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Post subject: Tele Rosewood fretboard wear
Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 3:34 pm
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I purchased a brand new "American Standard" tele at the end of 2012. I haven't played it that much prefering my MIM Strat. I am disappointed with the wear on the rosewood fretboard, especially as it is played very infrequently - indeed - it has been on top of the wardrobe (in the SKU flightcase) for the last 3 months and hardly touched. I notice that the wood grain seems to be "pulling out" in one location (fret no. 3, B string) and the board seems dry in this location. The MIM strat has a maple neck and I play this 99% of the time. The price of the Strat was £280 S/H whilst the tele was almost £1000 and new. Is there a QA problem with the American Std Teles?

My cheap Epiphone RW board is fine and seems better made!! I was thinking about a Custom Shop Strat but the quality seems to be inversely proportional to the cash paid !!!

BTW - this is England where I'm based - no one could accuse the weather of being dry.


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Post subject: Re: Tele Rosewood fretboard wear
Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 5:12 pm
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Sounds like you need to condition your fretboard. I use Dunlop Ultimate Lemon Oil 65. It works really well and I have had no issues. Apply it to the fretboard and rub it in a little, then wipe off the excess. Don't let it set to long and don't use it on maple fretboards. It will make your neck look great! Some people use linseed oil... Hope this helps.

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Post subject: Re: Tele Rosewood fretboard wear
Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 9:19 am
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Rosewood needs oiling every now and then, yes. Particularly Indian rosewood, which is a dryer wood than Brazilian rosewood.
The above advice is good, but beware that when he says "lemon oil", it's really a lemon scented mineral oil, sold as "lemon oil" at least here in the US. You certainly don't want to put real lemon oil on a fretboard.

Also, try not to press down so hard when you play a D - if your fingers hit the fretboard, you likely press down too hard, or too far away from the fret.


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Post subject: Re: Tele Rosewood fretboard wear
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 4:27 pm
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ok - so I apply "Planet Waves Lemon Oil", leave it and it looks great ... for a day and then it is back to square one. It is as though the rosewood is as dry as a bone and simply absorbs the oil. I'm applying the lemon oil with a cotton bud.


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Post subject: Re: Tele Rosewood fretboard wear
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:45 am
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monabri wrote:
ok - so I apply "Planet Waves Lemon Oil", leave it and it looks great ... for a day and then it is back to square one. It is as though the rosewood is as dry as a bone and simply absorbs the oil. I'm applying the lemon oil with a cotton bud.

If it's been a long time since it was treated, it may need multiple applications, to get the oil soaked in.
After that, once or twice a year should be enough to keep it smooth. The surface will always dry out, so don't worry that it doesn't keep the "wet look" for more than a week or so. It'll still retain oil below the surface, which helps the wood from absorbing moisture and losing hardness.

I use a microfiber cloth, because the oil also dissolves some of the gunk that tends to attach to the side of the frets, and it feels nice to get it off. Patina is one thing, but knowing it consists largely of dead skin cells and sweat is another. :)


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Post subject: Re: Tele Rosewood fretboard wear
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:59 am
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ah ... I wonder if I let it dry out too much then and this lead to a "loss in hardness" ? I'll keep applying the Lemon Oil and see what happens. Next Guitar** will have a maple fretboard !!!


** there's always a "next guitar" :wink:


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