It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:57 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:43 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:43 pm
Posts: 2
Okay, here's the scoop: I'm 57 years-young and just answered a life-long itch to play the guitar by buying a brand new 2013 American Deluxe Strat. So far I've had three mid-life (non)crises--and it's possible this is another one--but the first three were so much fun I'm not worried. Right now I have the Olympic Pearl with rosewood fingerboard, although the store has a 3-Color Sunburst and an ash body with Tobacco Sunburst on order for me to compare it to. Every time I pass this guitar in my house I just marvel at how beautiful it is! It's kind of like a new girlfriend...I'm excited to play with it every time I pass it. Anyway, I'm a COMPLETE newbie to guitars (but I'm otherwise pretty handy), and I have a maintenance question. I live in Chicago where the winter's are pretty brutal, and we have the heat on full-time from about mid-October to sometime in May. So things get pretty dried out here (I never bother with a humidifier--they're a pain in the a**). I know the rosewood is unfinished and I'm going to have to oil the fingerboard (is it a fingerboard or fretboard??) at some point, and that's my question. When do I do it--once a month? More often? Once a year? And how do I do it? My new Strat is just so beautiful I'd hate to screw it up by neglecting it's basic needs. I'm having so much fun with it that's the least I can do for it! :D Any help will be greatly appreciated--thanks!


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 11:08 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:05 pm
Posts: 336
Location: Oregon, USA
I found some stuff to treat the rosewood fingerboard at my LGS that is made just for that purpose. It's called Guitar Honey but I know Fender has one as well. I also just started using Fender's guitar polish which seems to work really well for the body.

I basically treat the wood at the same time I do a string change, that way I don't get any on the strings. Easy to apply and doesn't take more that a couple of minutes to do.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 3:22 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 15, 2012 2:49 am
Posts: 560
Location: Perth, Australia
Hi

Oversaturating the fretboard with oils could lead to Fret Glue coming undone and may lead to frets rising up from the fretboard. I personaly do a fret board oil once maybe twice a year. It is unfortunately up to your discression as to how much is too much, as only you can see the results. It is not an exact science and would be hard for others to guage how much yours requires.

In this case I would personaly tell you to put a little on, maybe once every 3 months during your HEATER period. But that is my guess.

_________________
GUITAR: Fender USA JazzMaster.
BASS: Fender USA 58'AVRI
AMP: Fender USA SuperSonicTwin - Blonde.
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 3:30 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 pm
Posts: 520
Location: Perth, Western Aus.
After he'd set up my guitar, a luthier told me he'd given it a light oil, and that he would only do it twice a year at most. We get 45 degree summers here, that's centigrade.

The general advice seems to be a little is good, more isn't better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 5:08 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
I oil my boards about once every two years. I've been doing it that way my entire life and never once had an issue due to lack of oiling.

_________________
Image
Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 5:26 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:56 pm
Posts: 31
Just make sure you are only oiling the surface, not soaking it wet. If you soak it, a couple of packs of strings will go dead before it dries completely. I only use gunstoick oil, both my customers and I prefer it.

The key is to use polymerizing oils. Linseed oil works just as great, but nowadays boiled linseed oils are hard to find. Linseed oil from the art store is not boiled so it won't dry/polymerize. Majority of "boiled" linseed oils aren't actually boiled anymore but they add chemicals so it dries and cures.

Gunstock oil is IMHO the cheapest and best option. Leaves a bit of smell on your fingers for the first couple of days, but nothing feels as silky smooth as this.

Before you oil it, wipe all the gunk with naphta, for more stubborn areas use windex on a rag and try to dissolve it that way. I usualy just scrape the entire fingerboard along the grain before and after naphta (wait for it to dry, of course) with a razorblade, but it takes some time to learn the trick without scoring rosewood/ebony. Too much moisture will cause the grain to raise up. That is not much of a big deal and most people won't notice it at all, but I know some people like the smooth feel of the fretboard when it is freshly refretted, so I tend not to raise the grain anymore by cleaning if the fingerboard is already nice and smooth. Razorblade will also help to remove any dead/rotten wood if present. If you have big inlays like trapezoids a razorblade will just glide over, so no worries about that either.

