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Post by NikGnashers on Feb 12, 2017 17:46:05 GMT
Just wanted to ask what everyone thinks about this 'procedure' ?
I have a rosewood fingerboard, and I have read so much conflicting advice, I really am unsure what to do.
I'd like to say, I have never oiled a fingerboard on any of my guitars in the past, and never noticed any deterioration/cracks/anything else wrong. Is it something you do, or is it best left alone ? Advantages/disadvantages and experiences would be most welcome, Many thanks as always, Nik
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Feb 12, 2017 20:07:55 GMT
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Post by jonnymosco on Feb 12, 2017 23:12:16 GMT
A luthier told me that rosewood doesn't need oiling as it is oily enough, but ebony does. I oil my ebony fingerboards yearly.
Jonny
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 12, 2017 23:50:03 GMT
I use Fast Fret on my strings when I remember, which does impart a small amount of oil to the fingerboard.
Yearly, or less often, if I'm having an "all strings off" change I'll give the whole fingerboard a wipe over with the Fast Fret and wipe over with a dry cloth - always looks nicer afterwards for a while.
I do this irrespective of fingerboard material.
Keith
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Post by ourmaninthenorth on Feb 13, 2017 11:01:17 GMT
I use Fret Doctor.
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Feb 13, 2017 11:27:55 GMT
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Feb 13, 2017 11:34:41 GMT
Now I want to try the stuff Martin uses. I am so easily swayed.
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andrewjw
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Post by andrewjw on Feb 13, 2017 13:08:42 GMT
I seem to remember the guys at Brook telling me not to use lemon oil on fingerboards as it makes the strings go "off " more quickly ...
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Post by bellyshere on Feb 13, 2017 15:52:00 GMT
I eat fish and chips and then play my guitar. Oils my fretboard and makes it smell lovely.
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007
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Post by 007 on Feb 13, 2017 16:08:58 GMT
I am like Keef and put oil on at a string change.I use lemon oil which imparts a nice bouquet not unlike a 53 Montrachet but a slight more hint of citrus
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Feb 13, 2017 16:27:00 GMT
All this talk of changing strings and...and... cleaning. I'm feeling quite nauseous.
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Post by NikGnashers on Feb 13, 2017 17:12:03 GMT
Thank you for the replies chaps.
Apart from making it look a bit 'richer' does anyone notice any benefit to playing. Maybe it makes your fingers glide easier or something ? I'm still not sure I really need to use it on a rosewood fingerboard, I never play with dirty hands anyway, so my guitars do tend to stay very clean.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 13, 2017 17:19:48 GMT
No great difference to the playing, though a little to the feel - I do notice a slight improvement to the touch on a rosewood fingerboard if it actually looks dry to begin with. Ebony ones have never looked or felt dry to me. The very fact that there is so much conflicting advice around seems to me to mean that we all just go with our own preferences/prejudices, and in the end in makes s*d all difference. Keith
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Post by NikGnashers on Feb 13, 2017 17:21:35 GMT
Thanks Keith. My guitar is almost new anyway, and still feels nice, so maybe when it's a few years old and not so nice I 'might' go for a bit of oily stuff.
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Post by Adam on Feb 14, 2017 10:01:25 GMT
I'm our product expert, not a wood expert, but here is my two pence.
I use our (our meaning Planet Waves / D'Addario) Lemon Oil on my rosewood fingerboards probably two to three times a year. I play a LOT. It just helps to hydrate the wood somewhat and restore it to its original healthy luster. With rosewood and ebony being porous they can absorb a lot of moisture and indeed lose a lot of moisture. Particularly in areas where humidity levels swing a lot (and my wife loves to blast the heating during winter!).
Its important to note (after a recent discussion with a customer) that Lemon Oil is not made from the oil of lemons. It does have a small percentage of lemon oil in but citrus oils are obviously very acidic and acid plus wood generally equals bad. This might be where the above post got the idea that lemon oil ruins strings quicker as the acidic content could certainly wear the metals quicker if you used large quantities of it on a regular basis.
Hope this helps somewhat, though it may just further murky the waters.
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