It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:32 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: cleaning a rosewood fingerboard
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 8:46 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:22 pm
Posts: 3
what have you used or do you use to clean your rosewood fingerboard? does fender recommend one thing over another? I have an '85 Japanese made P Bass.

thanks,
cjg

www.franticband.com


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Fretboard Cleaning
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 2:21 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:25 pm
Posts: 16
I use Dunlop lemon fretboard oil/cleaner. It works fairly well. I've also used non-scented wood cleaning wipes (for furniture and such). As long as it doesn't leave a residue or horrible smell, you should be good to go.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 11:04 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:30 pm
Posts: 203
Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes are great for rosewood boards.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 4:56 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:10 am
Posts: 1086
i usually keep it natural. before i used ghs fastfrets for both strings at the fret board since they are made of mineral oil, they can condition the wood well..

_________________
If I Like It...
I Just Do It...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:14 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Good question. Rosewood fretboards and fingerboards do require care to look their best for decades. Otherwise they can dry out, fade to a lighter look and even shrink and yes even develop cracks.

I've been having problems locating any of the excellent Fender Fretboard Conditioner which was mostly lemon oil.

But a very similar product I have found at an excellent price is the Planet Waves Lemon Oil which comes in a much smaller container of 1.8 ounces for under $5. Since "a little dab'll do ya" even this small bottle should a couple of years.

FURNITURE POLISH WITH LEMON OIL is not the right stuff, you want LEMON OIL for guitars, it has mostly lemon oil in it.

No matter what brand of lemon oil I am using I do it like this:

1. REMOVING the strings is best. It gives you easier access and I also think getting lemon oil on the strings leads to premature dead strings anyway, I have no scientific evidence of this but it seems to hasten their demise. If you are going to be putting on new strings that is the perfect time to oil the fretboard, or the fingerboard on a fretless bass.

2. I apply it with a cotton ball or even an old gym sock. Then let it soak in for 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Using a cotton swap clean back and forth adjacent to each fret where gunk tends to build up and you'll be surprised at what you get off. Have several swabs ready.

4. When you finish with the swabs you will see that while you were working around the frets some of oil has already soaked into the rosewood! So reapply a second treatment.

5. Let it soak in undisturbed OVERNIGHT.

6. The next day use a lint free cloth to buff the fretboard just like you were shining shoes. Sometimes I use an old gym sock or two. One you can't get anymore oil off, it is ready to be setup.

These steps are a real beauty treatment and will extend fretboard life.

A very common mistake is to apply the oil and then wipe it off immediately. When you do this it doesn't have time to soak in. Instead, soak it overnight. Doing this once a year where I live is enough. But it is humid here. I suggest treating it in winter as residential heating is a "dry heat" and tends to dry the rosewood out. By February mine needs it. If you live in a dry climate anyway like the Mohave Desert you'll want to oil the fretboard more frequently, maybe 2 to 3 times per year.

Maple boards do not need lemon oil. Just keep them clean by buffing the fretboard at string changes.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:19 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
LawDaddy wrote:
Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes are great for rosewood boards.


I bought one of each of the three Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes products. Seems the containers do not seal tightly enough to keep the wipes from drying out. I agree the fretboard conditioner wipes work good, but if they are dried out the next time you need to use one they are really a waste of money. I might use 3 or 4 wipes a year. So I've got three containers of dried out Fretboard Conditioning, String Cleaning and Guitar Polishing Wonder Wipes. I've used maybe 10 of them. That is why I went looking for a bottle of lemon oil and found the Planet Waves. At least with a tight lid on the little bottle it won't evaporate. Maybe I should have put them in a zip lock bag.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:25 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:35 pm
Posts: 109
Lemon oil is good, but tung oil is the stuff that wood craves. I treat all of my fretless boards with tung oil using 0000 steel wool gently but firmly in the direction of the grain. I daresay that I also use it on finished boards, as I like to remove string marks and if a little makes it past the finish, all the better.

But most of my FL's are unfinished ebony or rosewood. You can get tung oil in light or dark formulations. I prefer the dark. It's not cheap; I think I paid about $10 for a 6 or 8-ounce bottle, and that should last me a couple of years. I also use it to refurbish furniture (I did a whole 4-drawer dresser in my bedroom that was TRASHED and it looks fantastic now).

Just be careful to not store soaked rags in a manner that could promote combustion (it's a bit like linseed oil this way)!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:47 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:30 pm
Posts: 203
brotherdave wrote:
LawDaddy wrote:
Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes are great for rosewood boards.


I bought one of each of the three Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes products. Seems the containers do not seal tightly enough to keep the wipes from drying out. <snip>
Maybe I should have put them in a zip lock bag.


I put mine in a ziplock bag :)

The big canisters do not seal very well.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:08 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
LawDaddy wrote:
brotherdave wrote:
LawDaddy wrote:
Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes are great for rosewood boards.


I bought one of each of the three Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes products. Seems the containers do not seal tightly enough to keep the wipes from drying out. <snip>
Maybe I should have put them in a zip lock bag.


I put mine in a ziplock bag :)

The big canisters do not seal very well.


Wish I had.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users 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: