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- Aug 20, 2012
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Two Things My Techy/Luthier Told Me...
- Thread starter ZenG
- Start date
Hopkins
Commercial User
Ive never seen fretboards get saturated to the point the strings have dug gouges into them. But I have seen a guitar that numerous frets came unseated because of over oiling. The guy said he oiled his board every string change, which was about weekly
I like to oil my unfinished fretboards every now and then. I just like the way it makes the grain pop.
Never had an issue with finger dimples and I have played that Fender since I was 12 and have worn most of the varnish off the back of the neck.
So, I would recommend to go ahead and do it if it makes you happy.
Never had an issue with finger dimples and I have played that Fender since I was 12 and have worn most of the varnish off the back of the neck.
So, I would recommend to go ahead and do it if it makes you happy.
+1
Once a year for peace of mind or whatever, I can't see the harm.
However, and there are pictures all over the internet for those who think it doesn't happen, failing to lube certain unfinished woods over extended periods most definitely results in splitting and cracking on some fingerboards under certain conditions. "Fret sprout," so common in new instruments, is quick proof positive that wood expands and contracts, and quite noticeably so. Some woods by their nature and composition may tolerate this and never crack; other pieces of wood may not flex so well and will crack over time.
Let your conscience be your guide.
Hopkins
Commercial User
Indeed. But you might be able to keep a relatively thin veneer such as a fingerboard from experiencing the negative results by using an appropriate oil on ocassion. Again, it can't hurt (unless you slather it on too often).
Hopkins
Commercial User
You are right, it can't really hurt. But its not a necessity either. Personally I don't like a dark rose wood board. I would rather not oil it and let the lighter color show, that way you aren't hiding any minor streaking or grain, that is often hidden by darkening the board with oil.
Wow, that's what I call excessive! Maybe once every year or so would suffice.
I oiled the board on my fretless this year and I can't say for sure that it made a difference either way.
fret sprout, cracking, all that, is about humidity; that means water, not oil. you can't "moisturize" wood with oil any more than you can quench your thirst by drinking canola.
and if said oil isn't a drying, polymerizing finish like linseed or gun stock oil, it doesn't even do much to affect how water comes and goes in the wood.
and if said oil isn't a drying, polymerizing finish like linseed or gun stock oil, it doesn't even do much to affect how water comes and goes in the wood.
If the voltage drops to 6V in use, the battery is dead. That's why you don't measure batteries with a DVM; you use a battery tester, which tests them under load.
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My tech tells me two things: 1 no oils ever, use a wax. Contains same lipid based chemicals but remains solid at room temperature, thus avoiding any sort of oversaturation.
2 stop buying all the basses he wants
2 stop buying all the basses he wants
Oil does saturate wood, which I guess is a fine line. The woods cells absorb the oil and swell, even in dead wood because the process is largely mechanical, and then over time it leaves the wood the same way it got in. Because oil has a higher evaporating temperature than water we use it, its also not a solvent like water so it doesn't take anything with it when it leaves like water. Serious overoiling can cause a lot of problems, especially in a system like a neck.
Reread this and don't want to sound like a smartass but a little biochemistry never hurt a bassist
I agree with point 1 - mostly. Not because I think it will make the fretboard soft - that's silly unless you soak it in a drum of oil.
But - I agree because it's not necessary. I'm 60 miles north of Denver and I have two basses that are 40+ year old with fretboards that have never been touched with oil. ***OILING FRETBOARDS IS NOT NECESSARY.*** Not even in this arid atmosphere where winter humidity often gets down to 10%. It makes them look prettier, but any benefit is strictly cosmetic.
I get tired of this argument. Oiling simply isn't needed.
no, that's reasonable, and thoroughly non-smartassy (maybe unlike my post Link RemovedOil does saturate wood, which I guess is a fine line. The woods cells absorb the oil and swell, even in dead wood because the process is largely mechanical, and then over time it leaves the wood the same way it got in.
Reread this and don't want to sound like a smartass but a little biochemistry never hurt a bassist
the fret Dr website talks about using the stuff to "close up" an old fife that had twisted to the point of cracking open.
Haha dont worry about it, i didn't know until my tech explained it! I'd been using orange oil liberally and he stopped me thankfully before I had any issues!no, that's reasonable, and thoroughly non-smartassy (maybe unlike my post Link Removed)
the fret Dr website talks about using the stuff to "close up" an old fife that had twisted to the point of cracking open.
I don't consider it an argument; it seems more like an opinion, much along the lines of "Should you bring more than one bass to a gig in case of emergency?"
And I don't get the "I've never seen it, so it must not happen" line so common here on TB. There are pictures of split and cracked fingerboards all over the internet. Saying you haven't seen or experienced it is pointless.
The official websites of prominent guitar builders such as Taylor, Gibson and many others do not discourage the use of oils for unfinished boards; in fact, they subtly encourage it within reason, and for more than cosmetic reasons. And, again, it can't hurt, unless it messes up that perfect hue of your board that you're so fond of.
As with all 'net info, I encourage the reader of this thread to do some research and use your best judgment. Just like bringing more than one bass to a gig, I'll go with an ounce of prevention (and the accompanying peace of mind) just about every time...
Well said, there is also a good chance that his 40+ year old basses both have nitro-finished fretboards, especially if they're Fender, Rickenbacker, Music Man, or Gibson.. which strongly mitigates the need to oil...
I think the average novice reading this thread should take one thing away from it...
Oil natural wood ANYTHING once every few months at a minimum. Even the older Oil Finish Spector basses needed a layer of oil rubbed in once a year or they got very dry..
After googling around the 'net, it seems that many brands of Lemon Oil don't actually contain much of anything lemon but are actually about 85% Naptha....
The Dunlop company appears to make some good products for fret maintenance.....
The Dunlop company appears to make some good products for fret maintenance.....
....And I and many others think the opposite. Wood fretboards do not need to be oiled.
Nor do I need to oil my "natural wood" tables, bookshelves, etc. every few months.
If you want to take a very sparing quantity of mineral oil (something which is not mixed with a bunch of unknown things) and wipe the fretboard with it sparingly, be my guest. Just be aware that the result is cosmetic only. The wood does not require it, but it does look prettier - for a while.
Excessive fretboard oiling can result in loosening frets, which is bad. However, I doubt too many people are OCD enough to create this problem for themselves.
This is one of many many, many, many, many discussions about this on TB. Search and you will find them. None are especially productive.
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