truss rod because it didn’t seem to need changing based on the test and you need to remove the neck to adjust it so it seemed like a headache.
I feel like I’ve done an ok job with the setup but I’d like to have lower action without rattling strings so I don’t know if that is possible. I’d like to play a “well set up” bass to compare. Maybe I’ll go to a store and try one.
Might have a high fret if the truss rod is fine and the action still can’t get low without buzzing. Easy fix if so but you would need a fret rocker, fretting hammer and fret crowning file.
Buying a combo fret rocker and string action gauge is a good investment:
Yeah, I was thinking glue and toothpicks would be the way to go.
A question on trussrod adjustment. If I adjust the rod to raise the action, and then lower the action at the bridge, could that reduce the buzz? The buzz is only present above the 12th fret.
I typically utilize my jewelry electric motor wheel buffer.
Does a pretty good job and saves a lot of elbow grease.
Just don’t get too carried away. I also use it to remove heavy scratches on pickguards caused by fingernails.
Prepping for a deep clean I have all the cleaners, tools ready to go up front. If I think I’m going to need it then it is out there before I start. I am always amazed at how dirty the body ridge inside the pickguard gets as well as the pickguard underside. I use a damp paper towel pad of water and 409 Cleaner. It works very well to get all that crud out of there. Once the cavity is exposed I spray everything down with DeOxit D-15 electronic parts cleaner, especially the pots-getting into the little openings and spinning the controls to get the solution deep into the guts. I clean the fretboard with a damp sponge of hot water and Dawn dishwashing liquid, then gently and vigorously dry the fretboard with paper towels. I then apply a light coating of either Old English lemon oil or dark wood scratch remover on the fretboard and let it soak in overnight. I oil the tuning machines each with a drop of 3 in 1 oil each and immediately wipe off any excess. The last thing I do is coat the string slots in the nut with sharp #2 lead pencil. Restring the instrument and I’m back in business.
