Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: rv_bass on May 21, 2017, 04:23:10 PM
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I have read a few posts about the use of lemon oil on Alembic ebony fretboards, and use of other products on fretboards for various non-Alembic instruments, but haven't seen any reference to care for Alembic rosewood fretboards. Does anyone have any suggestions for proper care of rosewood fretboards on Alembic instruments? Thanks!
Rob
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Should be similar to ebony. Where it gets different is with boards like maple, that can be finished or stain.
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Great, thanks, Edwin!
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I just spread a coat of lemon oil on a Rosewood fretboard. I thought I'd check the forum while waiting for it to dry and saw this thread. So yes, I use lemon oil on Rosewood as well as Ebony.
Bill, tgo
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Bill,
Thanks for the additional confirmation!
Rob
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I have only one instrument, a guitar, with a rosewood fretboard that i bought in around 1991 and i've never put anything on the fretboard. I haven't played it much since the early 90's but last time I checked it a couple of years ago it was still looking ok. I presume there are no problems giving what i presume is now a an extremely dry fretboard a drink of lemon oil?
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I concur w/Bill... can't go wrong treating rosewood and ebony the same. ;)
Rosewood, well... most of it anyway, is a naturally oily wood, and more porous than ebony. You may notice it soaking the lemon oil faster. I've seen some that did, and some that did not. :-\
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(...and you would certainly know!!). [I just have to say here, that I learn so much from reading all these posts about every freaking thing, it totally makes my day sometimes!]
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I have a thick slab of a rosewood fingerboard and an ebony nut on my classico and whilst it does not seem to have had a lot of action in it's life and is not showing any signs of heavy or even light use. I am thinking of affording it some tlc soon and wondered about how much of a soaking of the fretboard I should do. It looks at least about twice as thick as a standard ebony bass fretboard?
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Assuming a clean fret-board, I use a piece of cotton rag or even a paper towel as an applicator, apply just a few drops to the applicator, and then lightly rub a thin coat over the entire board. I find that a very dry board will soak up the oil quite fast, often in only 2-3 minutes and certainly in less than five minutes. If the board is dry after five minutes, I reapply the same way. I'll repeat this until the board still shows some oil after a few minutes. Once I get there, I wait 10-15 minutes and then wipe off any excess. Then I'll either put the old strings back on, or wait a few hours before playing it with new strings. I do this because I sometimes find that when I play the guitar right after oiling, the strings discolor.
Bill, tgo