Fretboard conditioning

[mansjasont]

Hey guys,

I started a new job about 2 years ago and it has been a really busy time since then. I had to put guitar repair and setups on hold for a while and now I feel like I have some free time so I want to get back into it.

When I was doing it before, I would treat every fretboard with BLO. I know there are plenty of opinions on this in the Hardware, Setups, and Repair Forum. But I'm curious what the "real pros" think and what you guys use to condition your fretboards... if anything?

 

[Arie X]

what is "BLO"?

Basic Laziness Optimized?

 

[doodahwarrior]

Among many luthiers who used lemon oil for years.... They are now switching to Howard Feed and Wax. I still use lemon oil, but when the bottle runs out....

 

[Beej]

what is "BLO"?

Basic Laziness Optimized?

boiled linseed oil. Common in woodworking...

 

[Arie X]

oh, that stuff -it's pretty messy. any issues with the fret bedding, inlay, or the glue holding the fretboard down?

 

[Bassworship1]

I've been using Howards Feed and Wax on my oil bodies and the fretboards. Keeps them looking brand new.

 

[ddnidd1]

Stew Mac ColorTone_Fretboard_Finishing_Oil.html

 

[rwkeating]

I am not a pro, but I use Danish oil on the fingerboard as a finish and over time, if needed I add more. Would you consider that conditioning?

 

[Bruce Johnson]

I've been using the Stew-Mac Fingerboard Oil for about 25 years on the fingerboards of all the basses I build, mostly ebony. That 25 years is about 3 or 4 bottles. It doesn't take much per instrument. It only needs to be applied once after the fingerboard is initially machined, or once after it has been resurfaced.

 

[dreamadream99]

For 40 years I've been using bore oil, made for wooden clarinets, to keep them from drying and cracking. No smell. No mess.

 

[mapleglo]

I voted "nothing" as I typically go with maple fretboards. Though "nothing" may be a misnomer. On early builds, I coated the fretboards with Formby's Tung Oil, and the most recent ones I've just sprayed them with clear, along with the rest of the body.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Depends on what's handy. I've used tung oil. Had lemon oil. I don't particularly like it. I keep wanting to try that bore oil but never remember when I'm out anywhere that might have it.

 

[roller]

Fret Doctor is what I've been using on all my dark woods over the past three years. it's a little pricier than some of the other stuff on the poll, but I really like it.

my repairman back home swore by boiled linseed oil and used it on everything I brought to him back in the day.

I've used bore oil and lemon oil before and have had decent results with each.

ultimately, I feel like Fret Doctor is the best stuff I've ever used for rosewood.

 

[Hi-End Basses]

Music Nomad F-1 Fretboard oil. The best!!!!!

 

[Thumpin6string]

I've used orange oil on wood fretboards and it worked very well. It even cleaned the gunk off. Since my 6er has a graphite board, I just wipe it off with a soft cloth after I play. Same with my fretless with a poly finish on the board.

 

[Kamatori]

I used Planet Waves Lemon Oil for many years. A great cleaner but never did anything as far as conditioning. The unfinished board looked like a desert after a few weeks.

A few months ago, I ordered some Music Nomad bore oil online since it was all natural and costed much less then Fret Dr. Turns out that the lemon oil I've been using was total rubbish. The bore oil smells great and leaves the wood with a gentle shine, great feel, and great color.

Never going back to lemon oil unless a board is in need of a serious clean. That stuff seems to have too much evaporative solvents.

 

[Kmonk]

I use pure lemon oil. Alembic recommends it for their basses so my feeling is that if its good enough for them, its good enough for other basses.

 

[johnson79]

I use Dunlop 65 lemon oil. Works nicely.
Haven't tried Howard's on the fingerboard, but I've used it for other wood projects and it is a really nice product. I'll give it a shot next time I clean the board on my P-bass.

 

[WhenTheDrumsStops]

I am curious about who started the myth/fable that a fingerboard needs oil.

 

[mansjasont]

I've been using the Stew-Mac Fingerboard Oil for about 25 years on the fingerboards of all the basses I build, mostly ebony. That 25 years is about 3 or 4 bottles. It doesn't take much per instrument. It only needs to be applied once after the fingerboard is initially machined, or once after it has been resurfaced.

I'm assuming this is the stuff you were talking about? Save yourself some money... I'm pretty sure that stuff is just your typical BLO with a fancy package... Any oil or finish that is named "thing you want to use me on oil" makes me question it.