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Double Bass Should I oil my fingerboard?
- Thread starter MichelD
- Start date
No fuss. Always better to ask. We are from all over this rock and He may have had something interesting.
Worth mentioning, a number of early 20th century US-made plywood double basses do have black-painted fingerboards, many which today have said paint in varying degrees of deterioration. Various kinds of oil on such a fingerboard might be a bad thing if people are trying to keep what remains of the old paint in place.
It’s absolutely necessary to use oil on 2-cycle fingerboards…
Okay, I’ll stop now.
Okay, I’ll stop now.
I do the opposite; occasionally I'll load up a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and use it to clean all the old rosin gunk off the strings. My experience is that the alcohol leaves the (ebony) fingerboard nice and shiny too.
I don't really see how a little light oil would hurt the fingerboard, but it doesn't seem like it'd be good for the strings.
I don't really see how a little light oil would hurt the fingerboard, but it doesn't seem like it'd be good for the strings.
I oil my finger board about once a year with extra virgin olive oil, (my bass doesn't have a dipstick).
Leave it overnight and wipe off excess with tissues.
Cant say it does any harm or good, but satisfies a need for me.
Only issue is sometimes a bit of tissue may stick under a string at nut-end and cause a buzz.
I once had a luthier shoot my fingerboard, only to discover the offending tissue afterwards.
Leave it overnight and wipe off excess with tissues.
Cant say it does any harm or good, but satisfies a need for me.
Only issue is sometimes a bit of tissue may stick under a string at nut-end and cause a buzz.
I once had a luthier shoot my fingerboard, only to discover the offending tissue afterwards.
Dirt and dust stick to oil and grease, as any mechanic will tell you. So yes, excess oil on a fingerboard can do some harm.
I sparingly use Music Nomad F1 oil on my various (2 dozen) fretboards and fingerboarda - no more often than once every couple years. I've also used Howard's Feed n' Wax on my wooden instruments, furniture, fir doors, etc. for many years with no issues.
I do use alcohol to remove rosin build-up on my fiddle and bass strings. I don't like to apply alcohol to any wood as it will dissolve oils and dry out the wood.
I can't stand to see rosin build-up on fiddle soundboards. Since the finish on any wooden stringed instrument is so important to the tone, I can't see how a giant thick patch of caked on rosin can do any good.
I sparingly use Music Nomad F1 oil on my various (2 dozen) fretboards and fingerboarda - no more often than once every couple years. I've also used Howard's Feed n' Wax on my wooden instruments, furniture, fir doors, etc. for many years with no issues.
I do use alcohol to remove rosin build-up on my fiddle and bass strings. I don't like to apply alcohol to any wood as it will dissolve oils and dry out the wood.
I can't stand to see rosin build-up on fiddle soundboards. Since the finish on any wooden stringed instrument is so important to the tone, I can't see how a giant thick patch of caked on rosin can do any good.
Is there a general consensus on a good oil (or bad oil) to use on rosewood fingerboards? I recently purchased a ~10 year old EUB, and the rosewood board looks a little dry to me and I’d like to clean it up slightly.
I’d probably lightly rub it down with 0000 steelwool (or preferably a synthetic equivalent to reduce the metal shavings), and then oil it.
On my rosewood bass guitar fret and fingerboards, I’ve used Dunlop’s 65 Fretboard “Ultimate Lemon Oil” with really good results. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be good for my EUB, but wanted to check.
I’d probably lightly rub it down with 0000 steelwool (or preferably a synthetic equivalent to reduce the metal shavings), and then oil it.
On my rosewood bass guitar fret and fingerboards, I’ve used Dunlop’s 65 Fretboard “Ultimate Lemon Oil” with really good results. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be good for my EUB, but wanted to check.
I've used F-One oil on my rosewood boards on EB and guitars for quite some time now. Once a year or so is all that is needed. Guitar Fretboard Cleaner and Conditioner - F-ONE Oil for All Unfinished Fretboards - MusicNomad - Music Nomad
Mike B
Thank you Mike! I actually did a bit of research after posting that and came to the same answer so I already ordered a bottle of F-One!
I’m happy I made the right choice! Lol
