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In more than 30 years of playing fretted instruments, I have never put anything on a fretboard.
I live and gig in the Southwest, where humidity is often about zero. NOT good for wooden things, including instruments. Fingerboards down here will absolutely get desiccated if you don't put something on them. I use this stuff:
https://smile.amazon.com/Gerlitz-GG...8&qid=1506092868&sr=8-3&keywords=Guitar+honey
A little goes a looong way. Pretty much a bottle is a lifetime supply. Works great.
https://smile.amazon.com/Gerlitz-GG...8&qid=1506092868&sr=8-3&keywords=Guitar+honey
A little goes a looong way. Pretty much a bottle is a lifetime supply. Works great.
Assuming he doesn't have a maple fingerboard. Not sure what those Schecters' options are or what OP has.
+1 Right. A finished maple board would require periodic cleaning just like any other finished part of the instrument. Or not, depending on the player's cleaning prefs.
Living in the dry US Southwest, I put simple cutting board mineral oil on my rosewood fingerboards about once each year. My two instruments live on stands (not in cases) and I play them often. So far, I have not had any problems with drying fingerboards.
The Gerlitz Guitar Honey mentioned by @bucephylus is great.
As is just plain ol' mineral oil like you can get for cheap at the pharmacy.
Edit: I wouldn't bother going to the trouble of the steel wool step. The simpler procedure at 5:45ish works.
As is just plain ol' mineral oil like you can get for cheap at the pharmacy.
Edit: I wouldn't bother going to the trouble of the steel wool step. The simpler procedure at 5:45ish works.
Last edited:
for rosewood, I use a drop of lemon oil then wipe off with clean terry cloth rag
I use walnut oil, that I bought at a health food store. A small bottle will last a lifetime. I've used lemon oil, mineral oil, and baby oil (all are inorganic mineral oil) in the past with good results too, but using an organic oil on an organic based instrument just seems to resonate with me more, and does not evaporate away as quickly, requiring less frequent application.
Often just playing keeps rosewood in good shape. I usually just wipe the fretboard off when I change strings. If it looks dry I'll use a little lemon oil. A light coat which get a min to soak in before I wipe the excess off.
As mentioned above maple fretboard are finished like bodies are and should be wiped off the same way.
If you're talking about finger-ease or fast-fret I've never liked the slippery feel and I gotta think that stuff builds up on the bass over time so I never use either.
As mentioned above maple fretboard are finished like bodies are and should be wiped off the same way.
If you're talking about finger-ease or fast-fret I've never liked the slippery feel and I gotta think that stuff builds up on the bass over time so I never use either.
Bass Guru Justin Kennedy here in town uses some kind of Danish Super Duper Oil. (He's here on TB somewhere under an assumed name) I've never really did much to em in the past. I bought a Strat neck for a project, it was dryer than any fretboard I've ever seen. Went and bought some lemon oil, it soaked up a ton of it too.
My 2 1/2 cents to the conversation.
My 2 1/2 cents to the conversation.
Good Ol "CONN BORE OIL"....Best fingerboard oil in the world....Used mainly for wood fittings on clarinets, woodwinds, etc....Purchase where ever horns and band instruments are sold...One bottle lasted me about 20 years...Before a string change I remove old strings and clean my rosewood a couple times a year with 91% rubbing alcohol....I then run some droplets up and down the board and rub it in good with my fingers....Let it soak in a few hours or overnight....Then once you have applied one to a few small coats, buff the crap out of it....Never use Lemon Oil or products containing it as lemon oil will eventually start shrinking wood....Thats my take on it anyway.
Note to all - this is a good example of how *not* to treat a new member. Stupidity has been deleted, any further examples will result in pies.
This is not TBOT.
This is not TBOT.
Welcome to Talkbass.
Generally, unless you live in a dry climate like a desert, there is nothing you need to do to keep your fingerboard in good repair, except to wipe it off after each use. In a dry climate, an unsealed fingerboard may need some moisture added periodically. Oils do not add moisture though, they will sit on top of the fingerboard and add nothing to the moisture content of the wood. In a dry climate, you could simply place a bowl of water near the instrument for a few days. Oils will make an unsealed board look nice, but won't do much of anything else.
Generally, unless you live in a dry climate like a desert, there is nothing you need to do to keep your fingerboard in good repair, except to wipe it off after each use. In a dry climate, an unsealed fingerboard may need some moisture added periodically. Oils do not add moisture though, they will sit on top of the fingerboard and add nothing to the moisture content of the wood. In a dry climate, you could simply place a bowl of water near the instrument for a few days. Oils will make an unsealed board look nice, but won't do much of anything else.
Turnaround
Commercial User
Pretty well every "bore oil" I've her encountered is just mineral oil, maybe with a some colour or scent to distinguish it from everyone else's mineral oil.
Okay Cool....I always kinda wondered about that....Makes complete sense to me....Cool....Thanks !!!!
