| Author | Message | ||
| henry_crun
New Username: henry_crun Post Number: 6 Registered: 12-2006 |
I've just oiled the ebony fretboard on my Elan using Lemon oil as recommended. An idle question: why lemon oil? What is it about lemon oil that makes it special? Are there alternatives? With greetings from NZ Grant | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1558 Registered: 3-2004 |
If you do a search you'll find an answer. It was something about lemon oil containing exactly some of the naturally occurring compounds in ebony that are lost when the wood dries out. I think we discussed some alternative oils, but I don't remember anything else being declared worth using. | ||
| jbybj
Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 69 Registered: 6-2006 |
And there is the added bonus of a nice fragrance for a few days! | ||
| terryc
Intermediate Member Username: terryc Post Number: 133 Registered: 11-2004 |
No alternatives..lemon oil is the choice for all guitar fretboards which are darkwood. Put plenty on and let it soak in..you will be surprised how much does considering your bass goes into smoky venues and lives at home in air conditioned and heated homes. I knew one person who used aerosol furniture polish until I put him right!!! I guess if no one instructs you how to care for your guitar then the natural assumption is that it is wood just like furniture and needs the same cleaners. NOT!!!!!! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5003 Registered: 5-2002 |
In addition to the above responses, there is a post in the FAQ section on this subject that you might find helpful. | ||
| henry_crun
New Username: henry_crun Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2006 |
Hi, thanks to all who replied - most interesting. The threads in the FAQ are worth the read. I bought a 150 mL (5 fl oz) bottle of lemon oil from a speciality foods shop. It's made from crushed lemon peel and packed in Canton MA, see www.boyajianinc.com Regards Grant | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2336 Registered: 7-2004 |
That's the one I use. I ordered it direct from the company and they also sent me a small sample bottle of wasabi oil, free of charge. Bill, tgo | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 619 Registered: 12-2004 |
How did the wasabi oil work for your fingerboard? Bradley | ||
| crgaston
Advanced Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 374 Registered: 11-2005 |
I bet it'd be great for "hot licks!" | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2337 Registered: 7-2004 |
The wasabi oil is perfect for raw wood! hehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| paulman
Advanced Member Username: paulman Post Number: 233 Registered: 2-2005 |
Thanks for that link, Lemon oil is on the way for my baby. Bill, you don't need Wasabi for your hot licks, just a kick-ass Further guitar...the one I've been following construction on for what seems like years. I cannot wait to SEE it when it's done. It's inspiring! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2344 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks Roger. It looks like the wait is almost over. The last inlay took quite a bit of time to figure out how to do, but the result looks well worth the wait. Bill, tgo | ||
| wuuw
New Username: wuuw Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2007 |
Just found out "The Body Shop" has "pure Lemon essential oil" Wu | ||
| juggernaught
Member Username: juggernaught Post Number: 60 Registered: 3-2007 |
On the same topic: I live in New Mexico and it's pretty dry here. The thought of my ebony fingerboard drying up is a terrible one. Anyone here that lives in a similar climate: how often do you soak your fingerboard in lemon oil? Can you over-lemon it? | ||
| terryc
Intermediate Member Username: terryc Post Number: 141 Registered: 11-2004 |
Don't think you can over oil it, the down side that if it was over oiled it would 'sweat' out of the wood and into the strings/fingers, maybe making the strings go 'dead' prematurely or make your fingers slippy,. I guess if you live in a hot dry climate 4 or more times a year is suficient, heated/air conditoned houses will have the same effect. Then there is humidity, whilst I was on holiday in florida from the UK, I talked to a bass player who used a modulus if he played outdoor gigs as the humidity played havoc with his jazz bass neck. There is a thread about it all somewhere here | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2373 Registered: 7-2004 |
Every 3 months seems like a lot to me, but what do I know? Perhaps Mica may notice this thread and chime in. Bill, tgo | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1162 Registered: 10-2002 |
Twice a year when I change my strings seems enough to me. graeme | ||
| terryc
Intermediate Member Username: terryc Post Number: 144 Registered: 11-2004 |
Depends on how many gigs you do a year(especially in smoky bars/warm rooms etc) Oiling wood will not harm it, in fact it will be more beneficial, As a son in law of a retired french polisher through what he has told me, untreated woods require much more attention than finished woods. Sealed wood(varnish, polyurethane etc) protects it from the atmosphere but even these finishes need polish to make them shine. even really hard woods like ebony will eventually shrink if not looked after and use the correct preparatons(see my reply about some bass player who used aerosol furniture polish on his rosewood board...ouch! If someone has already done this(god forbid) then it would need cleaning with a mild solution of vinegar and water, don't soak the board but wipe it with a cloth barley damp with the solution, the mild acetic acid will remove the silicons in spray polish(1 teaspoon vinegar to half pint of water) Apply liberal amounts of lemon oil afterwards!!! |
