| Author | Message | ||
| charles_holmes
Advanced Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 240 Registered: 3-2009 |
I just applied pure lemon oil on my fretboard, I'm letting it soak in and man...I love the aroma! Gotta take care of the ebony! I'm going to change my strings and shine up the brass while I'm at it too. This is just a friendly reminder to don't forget to oil up your fretboard.  | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 905 Registered: 9-2008 |
How frequently do you oil your fretboard, guys? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5395 Registered: 7-2004 |
I usually oil once a year. But I don't put new strings on - yet. I find that after I oil, even after letting it dry thoroughly, the strings get blackened. So I put the old strings back on for a few days, then swap them out for a new set. I don't know if one experiences this phenomena with those bridge cables you guys call "bass strings". lol After all, I am: Bill, the guitar one | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3407 Registered: 6-2002 |
I oil mine also about once per year now and let it soak for a few days. Once I've wiped off any excess I put the same strings back on the bass. Not had any problems doing that. Jazzyvee | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2840 Registered: 5-2009 |
Once a year here as well. Same technique as Jazzyvee. I wait for a few days to restring. Bill , my " bridge cables" do not suffer the blight that you describe just as long as the oil is well soaked in and the fingerboard hand buffed sufficiently before restringing. Wolf . | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11039 Registered: 5-2002 |
I oiled mine last week in prep for a string change. Loosened the old strings and moved them to the side, oiled the fingerboard with pure lemon oil, restrung with the old strings to keep tension on the neck, and let sit til the next day when I put the new strings on. And yes, the house smells nice during the process. My practice has been to oil the fingerboard when I change strings. However, because of the cost, I've been going longer periods of time between string changes; so I really should oil the board a little more often than just string changes. | ||
| charles_holmes
Advanced Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 241 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hi everyone! I oil my fretboard close to every 6-7 months, but (thank you for the lesson Dave)I don't restring it to keep the tension (it makes perfect sense Dave). Over the years I have stocked up on my DR's so I'm going to put the new ones on this Sunday after I spend today playing my axe with the old strings. By the way Dave, why is it suggested to put the old strings back on the bass after the initial oiling? Thanks guys! And may the Low frequencies be with you!! | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 137 Registered: 8-2012 |
I haven't oiled my ebony yet. I tend to think loosening all of the strings is a bad idea..especially on such an expensive instrument. Careful you guys!! | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1443 Registered: 10-2006 |
Why would it be a bad idea? The strings aren't holding the instrument together or anything. I've removed all the strings every time I've ever restrung/cleaned/set-up a guitar or bass; about 40 years now, many hundreds of times, and no problems. Peter | ||
| charles_holmes
Advanced Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 243 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Dan, I'm not sure what would happen to the neck (if anything) if the strings were loosened for a short period of time (let's say 10 hrs). Now, I know that it's not good to loosen all strings for the Double bass because the sound post may fall out of position. Just make sure that you have all of your adjustment tools just in case you have to adjust your truss rod (or whatever). I keep mine (my tools) in my bass case to make adjustments when needed. Speaking of adjustments (this is irrelevant) I just won a Peterson VSR Stroborack and I will really have the capability fine tune my bridge/intonation at the 12th fret! I can't wait to get it!! It's Christmas in April for me!!! Weeee!!! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2841 Registered: 5-2009 |
I am in agreement with the statements of both Peter and Charles. Having played both Double bass and many different Electric Bass's . On a Double Bass the sound post and bridge misalignment issue is serious bad news. Sometimes when traveling with an electric bass I loosen the strings anyway to protect from a variety of dangers such as temperature and humidity variations and abrupt impact from traveling or poor handling when out of my own hands . | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 906 Registered: 9-2008 |
Thanks for the tip, guys. Just 2 cents on loosening strings subject... Remember that truss rod is constantly bending the neck away from strings and for this reason its adjustment is made to balance strings force in oposite direction. So, if you loose strings and doesn't touch truss rod you'll have the neck flexing in just one direction (curving the neck, bringing strings closer to frets, making it more prone to hit them and probably changing entonation settings). It is a good bet hope everything will be back at exactly place they where before, specially with old strings, but the fact is that the neck is being bended back and forward each time you loose and stretch them again. Considering we're talking about woods, results can be effectively unpredictable, don't? | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 907 Registered: 9-2008 |
I heard about that regarding acoustic classical instruments like nylon string acoustic guitar, double bass and violins, but they doesn't usually have truss rods (and the force acts in just one direction). In this case I can understand why ending the tension when a instrument will be on tough conditions or under changing temperature, pressure and humidity (like they experience on a plane or even when forgotten on a locker during all winter). | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2842 Registered: 5-2009 |
Many times when I think that it is time to tighten the truss rod on one of my Alembics and other bass's I have loosened the strings first to wait and see how thing are after retuning. I now always pay attention to relative humidity by taking a look at one of my hygrometers . The next day " SURPRISE" : no truss rod tightening was needed after all ! It usually takes a while after tightening the truss rod for the neck to settle and stabilize. I learned the hard way that sometimes less is more . This works for me well . | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 914 Registered: 9-2008 |
Experience is the best teacher, thanks Wolf | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2844 Registered: 5-2009 |
You are welcome Mario. You have good tips and explainations as well . | ||
| charles_holmes
Advanced Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 244 Registered: 3-2009 |
I'll have to look into a hygrometer | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11048 Registered: 5-2002 |
Chalie; the reason you put the old strings back on just after oiling the fingerboard is, as Bill mentioned above, the strings may tend to pickup some oil residue off the fingerboard. So you play the old strings for a bit so that the new strings aren't the ones picking up the residue. | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 157 Registered: 8-2012 |
Thanks for the oiling time reminder. I found some Formby's Lemon Treatment..letting it soak for 10 minutes. It shrank the little cracks up. Repeat the process tomorrow. With no experience in this, I'm taking it slow. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5438 Registered: 7-2004 |
You might want to take a close look at the ingredients. Is this pure lemon oil? As I understand it, one should only use pure lemon oil, or at least that's what Alembic suggests. Bill, tgo | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 158 Registered: 8-2012 |
Oh it's cool. I found a quote from Mica stating it was ok to use..and wouldn't hurt anything. It could leave wax residue. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3459 Registered: 6-2002 |
Is it only Ebony that needs to be oiled. I have a couple of guitars with rosewood fretboards is lemon oil ok for those? jazzyvee | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 951 Registered: 9-2008 |
As far as I know, all woods benefit from oiling, the problem is using Lemon Oil on clear woods like Maple since it can stain it | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1478 Registered: 10-2006 |
Or, if I understand it correctly, on those with platic binding - I seem to remember reading that lemon oil doesn't like plastic (C.F. Martin specifically names it as a no-no). Peter | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1865 Registered: 2-2005 |
The only potential issues I can think of with using a mineral oil based product such as the Formby's is weakening of the glues used to adhere the fretboard to the neck and wax build ups. I would not expect this to be a problem unless the neck gets really soaked on a frequent basis. Using pure lemon oil would be less likely to have this problem due to less penetration of the wood when compared to mineral oils. I also recall Paul TBO extolling the virtues of using olive oil though I have only used it in cooking and salad dressings. Keith |
