How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
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Twang Banger
New member
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
Ernie Ball makes a fretboard wipe (Wonder Wipes) that will leave it looking and feeling like a showroom piece! I get them online for about $2 a box (of 6 wipes) ... one wipe is good for probably 4-5 fretboards, so line them up and do more than one at a time to get your money's worth. Here they are: https://www.ernieball.com/guitar-accessories/guitar-instrument-care#P04276
Ernie Ball makes a fretboard wipe (Wonder Wipes) that will leave it looking and feeling like a showroom piece! I get them online for about $2 a box (of 6 wipes) ... one wipe is good for probably 4-5 fretboards, so line them up and do more than one at a time to get your money's worth. Here they are: https://www.ernieball.com/guitar-accessories/guitar-instrument-care#P04276
Dave Locher
New member
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
Might I suggest you put the wipes into a snack-size ziplock baggie after use? That should keep it nice and fresh until yiur next string change.
Original poster: no oil sold by a reputable company is going to harm the rosewood on your guitar. Just wipe it on, let it sit for a minute, and wipe off the excess. Any brand will do.
Steel wool won't hurt the rosewood either, but it CAN cause other problems because the dust it makes will stick to magnets and your pickups are magnetic.
Might I suggest you put the wipes into a snack-size ziplock baggie after use? That should keep it nice and fresh until yiur next string change.
Original poster: no oil sold by a reputable company is going to harm the rosewood on your guitar. Just wipe it on, let it sit for a minute, and wipe off the excess. Any brand will do.
Steel wool won't hurt the rosewood either, but it CAN cause other problems because the dust it makes will stick to magnets and your pickups are magnetic.
maup
New member
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
Thank you all for the clarifications.
In the end I ordered the Dunlop Lemon Oil, just because it ships with the "prime" option in my country and also it is double of quantity with less cost (I'll divide it in two bottles and keep in two different places where I have guitars).
It should arrive soon, in the next days I'll use it on the Strat rosewood fretboard and I will let you know the results and my opinion on the product.
Thank you all for the clarifications.
In the end I ordered the Dunlop Lemon Oil, just because it ships with the "prime" option in my country and also it is double of quantity with less cost (I'll divide it in two bottles and keep in two different places where I have guitars).
It should arrive soon, in the next days I'll use it on the Strat rosewood fretboard and I will let you know the results and my opinion on the product.
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
Just lemon oil. Cheap and available anywhere for furniture use. No need to spend a fortune on brand names.
Just lemon oil. Cheap and available anywhere for furniture use. No need to spend a fortune on brand names.
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
1). If the frets are not glassy smooth, polish them.
2). If it is actually the rosewood that is rough (I have seen many of these and totally agree with your complaint), you can very lightly sand the wood with 320 grit or finer sandpaper. AFTER sanding wipe on lemon oil, let it sit for a few minutes, apply more oil, wipe off excess.
1). If the frets are not glassy smooth, polish them.
2). If it is actually the rosewood that is rough (I have seen many of these and totally agree with your complaint), you can very lightly sand the wood with 320 grit or finer sandpaper. AFTER sanding wipe on lemon oil, let it sit for a few minutes, apply more oil, wipe off excess.
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
I bought a little vile of real lemon oil once, just for laughs. It doesn't do much, unfortunately, but smell up your guitar. like lemons.
My favorite material BY FAR is Nanocoatex for fretboards. You apply it once and it's a permeable film which helps to prevent dehydration. Provided you have a decently lubed board to begin with.
I bought a little vile of real lemon oil once, just for laughs. It doesn't do much, unfortunately, but smell up your guitar. like lemons.
My favorite material BY FAR is Nanocoatex for fretboards. You apply it once and it's a permeable film which helps to prevent dehydration. Provided you have a decently lubed board to begin with.
Ayrton
New member
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
Getting an exact is difficult, but this will guide you on colors
3M Scotch Brite Nylon Pads:
7445 - White pad - (1000) 1200-1500 grit
7448 - Light Grey - (600-800) 800 grit.
6448 - Green - (600) 600 grit
7447 - Maroon- (320-400) 320 grit
6444 - Brown pad- (280-320) 240 grit
7446 - Dark Grey pad- (180-220) 150 grit
7440 - Tan- (120-150) 60(?)
Getting an exact is difficult, but this will guide you on colors
3M Scotch Brite Nylon Pads:
7445 - White pad - (1000) 1200-1500 grit
7448 - Light Grey - (600-800) 800 grit.
6448 - Green - (600) 600 grit
7447 - Maroon- (320-400) 320 grit
6444 - Brown pad- (280-320) 240 grit
7446 - Dark Grey pad- (180-220) 150 grit
7440 - Tan- (120-150) 60(?)
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
Which are the ones to have around for routine maintenance (not fretwork)?
Which are the ones to have around for routine maintenance (not fretwork)?
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
No fretboard oil product will actually hydrate your guitar. For that you need moisture in the air - ideally a room with a humidifier. For decades now I've kept a sponge in each guitar case. I dampen them slightly every couple of months so the guitars don't get too dry over time. This has worked well for me and I've never had a problem with mold or mildew.
No fretboard oil product will actually hydrate your guitar. For that you need moisture in the air - ideally a room with a humidifier. For decades now I've kept a sponge in each guitar case. I dampen them slightly every couple of months so the guitars don't get too dry over time. This has worked well for me and I've never had a problem with mold or mildew.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
I used Formby's for many, many years. Absorbs quickly, penetrates well.
It's primarily mineral oil with lemon scent, not actual lemon oil.
Wiped on lightly and left to sit for a few minutes- seldom any residue left but I'd wipe afterward with a clean cloth anyway.
I've switched to Fret Doctor bore oil in recent years, but the Formby's always worked well for me.
I used Formby's for many, many years. Absorbs quickly, penetrates well.
It's primarily mineral oil with lemon scent, not actual lemon oil.
Wiped on lightly and left to sit for a few minutes- seldom any residue left but I'd wipe afterward with a clean cloth anyway.
I've switched to Fret Doctor bore oil in recent years, but the Formby's always worked well for me.
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
There IS a difference between lemon JUICE, and lemon OIL.
There IS a difference between lemon JUICE, and lemon OIL.
Ayrton
New member
Re: How to fix uncomfortable rosewood freboard friction
What sort of maintenance? I usually keep green and gray around the shop for guitar stuff.
Weird how all those vintage instruments lasted without so much as a drop of magic fretboard oil.
Get yourself a bottle of instrument bore oil and be done with it. Use once/twice a year tops.
What sort of maintenance? I usually keep green and gray around the shop for guitar stuff.
Weird how all those vintage instruments lasted without so much as a drop of magic fretboard oil.
Get yourself a bottle of instrument bore oil and be done with it. Use once/twice a year tops.
