How to remove fingerboard tapes
I have been cleaning tapes off of fingerboards for 40 years. Removing the tape itself is not difficult, but they almost never come off without leaving a residue of sticky adhesive. The adhesive residue is not usually water soluble so some sort of solvent is required. In the old days I breathed and absorbed way too many solvents doing this, usually naphtha (lighter fluid.) What I have used for over 25 years now is orange oil. But what I use is pure orange oil, not the stuff that is diluted with solvents, but just orange oil as in the brand Citrisolve.
Use a clean rag or paper towel, something that you will be throwing away when you are done, and be prepared to do this in stages, with 2 or 3 applications/rubbings possibly being necessary. I have never had any damage from this product, but I have to also give the caveat that one should be extremely careful not to get it anywhere other than on the neck and fingerboard. In my experience it won't hurt the strings (they are usually old at this point anyway), but stay away from the bowing area. This is a light oil, but it is oil. Be very clean and meticulous, and if that is something you might have doubt about then don’t do it. Use a clean paper towel to wipe off any and all residue of the oil when you are done. Push the strings to one side to get the towel to catch all of the residue on the fingerboard.
With all of that said, if you have the option, take this to someone experienced and have them do it!
As a side note, I have come to question the wisdom of using tapes in the first place. It is not a fretted instrument, and one needs to learn how to listen for intonation, not strain the eyes and neck unnaturally to see if fingers are on the tapes. I have so many kids switch sizes, and when trying the bigger size in my shop they say they can’t do it without the tapes. When I encourage them to do it anyway they have adjusted within minutes because they are now trusting their hearing. There is a system that teaches kids finger patterns. So instead of telling a kid to put a finger on the tape, they are instructed to use the “blue” patter or whichever one is appropriate. I think it is worth questioning the wisdom of using tapes in the first place.
Oh, and never, ever, ever let your teacher put moleskin (or other medical adhesives) anywhere on your violin or bow! Over time the adhesive becomes more and more stuck to the surface, to the point where it can actually be damaging.
Use a clean rag or paper towel, something that you will be throwing away when you are done, and be prepared to do this in stages, with 2 or 3 applications/rubbings possibly being necessary. I have never had any damage from this product, but I have to also give the caveat that one should be extremely careful not to get it anywhere other than on the neck and fingerboard. In my experience it won't hurt the strings (they are usually old at this point anyway), but stay away from the bowing area. This is a light oil, but it is oil. Be very clean and meticulous, and if that is something you might have doubt about then don’t do it. Use a clean paper towel to wipe off any and all residue of the oil when you are done. Push the strings to one side to get the towel to catch all of the residue on the fingerboard.
With all of that said, if you have the option, take this to someone experienced and have them do it!
As a side note, I have come to question the wisdom of using tapes in the first place. It is not a fretted instrument, and one needs to learn how to listen for intonation, not strain the eyes and neck unnaturally to see if fingers are on the tapes. I have so many kids switch sizes, and when trying the bigger size in my shop they say they can’t do it without the tapes. When I encourage them to do it anyway they have adjusted within minutes because they are now trusting their hearing. There is a system that teaches kids finger patterns. So instead of telling a kid to put a finger on the tape, they are instructed to use the “blue” patter or whichever one is appropriate. I think it is worth questioning the wisdom of using tapes in the first place.
Oh, and never, ever, ever let your teacher put moleskin (or other medical adhesives) anywhere on your violin or bow! Over time the adhesive becomes more and more stuck to the surface, to the point where it can actually be damaging.