Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

Ayrton said:
I never understood why people would want to use god only knows what on a guitar, when the best product readily available.

Just order a bottle of Fret Doctor and be done. Why risk screwing something up.
Click to expand...

Some people have to feel smarter than everyone else, like they've got a better solution for less money. "My daughter wanted me to buy her fake blood so she could be a vampire for Halloween. I told her to use her own menstrual blood. It's just as good, if not better, and don't cost a thing! . . . grumble grumble . . . Fancy big companies trying to rip me off with their nonsense…"

Edit: Just twisting the knife a little.
 
Last edited:
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

the guy who invented fire said:
The simple fact that you are using this as an argument for using soap and water on a guitar is proof that you are a fool...
Click to expand...

Okay so..you mind telling me in your infinite wisdom just what exactly is so wrong about two drops of dishsoap in some lukewarm water. IMO its the ONLY way to bring a decade of gunk out of the fretboard. Immiditaly wipe dry with a cotton cotton and oil with pure rosewood oil or something ; Squeaky Clean fretboard!
I have done so with all my guitars and will continue to do so, although I should ad, I only probably will do this once on used necks with other peoples funk on them.
 
Last edited:
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

I will cnotinue to do something else.
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

Jessie's ghost said:
I will cnotinue to do something else.
Click to expand...

your attempt to make light of me is futile. You see, These days I often spellcheck after the post, so, enjoy your funky fretboard..all that oil does is penetrate the grunge deeper into the pores- the dish soap and toothbrush lifts it out to the surface to be wiped away 4-ever, after which you can use whatever emollient you so desire- spooge for all I care. . BTW, when i say water, I'm talking the least water needed, not a flood.
RULE#1; I am right, you are wrong..should I ever be wrong, refer to Rule #1.
 
Last edited:
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

Jerry, nobody cares. Really.
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

Not for nothing guys, but jimmy D' Aquisto used Lemon oil on his fingerboards and Pledge as his polish..... Just Sayin' today his guitars are selling for 50K +. Not saying that the other products don't work, but lemon oil is a wood conditioner. Long before it was a guitar, it was wood!
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

I use a power sander and duct tape the frets to clean my boards.

:eyecrazy:





Right or wrong, I use Dunlop n65 to polish and (didnt know Dunlop made lemon oil) Lemon oil from carvin. It has lasted awhile and the wood drinks it in when dry. Ive had some guitars arrive with almost gray boards, apply liberally to the board and sometimes it'll soak it up and I apply again. Then, wipe off the excess, wipe off the frets, cherish the dark hue of the wood as I string it.
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

i am using gerlitz guitar honey for the fingerboard - probably overpriced, but i like the results

my kids gave me a dunlop 'guitar maintenance kit' as a present and it has a cleaner, so i use that ... i dont like dealing with the 0000 steel wool shavings and the hassles of masking the pickups so i use some super fine wet/dry sandpaper - i think it is 8000 grit - seems to work fine ... i have been meaning to order some of that micro mesh stuff to take care of fret wire but its kinda pricey and shipping is nuts from stewmac .. i also cut an old credit card in half and use it to scrape right up to the edge of the fret to get gunk out after it is loosened

i cant seem to get the courage to use any kind of sandpaper on the birds of my PRS

the construction of the EJ maple fingerboard is supoptimal and cant be corrected without a proper refret ... they spray the tinted topcoat after they install the jumbo frets ... then they grind down the frets to the flat-top "EJ shape" ... the top edge is sanded smooth, but it leaves 'overspray' on the front and back edge of the fret metal in an uneven mess that gets funky over time - i havent figured how to clean it
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

Bore oil,It's use to treat the bores of woodwind instruments works great on guitar fingerboards a little goes a long way
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

Anyone remember Dr. Duck's Ax Wax? Bought some back in the 90s and am still working with that same bottle...
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

I like the Gerlitz Guitar Honey. It works quite well in my experience with it--I've been using it for about 10 years.

Another product I like is the Dunlop 65 Guitar Maintenance kit. For about $25, you get the String Cleaner; and the Dunlop 65 Spritz Cleaner/Polish; and the Dunlop 65 Carnauba Wax. For fretboards, you get fingerboard Cleaner/Prep, a fingerboard conditioning oil, and a fret polishing cloth. They are all fine products, and I especially recommend the String Cleaner.

Fret Doctor is highly recommended, though I've not used this product.

You can get a lot of gunk off the fretboard with just a damp cloth, and then wipe it dry. A little bit of toothpaste does work well for polishing frets--just use a damp rag to wipe off the excess, and then buff it dry. I'd follow that with an oil treatment.

My favorite fingerboard product was made by a company called Tres Amigos, back in the '70 and 80's, long out of business. Their Pure Lemon Oil is the best I've ever used, no other "lemon oil" has ever come close. It is a product I truly mourn the passing of.

Bill
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

Jeez Louise.

I didn't think I'd stir up all this animosity. I think I'll just do what I did back in the early '80s when I owned a couple LPs and a Dean V; play the sucker until the grey goo accumulates to half the height of the frets, then scrape it off with one of those fake credit cards that used to come in the mail.

Those cards have been legislated out of existence, but I have few stashed away.
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

Lemon oil is ..... actually just lemon oil.
Pure and simple.

It's been used by wood turners for eons and both cleans and moisturises wood without swelling the wood too much either.

I use only pure lemon oil, which is not acidic unless it breaks down ( all mineral oil breaks down eventually)
Robin Sorby is a good brand.
 
Re: Oiling Rosewood for Dummies.

+1 on the Axe Wax (which doesn't contain wax!)

....But I'm definitely gonna take Ayerton's advice & order some Fret Doctor when I have a few extra bux.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

U
NGD!! First Warmoth Build + Questions for The Guitar Building Experts
2
Replies
34
Views
6K
SrDeMaFp
SrDeMaFp
Back
Top