How do you treat your fretboard?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Luca Brasi
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Luca Brasi

Luca Brasi

New member
Hello all,

I just bought a used bass and put a new set of strings on it. While the strings were off I rubbed the fretboard using boiled linseed oil (a suggestion from a luthier many years ago), something I use on all my guitars when I change the strings.

Anyway, I got to wondering what other treatments there are. I've heard of some people using Tung Oil.

What do you use?
 
if god wanted a clean fretboard he would've made 'em outta teflon.

i'm not the best person to ask about this though.
 
Talcum powder. (inside joke - do a search)

I generally don't do anything to 'em. Stringease spray on shit to slick things up from time to time but that is allegedly "bad". It's wood, man. If you're playing them guitars should get plenty of oil from your hands.


lou
 
"Lemon Oil" (which isn't real lemon oil).
I use to just get the lemon oil you find in any cleaning products section of the supermakert or hardware store..but then I got the Dunlop lemon oil along with their guitar polish and body cleaner.

My hands don't spew that caustic sweat like some guys' hands do. :D
So I just give the guitar/fretboard a quick wipe with a towel, and that's all that it needs...but once in awhile I'll treat the fretboard with the lemon oil.
I can usually keep a set of stings on for a long time...and they never get that corosion or crud build-up.
I've picked up some guitars of other players that are just so nasty to the touch...real tacky/sticky...not sure how those guys can play them like that??? :eek:
 
I just use dunlops "02" deep fingerboard conditioner.
 
miroslav said:
they never get that corosion or crud build-up.
I've picked up some guitars of other players that are just so nasty to the touch...real tacky/sticky...not sure how those guys can play them like that??? :eek:
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You get mega sustain without clipping with skin and sweat crust.





















Not really ! :D

In all seriousness, I don't do anything. Maybe once every ten years the fretboard may get a wipe.
 
When I change strings I will always wipe down the fingerboard and if it looks dry i will wipe on some bore oil (for woodwind instruments).
 
just wondering...

I used to clean my fretboard with watered-cotton, and a little bit cleaning-thing in order to remove grease etc... but that was 10 years ago during my first (also no-name) classical guitar...

Is it bad for the fretboard?
 
I've got a standard rule- Don't put anything on your fretboard that you wouldn't put on your dick.

That's why I've started using dogman's saliva on my fretboard.
 
Usually when i change my strings i'll dampen a piece of scotch brite and clean up all the crud and wipe my neck down a few times.I've never used any oils on it other than the oil from my hands though it probably would be a good idea.

I think the method depends on whether your guitar has a finished neck.
 
muttley600 said:
Where's VP when you need him.
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Uh, you basically single-handedly ran him off...for better or for worse.

I've only ever had rosewood or ebony fretboards so I've used lemon oil from Old English for years. Every few string changes I give each fret a good rubdown with oil, enough to get the grime off. I wipe off the excess or else I end up with more grime than before within a few sessions.

I've played a couple of friends' grimy guitars before. It is kinda gross isn't it? Like that tacky feeling when you play certain frets. I played my Alvarez acoustic for so long that it developed grooves near all of the first position frets. Those grooves/divots would collect gunk and fill in like wood putty with finger remnants. Pretty nasty.
 
If your fingerboard is rosewood or especially ebony, you should treat it with oil every so often. I just do it whenever I change the strings. Lemon oil is fine and cheap. I believe it was Muttley who suggested olive oil as an alternative. That's what I've been using these last few years. It works just as well and I always have some in my kitchen.

I consider this basic maintenance.
 
Milnoque said:
If your fingerboard is rosewood or especially ebony, you should treat it with oil every so often. I just do it whenever I change the strings. Lemon oil is fine and cheap. I believe it was Muttley who suggested olive oil as an alternative. That's what I've been using these last few years. It works just as well and I always have some in my kitchen.

I consider this basic maintenance.
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Baby oil (mineral oil) is better. Olive only in a pinch, it won't do any harm but it may end up a bit whiffy if you use too much over time.
 
First, I force my guitar onto my bed by its shoulders, tear off its strings rudely and I spray its neck with WD40. Then I throw a lit match on it and urinate, chanting "house on fire, house on fire, put it out, put it out". Then I cram my foot into the control cavity until it has a size 9 1/2 output jack :eek:
 
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