Do you recommend using lemon oil on the fretboard ..?

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billritt

Am Std Strat
Am Std Tele
Martin D-18
Vibro Champ XD & Mustang I

I have used lemmon oil on my rosewood fretboards for years. I have not had any issues with it. Use it in moderation. I usually put it on any time my neck starts to look dried out. Since moving where I am, it seems to be about 3 maybe 4 times a year.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Just my opinion but I don't use any oils on any fret board. Wood only needs water to stay humidified. I just wipe it down with a damp (not wet) cotton cloth and let the water soak in a little, then wipe it with a dry cotton cloth. It is my opinion that oil will eventually prevent the wood from being able to absorb the moisture it needs.

I could be wrong, but you could never go wrong with just a damp cotton cloth and keeping the guitar humidified is probably even more important.

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American Standard Stratocaster

I agree with this. I use a non-lemon oil fretboard product. Moderation...

I have heard of players that over oiled their fretboards and had problems with the frets lifting out.

Ouch, water and wood doesn't seem to be a very good combination. Humidity is a very different thing. Moisture while being water, is not condensed in such a way to soak into a guitars wood. (unless you live in some really crazy climate) Proper humidity keeps a relative moisture content in the air and thus in the guitars wood. Your local climate will have more to do with that than anything else. (unless you own a humidty controlled room like a Cigar humidore....most of us don't) Water if used enough to soak in will eventually and in short notice, evaporate and dry up, shrinking the wood with it. This can cause fret sprout and fret popping.

Everything I have read advises that a small amount of lemon oil applied maybe once a year is sufficient to keep Rosewood looking good and seasoned. I also use lemon oil but the key as someone as stated is to not over saturate otherwise you can cause fret issues. You don't want the wood to dry out if you leave the guitar in a really dry environment.

I can tell you that your Rosewood neck will look great after a once a year cleaning and a small amount of lemon oil to bring out the color. It will soak in and you will not have oiley residue. (unless you soak it and use too much) I use some Naptha to clean light gunk on the fret board (it evaporates quickly) and then a light coat fo lemon oil. You cannot argue with its improved appearance.

I wouldn't use water, as it can swell the wood, causing fret problems. I think a light coat of lemon oil is best. Its recommended by guitar makers, etc.,.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Hi,
Heres how I do it...

When I change strings, I put a liberal amount of lemon oil on the fretboard.
I then use a very, very fine steel wool, and "brighten up" the frets. Take a clean rag and wipe all of excess oil off the board. I do this with all of my Rosewood.. NOT Recommended for maple necks!

Bill

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

Hello!

Yes, But only on rosewood fretboards. Below is a copy of my post from another thread

To maintain my rosewood boards I use a polishing or mircofiber cloth without any cleaner as often as i remember. Twice a year I use a couple of squirts of Dunlope Lemon Oil on the cloth, wipe the board and leave it for 15min. This helps remove any "chunky bits". I Then wipe it clean, and wait 24hrs before putting new strings on.

Maple boards just get a wipe with the cloth. Nothing else.

Hope this helps

Andy

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Pending Greatness

For my Rosewood fretboards I go over it with some 0000 steelwool then apply some "Gerlitz Guitar Honey"

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

I use a special fretbord cleaner/polish called LIZARD SPIT it works great.

I have about 6 guitars with rosewood fingerboards and have been cleaning them with Naptha and treating with lemon oil for years. It seems to work great, never had any frets pop out. I also never wipe the strings after playing, so the fretbaords need cleaning once every six months.
Don