Dry Fretboard

[JBass1]

Hi Everyone,

Recently my fretboard seems to be really drying out. I am worried if it gets a lot worse there could be bad damage.

I have a bottle of "Kyser + Klassics Dr. Stringfellow Lem-Oil" that I have used many times on my bass in the past. It doesn't seem to help. Does anyone have any suggestions for other things I can use? Also, I am living in China right now (very dry) and moving to Singapore in a week (very humid). Any advice is appreciated.

[MarTONEbass]

I actually use vegetable oil. It works very well. Just put on a light coat, let it sink in and wipe it off. Works great in the cold/dry New England winters.

[Lo-E]

I've always used pure lemon oil, but I know this has been addressed in other posts, and opinions vary widely on this topic.

[SamanthaCay]

If I remember correctly lemon oil has a certain amount of citric acids in it that cause it to evaporate, thus making it a not so great choice for a fingerboard.
I have personally always used linseed oil as it has been recommended by several luthiers and repair techs I have met over the years as well as the fact that it works quite well.

[Pilgrim]

I haven't oiled mine since I got it in 1967.

It's your imagination.

Also, SEARCH for at least two dozen long, intensive threads on this topic.

[lethargytartare]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I haven't oiled mine since I got it in 1967.

It's your imagination.

Also, SEARCH for at least two dozen long, intensive threads on this topic.

+1

[JBass1]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I haven't oiled mine since I got it in 1967.

It's your imagination.

Also, SEARCH for at least two dozen long, intensive threads on this topic.

I have read, I just don't understand why even after using the lemon oil is seems even dryer. I have read that people warn against using lemon oil as well but I wanted to be sure. Also it's funny you mention it because my bass was fine until I started treating the neck.

[darkstorm]

Originally Posted by JBass1

I have read, I just don't understand why even after using the lemon oil is seems even dryer. I have read that people warn against using lemon oil as well but I wanted to be sure. Also it's funny you mention it because my bass was fine until I started treating the neck.

Yup, theyre right, makers of those high price furniture brands whose furniture bassically has no finish, like rosewood & ebony fretboards. Say lemon oil is not a good choice.

I prefer and use dunlops deep conditioner for fretboards. A drying out fretboard can turn into a problem. But qauility fretboards can go very long without treatment. In some cases, natural finger oil could potentially be why some players get by without ever conditioning fretboards Id geauss. Those with oilier skin. Climate can also play a factor. I think it just makes good sense to use a little bit of something like dunlop deep conditioner for fretboards once a yr or so. But not lemon oil. Over time it will make fretboards hungrier for reoiling more often cause the evaporation speeds up potential for drying out. Linseed oil is ok to use as well.

[Rebop]

I have a 1967 Gibson EB-0 that has never been oiled to my knowledge. Looks and feels great.

[kai_ski]

Fret Doctor is hands down the best thing for your porous fretboards IMO. I live in a very dry climate and I started using it this year. It keeps my boards natural oils and looking nice. It's not cheap, but that bottle goes a very long way!

[leonche64]

I am also in China, I also think it may be in your head. You put the oil on, then as it wears off, you "feel" like it is drying out.

[JBass1]

Originally Posted by leonche64

I am also in China, I also think it may be in your head. You put the oil on, then as it wears off, you "feel" like it is drying out.

No no, not feel. It literally looks like it's drying out.

BTW it's a '97 Warwick SSII - wenge fingerboard, if that makes a difference. I will check out the dunlop deep conditioning but don't know how available it will be

[THORRR]

If it actually LOOKS like it's drying out, then the grain of the wood probably looks like it's opening up and the surface is no longer smooth, right?

Take off your strings, and one by one lightly sand the wood between the frets with extremely fine finishing sandpaper (#400 grit) which will clean the surface and level the edges of the grain. This will not create any scratches. Actually it will smooth and resurface your board.

If the board is really messed up you can sand with #220 grit first, then #280, then #400.

Then SEAL your board with Lemon Pledge furniture polish. Spray on a heavy coat, let it soak into the wood and polish off with a clean towel.

From then on , only use Lemon Pledge occasionally as needed. You'll love the results. I've been using it for 40 years and it WORKS! Good luck to you.

[leonche64]

Originally Posted by JBass1

No no, not feel. It literally looks like it's drying out.

BTW it's a '97 Warwick SSII - wenge fingerboard, if that makes a difference. I will check out the dunlop deep conditioning but don't know how available it will be

Yeah? Ok, you win. What city are you in? I know some spots where you can get some supplies.

[mpdd]

just eat some potato chips or french fries and you'll be fine

[THORRR]

Originally Posted by mpdd

just eat some potato chips or french fries and you'll be fine

LOL !!!!!!!

[SamanthaCay]

On the topic of oil verses no oil a lot of it has to do with where your bass was made and where it now resides.
For example if your bass was made in a humid climate and is now in a dry climate it will be drying out.
There are two solutions to this problem,
One is the proper oil,
Two is to give the bass adequate time to adjust to its new climate and then adjust it’s setup to work with the dryer smaller piece of wood.
It’s also important to note that although you can have the drying out factor with any instrument it is generally more prevalent in those with oil finishes rather then those with lacquer, shellac, poly, and other hard finishes.
The problem with option two is that if a bass’s neck shrinks enough it can cause major problems in the way of the neck being out of true.
It’s not always the case but in some instances that I have personally witnessed
I have seen a neck that has been allowed time to adjust and in turn shrunk in such a way that it has become snaked and impossible to adjust.
In this case thus adding a lot of work to getting it back to where it needs to be.
This is why I personally believe in using the proper oil unless your bass is already adjusted to a dry climate and in turn still playing fine.
Other wise I’d go for the linseed.
Oh and for what it’s worth I just setup an Alembic for a friend and when I was about to oil the fingerboard he said he had some stuff that Alembic had given him for that, he pulled out a bottle of linseed oil.

[JBass1]

Originally Posted by THORRR

If it actually LOOKS like it's drying out, then the grain of the wood probably looks like it's opening up and the surface is no longer smooth, right?

Take off your strings, and one by one lightly sand the wood between the frets with extremely fine finishing sandpaper (#400 grit) which will clean the surface and level the edges of the grain. This will not create any scratches. Actually it will smooth and resurface your board.

If the board is really messed up you can sand with #220 grit first, then #280, then #400.

Then SEAL your board with Lemon Pledge furniture polish. Spray on a heavy coat, let it soak into the wood and polish off with a clean towel.

From then on , only use Lemon Pledge occasionally as needed. You'll love the results. I've been using it for 40 years and it WORKS! Good luck to you.

That is exactly how it looks, it doesn't FEEL dry but I see little parts of it opening up - however it does still feel relatively smooth. When I get to Singapore (I leave Monday) I will look for some Lemon Pledge and if not, just order it online if possible.

And just to be sure, is this what you're talking about?:

Google

I feel a bit weird spraying that on my SSII but if it works, it works. I am also quite curious about the linseed oil. If I sand and use the linseed would it have similar results?

[ahsbass6]

Clarinet Bore Oil ( for wooden clarinets) is suggested by some luthiers. I would never use Pledge, if you talk to anyone that works with fine woods they will shudder at the thought. good Luck!

[Rockmusician]

It all depends on the type of lemon oil I have a couple of Alembics. They recommend pure lemon oil because it is free of chemical additives. I buy it at Whole Foods. It is more expensive than what you are using but it works great. It's possible that the lemon oil you are using has chemicals in it that are causing the fretboard to dry out.