Bare rosewood -- allergy risk?

[ModernSaloon]

I saw that Warmoth has an option for both rosewood necks and tops, and it got me GAS'ing for a bare (rose)wood guitar. Like your average rosewood fingerboard, no? No need to apply any finish to it; just lemon oil once a year and you're golden.

 

Now, I don't usually rub my forearm against the fingerboard all the time like I do against the top of the guitar. I don't think I even touch it most of the time -- my fingers are usually on the strings

 

Anybody knows if a bare rosewood neck or top can cause allergies?

 

If so, what would be the minimum finishing that one needs to do to prevent this?

 

I notice that the Fender rosewood telecaster seems to have their usual thick plastic coating, so maybe a bare rosewood top is out of the question?

[Elias Graves]

Never heard of a rosewood allergy. I guess anything is possible. Do you have a lot of other allergies?

 

EG

[pixelchemist]

my main guitar has an unfinished rosewood neck (well oiled only finish) and I haven't had any issues. I have pretty sensitive skin too as far as chemicals and stuff go.

[Bubbluz]

 

Anybody knows if a bare rosewood neck or top can cause allergies?

 

 

Will it cause allergies ? No it will not cause them.

 

Could you be allergic to rosewood ? maybe,although I've never heard of it.

[ModernSaloon]

EG: I don't have other allergies but, one never knows.

[Elias Graves]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, then. I can't imagine with all the bare rosewood fretboards out there that it could be that bad.

 

EG

[ModernSaloon]

Thanks for the answers. The rosewood neck at least would be a (more or less) safe bet then...

[rusholmeruffian]

Some woods' oils and sawdust can cause serious allergic reactions. I seem to recall padauk and wenge both being known for this.

['s mel gibson]

Stay away from raw cedar guitars. And the old one's are fire hazzards, too.

[jerry_picker]

I saw that Warmoth has an option for both rosewood necks and tops, and it got me GAS'ing for a bare (rose)wood guitar. Like your average rosewood fingerboard, no? No need to apply any finish to it; just lemon oil once a year and you're golden. Now, I don't usually rub my forearm against the fingerboard all the time like I do against the top of the guitar. I don't think I even touch it most of the time -- my fingers are usually on the strings Anybody knows if a bare rosewood neck or top can cause allergies? If so, what would be the minimum finishing that one needs to do to prevent this? I notice that the Fender rosewood telecaster seems to have their usual thick plastic coating, so maybe a bare rosewood top is out of the question?

 

Rosewood allergy is not unheard of, but seems to be pretty darned rare. A search at PubMed (the US National Institutes of Health-US National Library of Medicine search engine) came up with only 12 articles going back to 1966.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

 

Enter "rosewood allergy" and see what you get.

 

[cuppster]

This is a strange question. Are you asking if you will have an allergic reaction to a rosewood neck? If you are allergic to rosewood, then maybe. If you aren't, then no. If you don't know, that's a question you should be asking your doctor, not your guitar retailer.

[Hush]

I have a Warmoth Rosewood neck with Ebony finger board. I like it alot.

 

Fret board could use a cleaning

 

 

 

 

[WRGKMC]

Allergy to playing, maybe. To wood? Get tested by a doctor.

[ModernSaloon]

Hush: does the rosewood affect the guitar's balance in your opinion? Makes the guitar neck-heavier than one with a maple or mahogany neck?

[Hush]

The guitar is well balanced. The body was made from a solid piece of mahogany. I use a 2 inch strap with it and have no neck dive.

[ModernSaloon]

Thanks

[MahaloVision]

People develop sensitivities to some exotic woods, some more notable varieties such as Cocobolo, other Dalbergiaa (sp?), Padauk, Pau Ferro, etc. Usually it's the dust that causes the problems.

 

A rosewood neck probably will not be an issue, especially if it has a finish. Cocobolo has enough oils in it, though, that you can buff it to a really nice shine without anything else on it.