applying lemon oil to sanded neck

Slpbass81

Slpbass81

Dec 16, 2010
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Orlando, FL
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Endorsing: GHS Strings
#1
Had my Bass tech recently sand the back of my Fender Jazz neck. The neck plays amazing but I forgot to ask him how often I should apply lemon oil to the back of the neck. How often do you guys do it and any brand recommendation.
 
#2
Slpbass81 said:
Had my Bass tech recently sand the back of my Fender Jazz neck. The neck plays amazing but I forgot to ask him how often I should apply lemon oil to the back of the neck. How often do you guys do it and any brand recommendation.
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I have never put lemon oil on my sanded necks. Once a year or so I might buff the neck, add more tung oil and then give it a wax. You can tell when it is needed by touch, the neck feels very raw.

I do add lemon oil to rosewood fretboards but I also do that annually, at most.
 
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#3
Lemon oil is not a good choice. Try Tru-Oil, Tung Oil, even Linseed Oil (boiled type). Gunstock Oil - any oil that's designed as a finish is good. Lemon oil is totally inappropriate.
 
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#4
Turnaround said:
Lemon oil is not a good choice. Try Tru-Oil, Tung Oil, even Linseed Oil (boiled type). Gunstock Oil - any oil that's designed as a finish is good. Lemon oil is totally inappropriate.
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I believe its called polymerized linseed oil.
Also, lemon oil is not a good choice for anything related to the bass guitar. If you want a darker fretboard then uses a non-citiric and non-toxic cleaner on it to remove the years of grime, dirt, cooking oil, lemon oil, and god only knows what, then use "MusicNomad's F-One Fretboard oil", or even mineral oil works too (although it is a tad thicker and takes a little longer to settle in).
As for the back of the neck, Tung Oil is what I use, but many friends have had great results with Gunstock Oil, Tru-oil and polymerized linseed oil. Just make sure you apply it in thin coats, and that the surface is clean too.
 
#5
Jon Fiala said:
I believe its called polymerized linseed oil.
Also, lemon oil is not a good choice for anything related to the bass guitar. If you want a darker fretboard then uses a non-citiric and non-toxic cleaner on it to remove the years of grime, dirt, cooking oil, lemon oil, and god only knows what, then use "MusicNomad's F-One Fretboard oil", or even mineral oil works too (although it is a tad thicker and takes a little longer to settle in).
As for the back of the neck, Tung Oil is what I use, but many friends have had great results with Gunstock Oil, Tru-oil and polymerized linseed oil. Just make sure you apply it in thin coats, and that the surface is clean too.
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F-One Oil is pretty good - one of the best commercially available for fretboards/fingerboards. But it does dry a bit gummy. I have yet to find a commercial product I am satisfied with. That's why I use my own formulation that dries hard. It's not feasible as a commercial product because it's shelf life is exceedingly short, and has a tendency to spontaneously combust on cloths used to wipe it down. Lawsuit material if sold commercially.
 
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#7
Turnaround said:
Lemon oil is not a good choice. Try Tru-Oil, Tung Oil, even Linseed Oil (boiled type). Gunstock Oil - any oil that's designed as a finish is good. Lemon oil is totally inappropriate.
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Yes. Take heed to what Turnaround says. Personally, I would go with Tung oil. I've used "boiled" linseed oil on gunstocks - it's a traditional, "custom" finish - but getting the desired result is labor intensive (is it ever!!) and very time comsuming. The results are nice, though.. The only thing I use lemon oil (Dunlop 65) for, is the ebony fret boards on my Alembic and Carvin basses. Why? Because Alembic says to use it, and for what that d**n thing cost, I'll follow orders...;)
 
#8
wcriley said:
I want the formula!!!!!!
Then I could literally burn up the fretboard!
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No dice. It's my secret, and perhaps it's even illegal - I'm not saying. But if you use any drying oil, such as "boiled" linseed, and some oxidizers and some lengtheners, you'll be in the ballpark. A bit toxic and hazardous though until it's cured, then pretty well harmless to man and nature. That's all I'm going to say.
 
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