Conditioning the fingerboard

[agaetis.byrjun]

Is investing in fingerboard conditioner a good idea? I have fretboard conditioner with lemon oil or whatever, but it's for my guitars/mandolin. Usually fingerboards and fretboards are made of similar woods. Would this be okay to use on my bass? If so, how should I go about doing it?

Thanks!

[RED5]

Originally Posted by agaetis.byrjun

Is investing in fingerboard conditioner a good idea? I have fretboard conditioner with lemon oil or whatever, but it's for my guitars/mandolin. Usually fingerboards and fretboards are made of similar woods. Would this be okay to use on my bass? If so, how should I go about doing it?

Thanks!

Stewart-MacDonald Professional fretboard finishing oil Been using it for years.

[crowsmengegus]

I think RED5 might be lost.

I've never used anything on my fingerboard. Just keep it clean (use a little rubbing alcohol if there are cruddy spots). That's not to say that there aren't other opinions, even some from luthiers who know a lot more than me. See here or here, here (a good read), or here.

Ebony can dry out, so I don't think oiling the FB is a bad idea, it just hasn't been necessary in my experience. I think the school of thought for guitars is different, perhaps because a fretboard is much thinner and has frets in it which can pop out or do funny things if the wood shifts a little. I'm just speculatin'.

EDIT: Check out Arnold Schnitzer's page.

[RED5]

[quote=crowsmengegus;9145408]I think RED5 might be lost.

Not lost,it's just what works for me.