For oiling I always use regular flannel towels because it eases up the application and doesn't leave dry spots. I wipe it on until it appears wet. When I see some areas are drying up, I repeat the process. I might do that three or four times in a matter of 10 minutes, then I start wiping it in. Be sure you use the piece that has still some oil left on. When it appear matte dry, you're done. It's best to leave it overnight, but you can restring it immediately and start enjoying.

Twice or trice a year is sufficient if you play every day.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:13 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:05 pm
Posts: 336
Location: Oregon, USA
I don't soak it, I mist it and wipe it off.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 8:02 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:18 am
Posts: 1530
Location: The Frozen Tundra of MN
BMW-KTM wrote:
I oil my boards about once every two years. I've been doing it that way my entire life and never once had an issue due to lack of oiling.

+1, I also like the Fret Honey product. :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:04 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:06 pm
Posts: 56
When I change strings I apply a light coat of 100% lemon oil, and gently wipe off any excess. That keeps the rosewood clean and in excellent condition, without affecting the strings. I've had the same bottle of lemon oil for about 20 years now, and it's still 3/4 full.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:42 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:15 am
Posts: 522
It's a new guitar so don't worry about it till next year. I live in your neck of the woods. Light Mineral oil works well. Put a thin coat on wait about 3 to 5 min. then wipe off with soft cloth. Wait a year, and repeat. Overdoing it will cause plenty of problems in the future. Just play it and don't worry the small stuff.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:10 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 24, 2011 8:25 pm
Posts: 1099
Location: A cloud of eider down
lemon oil is just mineral oil with a scent added. You can get a bottle of mineral oil from a drug store for around a buck. I've been using mineral oil for over 20 years with excellent results, no need to spend money on pricey music store products IMHO. (not referring to lemon oil as pricey music store item)

_________________
"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 8:47 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:55 pm
Posts: 62
Location: Low Country Blues, SC
BMW-KTM wrote:
I oil my boards about once every two years. I've been doing it that way my entire life and never once had an issue due to lack of oiling.


Oiling once to twice a year should be all you need. If the fretboard starts looking chalky or lighter in color it may be time.
I have an exposed maple neck/board that I oil 4 times a year.

I must be one heck of a musician $5000 in gear, drive 100's of miles to watch others play. And usualy gig or play for friends for free.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 12:55 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:56 am
Posts: 141
It doesn't really matter what you use so much as you use it when it's necessary. Ebony generally needs to be oiled more often than rosewood... maple is often oil finished and that could use a scrubbing when it starts getting dirty, but most people like their maple necks dirty... So do it as part of regular maintenance, but the interval depends on what type of fretboards your guitar has.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 9:34 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:45 pm
Posts: 852
Location: SoCal323
Found this on the tech talk section.
http://www.fender.com/news/fingerboard-hydration/

_________________
Its a lifestyle.....

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDS HELP: oil fingerboard? When, how?
Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 10:35 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:59 am
Posts: 492
Arnold Layne wrote:
lemon oil is just mineral oil with a scent added. You can get a bottle of mineral oil from a drug store for around a buck. I've been using mineral oil for over 20 years with excellent results, no need to spend money on pricey music store products IMHO. (not referring to lemon oil as pricey music store item)


Same here, pure mineral oil works a treat, although be prepared to get a funny look if you have to ask for it, as it's also used as a cure for acute constipation. :lol:

My current big bottle cost me £1.49, and will last me for a good few years. For those of you who use Fastfret and the like, it's just lightly scented mineral oil soaked into a pad, so you can save some money there as well. :mrgreen:


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: tominkansas and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: