Double Bass Oiling your Fingerboard (Olive Oil)

[Fernando Costa]

I use mineral oil.

Every Six Months:


At least once every six months if you have a fingerboard made out of Ebony, Rosewood, Pau Ferro, or any other unfinished wood, while you have the strings off of your Fodera, you need to oil your fingerboard. We use clear mineral oil with no additives (found in most pharmacies). Apply it to the surface of the fingerboard using a clean, soft, dry rag (and old tee-shirt is perfect for this). Allow it to sit and be absorbed for approximately five minutes before removing any remaining mineral oil with a different clean, soft, dry cloth. Restring your instrument only after all excess oil has been removed and take extra care to make sure that you do not get mineral oil on your strings!

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[Joedog]

Never knew that about silicone products!! I don't foresee any repairs, but one never knows! Out of curiousity I just looked at the Formby's label. It says "Brings out wood's natural luster without wax or silicones". Guess I got lucky?

 

[klem.gote]

I've been following this thread for a couple of days now. My question is why use some kind of oil on the fingerboard in the first place? Is it just for cleaning, or does it actually help the wood in some way?

 

[Tom Bomb]

If you find your frets are emerging from the edge, jutting out and catching your thumb and fingers, that's just the board contracting. The good oil, mineral oil - traditionally called lemon oil - will help to plump up the board again with no real negative effects, if done correctly. It also has a preserving, revitalizing, protective effect. Lemon oil is a reasonable cleaner - gets the job done - unless you've got serious dirt woes. The main thing is it does no harm.

 

[klem.gote]

I play upright!!!!!!

 

[bassmanchu]

I play upright!!!!!!

This is the upright side, after all! From that perspective, I think [we] upright players are more concerned about wood health. Basically keeping the wood moisturized enough so as not to crack.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Point taken ^^ My mistake. Thanks!

 

[klem.gote]

This is the upright side, after all! From that perspective, I think [we] upright players are more concerned about wood health. Basically keeping the wood moisturized enough so as not to crack.

Thank you!

 

[Matthew Tucker]

I use Vegemite exclusively. rubbed into the ebony with 000 steel wool it produces a delicious and durable black coating ... and the smell disappears by itself after only a few months.

I'll never go back to using oils again.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

My question is why use some kind of oil on the fingerboard in the first place? Is it just for cleaning, or does it actually help the wood in some way?

I've never used any kind of oil or anything else to treat the fingerboard. Boards on both my current basses are well over 30 years old and they are still in good shape. I use rubbing alcohol to clean the board.

 

[Lee Moses]

I use Vegemite exclusively. rubbed into the ebony with 000 steel wool it produces a delicious and durable black coating ... and the smell disappears by itself after only a few months.

I'll never go back to using oils again.

You Aussies and your Vegemite.

 

[Major Softie]

You Aussies and your Vegemite.

Just one of that long list of things we don't get about them.

 

[eh_train]

For those of us north of the Equator, and particularly in Europe, Marmite is an acceptable substitute for Vegemite. I think the only difference is the Marmite also contains volatile oils from extract of Haggis.

 

[robobass]

Just don't use Marmite if you plan on performing in Denmark. Your bass may be confiscated!

 

[edpal]

I use food grade hemp oil periodically. Hemp oil has been used in oil-paints for centuries...

 

[PaulCannon]

I've never needed any kind of oil for my own gear, just ultrafine steel wool.

When I worked in a shop, some extreme cases would need citrus cleaner and/or watco oil.

 

[PaulCannon]

I use food grade hemp oil periodically. Hemp oil has been used in oil-paints for centuries...

They have oil paintings on fingerboards now?

 

[edpal]

They have oil paintings on fingerboards now?

Yes, and the hemp oil helps them not crack, just like it has with many masterpiece paintings both on and off the fingerboard.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

I use food grade hemp oil periodically. Hemp oil has been used in oil-paints for centuries...

Hemp oil? No. Linseed oil is the usual medium for artists oils.

http://www.winsornewton.com/products.aspx?PageID=296

 

[pelado]

I have a friend who told me he rubs down the ebony fingerboard on his Carlo Giuseppe Testore bass with olive oil. I expressed a concern that it might go rancid, but he said it doesn't. Thoughts?

I use almond oil on my fretted and fretless rosewood basses. I'd stay away from olive...