what is this gunk?

[shibbyuk29]

 

and how do i get rid of it, its on my used bought off ebay epiphone lp custom.i dunno how worn this guitar is but thats alot of gunk right?

 

actually let me edit my question. can you judge how worn a guitar is from that fretboard image and this pic of the gold hardware. i bought it used, but i have no idea if its had moderate use or gigged for last 8 years or what, besides the fretboard lookin bit gunky and the gold platin theres no other marks of serious wear.

 

[sjtalon]

Remove the stings and use lighter fluid on a rag to clean and then scrub it with 0000 steel wool

[shibbyuk29]

thanks but how worn do you think this looks? i've had other guitar and never had gunk of this magnitude. i have jim dunlop cleaning kit including some dodgy looking plastic cloth thing so i might use that on it.

[clarkuss]

It shoudl come off pretty easily. Providing the frets and fretboard are ok it's not much to worry about. Some people don't clean their guitars too well...

[InsideMan]

Dude, that is NASTY, NASTY, NASTY! Immediately take the guitar into an empty field, dowse it with lighter fluid, and set it alight! It's the only way to be sure no communicable diseases survive. ;-)

 

Seriously, though, its previous owner was a pig. You need three items: the lighter fluid that you almost used above to prevent the spread of infection, a sturdy rag, and an old credit card. Do this when you change the strings--they probably need it now, anyway. Take off the strings, use the rag and naptha (lighter fluid) to clean the gunk. If need be, gently scrape with the edge of the old credit card. Then finish up again with the naptha.

 

After you are done, you might want to LIGHTLY re-oil the fingerboard with your favorite oil. Then re-string with new strings.

 

The gunk is the detritus (sweat, oils, and skin cells) from the former owner. Yuck! Cheers.

[Reborn08]

on the fret board use some sort of plastic card like a credit card, should scrape rite off

[sledge57]

The Strat I just got rid of looked just like that when I got it.

 

I don't think the kid ever washed his hands before playing. It was a 3 month old guitar and like everyone else said it came right off no problem.

 

So I don't think it is any kind of an indication of wear, the Strat looked like new again, which it should because it was..........

[animalfarm]

you win the "My Fretboard has NEVER been cleaned" award!!!

 

Dass reeeely naty...