Dry fretboard or wood grain?

[ItsaBass]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

I don't see the slightest evidence of "epic pits." It looks pretty darned new.

Perhaps you can see the pits in the photo of my '68 SG, although the angle is not conducive to seeing them very clearly. There are worn out areas of the fretboard from decades of play with fingernails that were too long.

If you can't see those pits, here is a better example pulled from the Internet:

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

If mine go un oiled for a period of time such as say 5 yrs
Yeah say five years
They get really light and shrink a bit
Making the fret ends on the unbound necks stick out a bit

Once they are oiled, the color comes back says fret ends tend to solve themselves

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

Thanks guys. I think I’m just not used to nicer finger boards. Say what you will About Gibson but these rosewood boards I have on my axes feel very good


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I don't like very porous fretboards; but I'm told a lot of "nicer" rosewood is that way. Maybe I just don't like rosewood.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

Years of play wear will burnish the wood or you can do it your next string change.

Similar to what I did with the LPB strat build.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

My 87 Ibanez....sometimes I clean the strings....but as always I just keep an eye out for the humidity, keep it in the case in winter time when I am not using it, it gets plenty of moisture from your finger, only thing I do is cleaning the finger gunk once in a while.

 

[SAguitar]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

A couple of times a year is just fine, just be careful not to force oil into the fret slots! Wood tends to absorb more through the end-grain sides, and loosening your frets would not be a good thing..

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

Astro, your rosewood looks perfectly normal.

Rosewood is an oily wood, that's true, but it still can benefit from some lemon oil occasionally. I would definitely NOT use linseed oil...that can harden and get crusty like most other resins.

Once a year is plenty. I wipe it (lemon oil) on with a saturated cloth and let it sit for a while to soak in a bit. Then I wipe it/polish it with a dry cloth to remove any excess and make it look shiny and fresh.

You can buy fancy/expensive fretboard oils but they aren't any better than lemon oil. A small bottle of lemon oil will only cost a couple bucks and be enough for a lifetime supply for you and your bandmates and all your friends. And when you die you can leave the rest of the bottle to your kids and grandkids and all their friends to use for the rest of their lives.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

Astro, your rosewood looks perfectly normal.

Rosewood is an oily wood, that's true, but it still can benefit from some lemon oil occasionally. I would definitely NOT use linseed oil...that can harden and get crusty like most other resins.

Once a year is plenty. I wipe it (lemon oil) on with a saturated cloth and let it sit for a while to soak in a bit. Then I wipe it/polish it with a dry cloth to remove any excess and make it look shiny and fresh.

You can buy fancy/expensive fretboard oils but they aren't any better than lemon oil. A small bottle of lemon oil will only cost a couple bucks and be enough for a lifetime supply for you and your bandmates and all your friends. And when you die you can leave the rest of the bottle to your kids and grandkids and all their friends to use for the rest of their lives.

I have literally had my bottle of lemon oil for probably 20 years and there’s still a ton left....and I spilled a bunch several years ago. Lol

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

I have a bottle of lemon oil I think I bought almost exactly a year ago. I’ve used it 3 times since I’ve owned it on three different guitars.

I guess I’m the humid Caribbean I could oil hen less...drives the truss rod on them crazy though.

I use a straight neck at .005” relief and even the slightest drift throws off the guitar

It’s so frustrating, even when they’re in their cases they drift.


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[Gtrjunior]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

I have a bottle of lemon oil I think I bought almost exactly a year ago. I’ve used it 3 times since I’ve owned it on three different guitars.

I guess I’m the humid Caribbean I could oil hen less...drives the truss rod on them crazy though.

I use a straight neck at .005” relief and even the slightest drift throws off the guitar

It’s so frustrating, even when they’re in their cases they drift.


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You might want to look into a de/humidification system for your guitar case.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

I have a bottle of lemon oil I think I bought almost exactly a year ago. I’ve used it 3 times since I’ve owned it on three different guitars.

I guess I’m the humid Caribbean I could oil hen less...drives the truss rod on them crazy though.

I use a straight neck at .005” relief and even the slightest drift throws off the guitar

It’s so frustrating, even when they’re in their cases they drift.


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They drift in the case?
That may come in handy this hurricane season

 

[Adieu]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

Both?


And forget lemon oil, use several coats of BLO

 

[Adieu]

Re: Dry fretboard or wood grain?

Astro, your rosewood looks perfectly normal.

Rosewood is an oily wood, that's true, but it still can benefit from some lemon oil occasionally. I would definitely NOT use linseed oil...that can harden and get crusty like most other resins.

1) Boiled is essential, BLO good / linseed bad
2) youre not supposed to leave any on surface. You rub it in vigorouslgy and wipe it off, else itll be hella nasty