Cleaning frets

Hi people,

I'm looking to sell one of my guitars, a Carvin DC727. However, some of the fret wire has corroded and even rusted a little bit (I live about a block from the ocean, damn salty air!).

So now my question is, what is the best way to get my frets all nicely polished and shiny again? Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

SPL

Get a roll of masking tape and a couple SOS pads.

Tape off the fretboard and leave the frets exposed... and use the SOS pads to shine the frets up. Makes sure you scrub lengthwise parallel to the frets not accross the frets. It should take that rust right off and leave the frets nice and shiny.

Humm, I don't recommend SOS pads. Just use normal 0000 steel wool. This has no soap and should do a fine job. I guess I don't like the idea of soap, as SOS are steel wool (not 0000 however) but with soap. Also if you do choose SOS, don't use water

Thanks for the tips guys! :-)

IDK if this will work for corrosion as well, but I once cleaned my Explorer with some of those wood cleaning wipes you get from Wal-Mart... years of living in South Texas just wiped away quickly and easily.

The reason that I reccomend SOS pads is that the soap has a compound that helps prevent pitting and corrosion. If you use just steel wool you're basically just removing the existing rust and byproduct of the pitting... The SOS pads will help neutralize the pitting and corrosion.

Like you said though, don't use a lot of water. I suggest having a dry towel and a damp towel and dabbing the SOS pad on the damp towel... Cleaning one fret... then drying the fret with the dry towel as you go. Never let water sit on your fretboard... That's why I suggested the masking tape.

Either way you should get some clean frets though.

I just gave the steel wool a try and it looks like it's doing the job quite nicely!