| Author | Message | ||
| lozbass
New Username: lozbass Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2008 |
Hi all, I hope I'm posting this is in the right place. I recently acquired a Series II custom shortscale with an ebony board. The bass needs a re-string and set-up (it's around a year old) and I'd like to know if you have any tips on oiling the board. The fretboard is ebony with abalone oval inlays and blue laser LEDs - are there any precautions that should be taken when oiling a board of this type and specification? Thanks very much in advance of your help! Cheers, Lozbass | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3185 Registered: 7-2004 |
Alembic advises using pure lemon oil. Be sure to get pure oil and nothing else, no waxes, fillers, fragrances, NOT lemon pledge. I got mine from a health food company on the net. Rub a small (couple of drops) amount into the neck, let stand for at least 15 minutes, then wipe off. I'd recommend putting the old strings back on for a few days as the oil seems to come off on the strings right after oiling. Do this about every six months or so. Bill, the guitar one | ||
| willie
Member Username: willie Post Number: 89 Registered: 11-2003 |
Lozbass I second Bill. I picked up a bottle of 100% pure lemon oil in a health food type store. I do it not only to my Alembics but also my other basses that that have Rosewood fingerboards. I also put the old strings back on for a little while so the oil doesn't get on a new set. Not only goog for the wood of the fingerboard but it also makes it look good. And congrats on getting what is obviously a nice bass so lets see some pictures. Willie | ||
| lozbass
New Username: lozbass Post Number: 4 Registered: 5-2008 |
Hi and thanks for the advice - I have some pure lemon oil and will pass this on to the tech (though I suppose he'll have his own). I think that replacing the old strings for a couple of days is a really good idea - I suspect that oil on new strings makes them sound dead very rapidly. I'll certainly post some photographs as soon as the bass has been re-strung. Cheers, Lozbass | ||
| the_mule
Senior Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 713 Registered: 1-2004 |
I've always used Dunlop fretboard oil on my Alembics' ebony fretboard. Works perfectly also, if you can't find pure lemon oil. Wilfred | ||
| lozbass
New Username: lozbass Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2008 |
Hi all, great advice - the bass is now with a local luthier (a fantastic builder in his own right). He's going to oil the board carefully, then clean it and leave it a day or two before re-stringing. I'll keep you informed of the results. Cheers, Lozbass | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Intermediate Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 134 Registered: 5-2007 |
I also have a luthier handle my fretboard | ||
| new2alembic
Junior Username: new2alembic Post Number: 28 Registered: 9-2008 |
Hello everyone. I have a rosewood fretboard. I found a store that sells rosewood essential oil for $19.50 per half ounce bottle. Should I stick to the lemon oil at $10.00 or go for the rosewood oil? The citrus oils have gone up because of the crop crisis I was told. Carl | ||
| tdukes
Member Username: tdukes Post Number: 52 Registered: 4-2008 |
I am using Planet Waves Lemon Oil. I don't know how big the bottle is. I would guess 2oz. I paid about $5 for it. I have used it on rosewood and ebony fretboards. It doesn't seem very waxy to me. Todd. | ||
| pacificshine
New Username: pacificshine Post Number: 5 Registered: 7-2008 |
We use Boyajian Pure Lemon Oil (1-800-965-0665). Comes in a 5 fl. oz. bottle and is not too expensive. Seems to work fine and one bottle will last a very long time. | ||
| new2alembic
Junior Username: new2alembic Post Number: 33 Registered: 9-2008 |
Thank you both for the posts. Alan I called the 800 number and they are out of stock until the first of the year...she said they would be lucky if they get it then. She also said that there will be a big price increase. By the way, I have found some lemon oil essentials; the price is just 20x higher than earlier in the year. Carl | ||
| pacificshine
New Username: pacificshine Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2008 |
Good thing I bought that 5 oz bottle. At that quantity it looks like it will last at least until 2012! | ||
| lmiwa
Intermediate Member Username: lmiwa Post Number: 109 Registered: 2-2008 |
