Fretworld is now on Twitter!

I've decided to create a Twitter account for Fretworld. Call me behind the times, but I've never actually delved into the world of micro-blogging. However, I do know that it's an extremely popular social networking tool, so I plan on using it to extend Fretworld's fanbase. By all means, if you have a Twitter account, please follow the new Fretworld page! I'll be sure to follow you in return.

Gorgomyte Fret Polishing and Fretboard Cleaning Cloths

A few weeks ago, I posted about my discovery of Micro Mesh fret polishing pads. Since then, however, I think I may have found an even better solution. While browsing the Gear Page forums (my virtual home away from home), I noticed that several members had highly recommended a strangely-named product called Gorgomyte for polishing frets and conditioning fretboards. With my curiosity having been piqued, I ventured to the product's website to learn more.

After reading the product description on the site, I learned that Gorgomyte is essentially a chemically-treated cloth that removes oxidation from the frets and loosens dirt and oil build up on the fretboard. All you have to do is rub the frets and fretboard with the material and then buff them with a clean, cotton cloth. And voila, the frets are polished and the fretboard is dirt-free, all within a matter of seconds.

Of course, I remained rather skeptical towards such an incredible-sounding product. However, the site proudly displayed a plethora of renowned professional artists who currently use Gorgomyte cloths. In fact, I learned that Gorgomyte was invented by Jimmy Johnson, a renowned tech for several prominent guitarists and bassists (Tommy Shaw, James Young, Alex Lifeson, and Geddy Lee, just to name a few). There had to be some legitimacy to this stuff. And at price of $18.95 shipped (the bag contains enough for twenty treatments), I decided that it'd be worth a try.

The product arrived in resealable plastic storage bag with instructions and additional information (see left picture). Suffice to say, Gorgomyte has certainly lived up to its promise and hype, now that I've had the chance to use it extensively in the past few weeks. Granted, the Micro Mesh pads made fret polishing much easier than steel wool, but Gorgomyte really makes the process that much simpler. You literally just rub the cloth on the frets and then wipe them off, leaving an amazing luster. The added bonus of a clean, conditioned fretboard makes it even more worthwile (I believe the cloths have lemon oil in them). Apparently, the Fender Custom Shop uses Gorgomye too. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

Here's a before shot of the frets on my Les Paul. Notice the dullness of the frets due to excessive oxidation and grime:


Here is a shot of the frets after the application of the Gorgomyte cloth. A much needed improvement!:


You can learn more about Gorgomyte at the official website here.