Members Slave2TheAudio Posted August 15, 2009 Members Share Posted August 15, 2009 Go to GC and check out some of the cheaper guitars. Look for ones that have spots of white in the grain towards the edges of the fretboard. That's what it looks like if you never oil it. Let it go for even longer like that and you run the risk of the wood cracking. Yup... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 9ball Posted August 15, 2009 Members Share Posted August 15, 2009 The fingerboard will not feel greasy at all.Lemon Oil is OK for cleaning, but does nothing to help the wood. You can also use naphta for cleaning. I use Formby's Build-up Remover.For conditioning the fingerboard I use Roche-Thomas Premium Bore Oil. It's cheap and works great. The 2 oz. bottle will last me a few years. what about that "fret doctor" stuff? i've been thinking of getting some. i use lemon oil on all of my guitars at least a few times a year. it never feels "greasy" or anything afterwards- you're supposed to wipe the excess up/off. it does feel and look a little better though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eddie Posted August 15, 2009 Members Share Posted August 15, 2009 what about that "fret doctor" stuff? i've been thinking of getting some. i use lemon oil on all of my guitars at least a few times a year. it never feels "greasy" or anything afterwards- you're supposed to wipe the excess up/off. it does feel and look a little better though. I'm sure that Fret Doctor is good, but IMO it is way overpriced. The Roche-Thomas seems to be pretty similar, and I think I paid $2.95 for a bottle.I just ordered the Doctor's wax. From what I've read their products are quite good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 9ball Posted August 15, 2009 Members Share Posted August 15, 2009 I'm sure that Fret Doctor is good, but IMO it is way overpriced. The Roche-Thomas seems to be pretty similar, and I think I paid $2.95 for a bottle. I just ordered the Doctor's wax. From what I've read their products are quite good. shit i'll have to look into that- thanks. man somebody showed me some old jackson he had with a rosewood fretboard a few weeks ago- a bass player- the fretboard looked so dried out and you could see these little cracks in it all over the place it looked horrible. poor guy i didn't have the heart to tell him it looked like shit god i dont want to let that happen to any of my guitars lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratManHDV Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 did it to one guitar and it seemed to be oily forever. Never did it again and they were all fine even after many years.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 What no bacon greese:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kellanium Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 The fingerboard fairy will come into your room at night and kill you. Seriously, I've never heard that oiling a fingerboard is required. it's simply a matter of taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrChitlins Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 Go to GC and check out some of the cheaper guitars. Look for ones that have spots of white in the grain towards the edges of the fretboard. That's what it looks like if you never oil it. Let it go for even longer like that and you run the risk of the wood cracking. My Gibson L00 was made in 192? and has never been oiled. These spots should be along any day now i'm guessing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrChitlins Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 So in order to make my dried out fret boards look better(ie lost moisture content, ie WATER), i need to rub them with oil ? This oil will add water ? How does this work ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oaksong Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 If you don't oil it... it will go dry. You ever been with a woman who is dry? Not much fun is it. Oil solves both problems. Oil +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 If you don't oil it... it will go dry.You ever been with a woman who is dry? Not much fun is it. Oil solves both problems.Oil +1you use 10w40 with your wimmins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members humbucker_hc Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 I use Dr. Stringfellow's Lem-Oil on my guitars with rosewood boards every 1-2 years (no set schedule, depends on when I change strings)... rub it in with a soft cloth, let it soak for an hour or so, wipe off the rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eddie Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 did it to one guitar and it seemed to be oily forever. Never did it again and they were all fine even after many years.... How much did you use? None of the fingerboards I've worked on have felt oily at all. A few drops go a long way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pope on a Rope Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 I have never oiled a fretboard. I've never seen anything go wrong from not oiling. Not even the rosewood fretboard from a Hondo neck that spent about twenty years in my garage, which gets plenty of heat, humidity and extreme cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hurtzher Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 What about a maple fretboard that has a tung-oil finish? Would that need to be oiled? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wagdog Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 Your guitars didn't come with a dipstick? Oh, that's just mine, and the guy playing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RaVenCAD Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 I oiol my fretboard everytime I change my strings, which isn't that often. I have a very light touch and I clean my strings after playing, so they last a long time. I use Gibson fretboard conditioner usually, but sometimes I use this: both work, well.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members outtahear Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 The fingerboard will not feel greasy at all. Lemon Oil is OK for cleaning, but does nothing to help the wood. You can also use naphta for cleaning. I use Formby's Build-up Remover. For conditioning the fingerboard I use Roche-Thomas Premium Bore Oil. It's cheap and works great. The 2 oz. bottle will last me a few years. Same stuff-mineral oil. Seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members coinstarlp Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 I think oiling is only necessary if the guitar needs it (well obviously). I've had and seen guitars that were in dire need of fretboard oil (my drummer has a LP cherry faded that the fretboard turned very dry and light beige until I oiled it.... drummers ). Your fretboard might not ever need it, however if a fretboard looks very dry and unhealthy, oil it! Probably has a lot to do with how you store your guit-fiddles, my drummer keeps his on a stand in a deep basement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members outtahear Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 What no bacon greese:thu: Don't doubt it-salt pork (cured pork fat) works great-one of the oldest wood finishes known to man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashasha Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 Sludge is funny until it happens to you. Until then use Castol GTX..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eddie Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 Same stuff-mineral oil. Seriously. Absolutely right. Most of them are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eddie Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 Sludge is funny until it happens to you. Until then use Castol GTX..... From what I've read D'Aquisto used motor oil and apparently some luthiers still use motor oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reignman Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 What no bacon greese:thu: I use bacon grease everyday when playing... sadly, my fingers have plumped up quite a bit... I now have the nickname fat-hands.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hecticone Posted August 18, 2009 Members Share Posted August 18, 2009 Twice a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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