Started with the lemon oil on my Rogue 6. The fretboard seemed REALLY dry before I started. The wood seems to have shrunk to the point where the fret wires were sticking out past the edge of the neck. Below is a picture of the fretboard with freshly applied lemon oil on the left side and the dry fretboard on the right. So here are some questions... 1. What is the white stuff on the right and what do I do about it? They look kind of like salt stains. 2. How fast should the lemon oil soak into the fretboard? Dry at the first fret before I get half way down the fretboard? 3. How much should I apply at once? 4. How many "coats" should I apply and how long between them? 5. Is it possible to apply too much too fast and risk cracking the ebony? 6. What else have I not thought about? All help appreciated! Loch  | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 2009 Registered: 6-2002 |
The white stuff on the right is finger grease mixed up with dust and perhaps even some metal shavings from the strings. The lemon oil will wash it off (to a degree) - but it may take a couple of washing cycles. It looks to me like a rather substantial dose of lemon oil; I've been much less generous than that. It should soak in pretty quickly - you don't say how long after applying the oil you took the picture, so hard to say if it's really an overdose. | ||
| lmiwa
Intermediate Member Username: lmiwa Post Number: 112 Registered: 2-2008 |
Lemon oil application (using my finger, not a rag) to picture time was less than a minute for the 12 fret and less than 2 minutes for the left most fret visible. The first few frets were already completely absorbed. Any way to "scrub" the gunk off? | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 941 Registered: 11-2004 |
Loch- Try a soft rag to apply the lemon oil- then use it to gently scrub the ebony. That's what I've done on several of my other basses and it's worked well. | ||
| keurosix
Advanced Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 384 Registered: 10-2005 |
0000 steel wool works really good. Just cover the pickups so that they don't attract the steel wool dust. I usually put some masking tape over the pickups before I do this. I detack the tape slightly by first applying it to my jeans so it won't do any damage to the finish. You won't need to rub hard with the steel wool, and it's not too abrasive to damage or scratch the inlays. Just work in the direction of the grain as to avoid any visible scratches - a little harder near the 2nd octave where you really want to go the direction of the frets. Best method I found is to use a little oil with the wool to "wet sand" which will minimize any scratches but really pick up the dirt. Kris | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 1116 Registered: 12-2004 |
You can also use the synthetic steel wool (most people I know call these "green scrubbies"). Non-ferrous == no problem with sticking bits to the pickups. This was the recommendation that I got from James (at Alembic). You can get them in the paint department of your local Home Despot. I usually just use lots and lots of Q-Tips, and sort of scrub the ebony to get the funk out. I usually put a little bit of lemon oil in each. | ||
| fmm
Advanced Member Username: fmm Post Number: 237 Registered: 6-2002 |
I use whisky and old cloth diapers and high quality q-tips. | ||
| lmiwa
Intermediate Member Username: lmiwa Post Number: 113 Registered: 2-2008 |
Where exactly does the whisky go? On the diapers, on the q-tips, or in you?  | ||
| lmiwa
Intermediate Member Username: lmiwa Post Number: 114 Registered: 2-2008 |
Thanks to everyone for the advice! It seems to have cleaned up very nicely. I think the fret ends may still need some work though. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1173 Registered: 2-2005 |
This is from the Owners manual. I've had it happen on both my fretted basses the first winter. I just filed down the ends myself. "You may notice that the first time the humidity takes a big swing that the fret edges may protrude over the edge of the fingerboard. These can be easily filed flush and you will probably only have to do this once. You can get a service sheet from us if you'd like to do this job yourself." Keith | ||
| edwin
Advanced Member Username: edwin Post Number: 370 Registered: 5-2002 |
My wife is a perfumer and aromatherapist, so I just hit her up for some aromatherapy grade lemon oil. It works well and a bottle lasts forever. A while back she did a discount for Alembic club members and I bet she'd do it again. Edwin | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1527 Registered: 6-2002 |
My guitar has an extravagant dragon inlay. Is there any special procedure I need to follow for oiling/cleaning a fretboard like this. I feel a bit of dragging when i'm fretting which I don't get on a plain ebony fretboard so am wondering what to clean it with. Cheers Jazzyvee |
