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Best oil for rosewood boards?

BarkSlayer

BarkSlayer

Dec 23, 2008
79
0
Northwest Ohio
#1
I just restrung my Jazz and decided to freshen up the fretboard a bit with a light coating of bore oil that I used to use on my Strats. I applied it sparingly, then rubbed it in by hand until it was fully absorbed, wiped off any excess with a clean paper towel and fitted the new strings.

I think I know the answer to this question, but is bore oil the thing to use on rosewood for basses, or did I just ruin something here today?
 
#2
I was curious about the answer, so I went online and did some research on bore oil, commonly used on clarinets and similar woodwinds. Although it sounds like there is some variation in what makes up "bore oil", I don't see why a light application of it on a rosewood fretboard would be anything but OK.

I've read discussions of lemon oil and other kinds of oil, but there clearly is a great deal of variation in those oils. Frankly, the idea of using bore oil sounds more appropriate to me since it's intended to be used on dense woods and has a track record of decades of use in that application. Based on what I have learned through online research and from discussions with those I consider knowledgeable, I am not comfortable at all with the use of lemon oil and similar furniture-related oils on guitars and basses.

As an obligatory footnote, no petroleum-based oil of any kind should be used on fretboards.
 
#6
I oil my fingerboards (Ebony) several times a year when I change strings with lemon oil (like Formby's or Old English) and they have remained in fabulous condition, plus they look & feel great (I've done this 20+ years).

I'm not trying to dispute any other opinions, as there are many on this subject, but just sharing my personal experience and what has worked well for me. I believe it's one of the best maintenance items a person can do for their bass.
 
#9
I wonder why one ever needs to oil a fingerboard. Most maintencance I do on basses includes the "cleaning" of the fingerboard, which involves the removal of a build up of skin oil and dirt, commonly referred to as "crud". Yes it's mostly the oil from your fingers. And you want to replace it with what? Oil from lemons? Well maybe, if it were actually oil from lemons (which might smell better) but by and large it is not oil from lemons at all.

One of the old time treatments for fingerboards was lanolin, which is an oil extracted from the wool of sheep. A nice natural oil. Kinda like the oil from your skin...... hmmmm.

Whatever makes you happy.
 
#14
BarkSlayer said:
Nope. Lemons are for iced tea. I said bore oil. Like the stuff used to clean and preserve woodwind instruments - made from, oh I dunno...rosewood, among others.
Click to expand...

Well I do see the point of oiling the bore of woodwind instruments. With all that water from your breath flowing through its guts, the instrument needs to be protected from absorbing too much moisture inside while losing it outside.

I don't think it applies to fingerboards though.
 
#15
Pilgrim said:
I've read discussions of lemon oil and other kinds of oil, but there clearly is a great deal of variation in those oils.
...As an obligatory footnote, no petroleum-based oil of any kind should be used on fretboards.
Click to expand...
Just for the record, "lemon oil" is a petroleum oil blend with lemon scent added. Nothing more nor less.

I use the Fret/Fife Doctor bore oil, it's great. Soaks in quickly and leaves no tangible residue on top. I don't think oiling is necessary (or even beneficial) in all cases, but what it's really good for is keeping fretlines, inlays, and old frets from getting loose from the board over time. The oil reduces the amount that the wood expands and contracts in different temps and humidity, and this is an observable benefit in the short term. Also over time the oil crystallizes and forms a molecular bond with the wood, essentially petrifying it. This will not be observable in the short term, but over the long haul the wood becomes harder. It's like an epoxy that takes 20 years to cure. :p
 
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#16
bongomania said:
The oil reduces the amount that the wood expands and contracts in different temps and humidity, and this is an observable benefit in the short term.
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that makes sense. i've gone in recent years from sparing "lemon" oil use to sparing fret dr use towards not using anything if i can help it.

bongomania said:
Also over time the oil crystallizes and forms a molecular bond with the wood, essentially petrifying it. This will not be observable in the short term, but over the long haul the wood becomes harder. It's like an epoxy that takes 20 years to cure. :p
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now that's one i haven't heard before.

i'm starting to suspect from reading where people have seemingly smeared everything from bacon grease to motor oil on their fretboards, with apparently no ill results and no consensus as to what's best, that it ultimately doesn't make a big difference either way. (ok, i detect a slight consensus in favor of the fret doctor, and i do like it myself.)
 
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#18
I've seen ebony dry out and crack, so IMO oiling is definitely a good idea.

I always do it when I change strings (should probably do it more often since I don't change strings very often at all)

Good to know about the bore oil. (I have this 2 oz bottle of "premium fingerboard oil" that is going to last about 200 years at its current rate of usage.)
 

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