How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

[blakejcan]

I have a 2013 Gibson Firebird that I love but doesn't get nearly as much playtime as it deserves. It came setup great out of the case and I haven't adjusted a thing other than changing strings regularly since day one. Still plays and feels great but lately it looks like, especially on the higher frets, that the fretboard is not very dark and right near the frets almost a slightly different color? To the touch it feels dry but..............it's dry wood, it should feel that way?

I live right near the beach. It's not dry or super humid. Pretty temperate really. The guitar lives in it's case when not in use.

So back to my original question, how do you know if your fretboard is dry?

 

[Pilatvs]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

I know when your mouth is dry, you're plenty high.
You should probably condition it if you never have (I am assuming rosewood). Lemon oil is what I have used. I have only done it a couple of times. Some people do it every year or even more often.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

I wipe all mine down with a very light coat of lemon oil at least once every year. I will apply more to a guitar whose fretboard looks/feels really dry, but I never get sloppy with it.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

if it looks like its maple

it gets lighter when its dry
the grain opens

 

[hydro]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

I wipe all mine down with a very light coat of lemon oil at least once every year. I will apply more to a guitar whose fretboard looks/feels really dry, but I never get sloppy with it.

+1

A little lemon oil goes a long way. I live in a humid environment and I still condition my fretboards once a year or so.

 

[ItsaBass]

How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

What you're describing is completely normal. Not only do most of us not play a whole ton up there, but even if we do, our fingers typically don't touch the the wood as much as they do on the lower frets. Therefore your finger oils don't end up on the fretboard that much in the higher register. Additionally, this is quite visible on the lighter colored fretboards, like many rosewood fretboards today.

If you want to even it out, you can artificially oil the entire fretboard, instead of relying on your hands to do it for you.

 

[blueman335]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

When in doubt, recondition it.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

It's not uncommon for Gibson fingerboards to be dry. I like three products for fingerboard care. Two are from Dunlop 65--a fingerboard Cleaner and a separate Conditioner. After cleaning, I apply the conditioning oil with a rag and let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then wipe off the excess. Dunlop 65 also offers a lemon oil product. I have not used this product, but I have used lemon oil in the past.

I'm also trying a product I got from Guitar Center, F-One Oil by Music Nomad, and this seems to be working well.

I know many players swear by a product called Fret Doctor.

Bill

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

I swear by this stuff;

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

I know when your mouth is dry, you're plenty high.

Bourbon will take care of Chronic drymouth

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

I lemon oil my rosewood and ebony boards every string change. Maple boards I use lighter fluid every time they start looking grungy.
I religiously lemon oil my rosewood and ebony boards though. It makes a difference, I apply it and let it set for about 5 minutes and scrub the gunk with an old toothbrush and wipe the excess off.

I use the Dunlop 65 Lemon Oil. I have used it since the mid 2000's and love it!

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

Lemon oil at least once a year for my boards, but I usually do a quick wipe down and polishing between every string change.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

In a humid environment, your board will still be very likely to dry out. It's not the water (humidity) that keeps a board from "drying" out, it's oil. In fact water actually causes "drying" (loss of oils) like washing your hands with water.

The term "drying" is a misnomer in many uses since it implies the loss of water. In a lot of cases we use the term to mean a loss of oils...like dry hands or dry lips. You don't want to use water to cure dry lips...that will "dry" them out even more. You need a lip balm which replaces the oils and has a petroleum or waxy ingredient to retain the water and oils in the skin.

Lemon oil on a rosewood board does the job as good as (if not better than) anything and it is much cheaper than those name brand products. A light wipe down once a year is not a bad idea.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

In a humid environment, your board will still be very likely to dry out. It's not the water (humidity) that keeps a board from "drying" out, it's oil. In fact water actually causes "drying" (loss of oils) like washing your hands with water.

The term "drying" is a misnomer in many uses since it implies the loss of water. In a lot of cases we use the term to mean a loss of oils...like dry hands or dry lips. You don't want to use water to cure dry lips...that will "dry" them out even more. You need a lip balm which replaces the oils and has a petroleum or waxy ingredient to retain the water and oils in the skin.

Lemon oil on a rosewood board does the job as good as (if not better than) anything and it is much cheaper than those name brand products. A light wipe down once a year is not a bad idea.

I've heard dry climates need a humidifier in the case while wet climates need a dehumidifier, two much moisture and too little are not good for woods.

And I agree that lemon oil does just as good if not better (I'm of the better opinion) than name brand products.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

^.
Absolutely. Dry AND humid are bad for wood.

 

[blueman335]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

wet climates need a dehumidifier, too much moisture and too little are not good for woods.

Not really. Running an a/c removes a lot of moisture from the air, which is why people in Florida don't need dehumidifiers. We run a/c from March/April until Oct/Nov, which covers our rainy season. Our winters are dry (with an inch or two of rain a month).

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

Whenever I go to my guy to get stuff done, he conditions my $h!t with Dunlop 65 lemon oil, so that is what I use when I do it.

Everything seems to be in order and nothing has exploded because of it so I feel comfortable endorsing it.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

I have some stuff called ecowood oil. I have had the bottle for years and its a blend of citrus and nuts oils.

How to tell if its dry? Really? haha

 

[blakejcan]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

I have some stuff called ecowood oil. I have had the bottle for years and its a blend of citrus and nuts oils.

How to tell if its dry? Really? haha

I'll stay away from ecowood oil. Looks like it makes your guitar grow crappy looking bamboo shoots

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: How do you know if your fretboard is dry?

Not really. Running an a/c removes a lot of moisture from the air, which is why people in Florida don't need dehumidifiers. We run a/c from March/April until Oct/Nov, which covers our rainy season. Our winters are dry (with an inch or two of rain a month).

You do what you think its best, but the luthiers and carpenters I know all say wood needs a balance–too much or too little moisture in the air is not good for it.