Severe musicians perceive the significance of sustaining and caring for their instruments. For guitarists and bassists, fretboard care is a high priority. The type of wooden a fretboard is crafted from determines what sort of care is suitable. Untreated woods like ebony, rosewood, koa and mahogany benefit from oiling. Maple — and different varnished fretboards — should be cleaned without oils.
Linseed Oil
Linseed oil is essentially the most trusted oil for cleansing and sharpening an untreated fretboard. It situations and preserves the wood with out causing any adverse chemical reactions. Most highly revered industrial fretboard cleansing merchandise comprise comprise linseed oil as a main ingredient, though many guitarists prefer as a substitute to use straight linseed oil. Regardless of which kind of product you select, always work with small amounts of oil at a time, and rub the oil into the wooden following the course of the grain.
Issues Concerning Lemon Oil
Lemon oil is usually recommended to be used on fretboards, nevertheless it shouldn’t be used on untreated woods. Lemon oil and other citrus oils include d-limonene, which is a powerful solvent capable — over long durations of repeated use — of loosening the bindings and trim on a guitar. Moreover, most lemon oil products contain silicone or waxes that go away residues behind on the fretboard.
Furnishings Polish
Furniture polishes often contain lemon oil, waxes, detergents, water and petroleum distillates — all of which are detrimental to the life of an untreated fretboard. Nevertheless, once a treated fretboard has been cleaned, a effective spray of furniture polish is acceptable. It should be understood that utilizing polish on a handled fretboard does not benefit the wood, however simply provides luster and improves the smoothness of the floor.
Promoted by Different Oils
In the seek for the proper fretboard oil, musicians have tried absolutely anything. Mineral oil, olive oil, child oil, orange oil and even motor oil have all been tried and lauded at one time or another. While mineral oil is probably going the safest of those different decisions, all comprise agents, solvents or additives that can cause more hurt than good on your fretboard.
Cleaning Treated Fretboards
While treated fretboards do not have to be oiled, they still have to be cleaned on occasion. Many musicians and luthiers suggest utilizing a 000-grade steel wool pad to scrub the neck thoroughly, adopted by a buffing with a clear, natural fiber rag. Afterward, a small amount of high-grade furniture polish may be used to enhance the shine and sleekness.
Associated Searches
References
AMZ – Fretboard Care
Luthiers Mercantile International – Guitar Ending with TRU-OIL
Electric Guitar Tendencies – Fretboard Cleaning and Maintenance
Be a Fifer – Bore Doctor and Fret Doctor
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