Cleaning Maple Bass

[super.rad]

I had a quick search but couldn't seem to find much. I recently bought a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz which has a maple body and neck. I've read a few guides about what to use to clean basses on other sites but all of them said not to use things like lemon oil etc on maple but they didnt say what could be used. I want to buy some stuff so I can keep this bass clean and sounding it's best but not sure what is safe to use on maple. If someone could tell me what is the best to use for cleaning the body and the neck/fretboard
[url="http://www.highlystrung.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Guitar_Care_Products_156.html"]Highly Strung, Guitar Care Products[/url] Are any of these ok to use?
Or even better if someone knows a UK site that sells the kits (cloth, cleaning product etc) that is for maple. Thanks

[budget bassist]

Just water and a cloth. Maple necks have finishes on them which rosewood and ebony etc etc don't because they need constant oiling. Just use water as it won't damage the finish in any way. That should get rid of any of the dirt on the fretboard, and if it doesn't you're a scruffy bastard! (if you have a nice thick buildup use a credit card or something to scrape it off first)

Edited April 12, 2008 by budget bassist

[warwickhunt]

Where have you heard not to use lemon oil on maple?

I assume when you are talking about cleaning maple etc you are talking about the main part of the body, looking on the web it looks gloss sealed so the body and rear of the neck can be wiped down with a dry cloth pretty much anytime and every now and again you can use a bit of furniture polish to give your bass a bit of a wipe and it will lift off any grime that your usual dry wipe down won't have taken off.

I need to look into or have more info on the fingerboard as that also looks sealed... and I certainly need to establish why you can't use lemon oil on maple when you can on all other fingerboard woods that I know of. I can only assume that the lemon oil might colour the maple which is very pale. Hmmm

[David Nimrod]

I reckon that any Mr Sheen type polish would be fine.

Most maple boards are laquered, and it's these I mean.

Obviously don't use polish on the MM type oiled finish.

Any laquered wood 'board is just the same as the body?

[lonestar]

If the maple fretboard is finished, they normally are, and very dirty lighter fuel (naptha) is good.
It works well on bodies and necks too but make sure that there is plenty of ventilation.

[budget bassist]

on a side note lemon oil is good for cleaning the back of the neck but not the board itself if it's maple. You shouldn't need anything more than water on that. On the body any sort of polish should do. On the last glossy finished guitar i had (i don't like them much so i haven't had many) i used £2 car polish from wilkos, that stuff was really good.

[Buzz]

The VMJ just requires a wipe down, the board is the same finish as the back of the neck, satin poly.

Water and a cloth is fine.

/has a vmj

Edited April 13, 2008 by Buzz

[super.rad]

Right thanks a lot for all the answers. Just wanted to make sure i wasn't going to damage my bass if i cleaned it with the wrong stuff.