Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: charles_holmes on December 26, 2017, 06:58:56 PM
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Hello all!
It's been a while since I've been here! I'm going to start off 2018 by putting some Pure Lemon Oil on my fretboard, throwing on some DR Strings, and some good ole' Flitz on the bridge.I just love that aroma of lemon when I open my bass case!
Happy New Year & may we all have a 2018 filled with lots of performances! Chalie Holmes
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A Happy New Year to you too, Chalie!
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Welcome back, Chalie! :)
I need to give all of mine a good oiling too, now that cold and dry Winter finally got here.
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Good to hear from ya'!! Happy New Year to you, as well.
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I'm scared to put anything on the fret board after reading all the stories, pro and con, about oiling guitar necks.
(really not intending to start debate...ok, yes I am)
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Pure lemon oil. Four excellent reasons:
1. Alembic recommends it.
2. I've been treating my guitars with it for around 15 years- no problems.
3. It smells good.
4. Alembic recommends it.
Bill, tgo
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No need to Debate.....
Bill gave the reasons.....
Unsure?......
Ask Mica!!
Badda Bing, Badda Boom!
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Have y'all read the drawbacks to lemon oil? Silly question...I know y'all have.
I'm not on either side of the issue, but I'm still leery (sp.) of putting anything on it.
I'm scared! Really scared!
Bass player A: "Why don't we run to the car that's idling and ready for our escape?"
Bass player B: "No, silly! Let's run to the open garage that has all the chain saws hanging everywhere!"
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Most of the anti-lemon oil info I've read was either from people selling their own product, or people using Lemon Pledge or other "lemon" products that were not true 100% food grade lemon oil. The only potential problem I've read about that might give me pause for concern is the use of lemon oil on bound necks. Some have claimed that the lemon oil can interact with the binding glue. Since none of my Alembics have bound necks, and none of my Fender type guitars that I regularly play have bound necks, I don't have a lot of long-term experience using lemon oil on a guitar with binding on the neck. Otherwise, it's the way to go. Mica hasn't steered me wrong yet.
Bill, tgo
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Every choice has tradeoffs. For me, what the lemon oil offers is replenishment of the heavy turpines that evaporate from the Ebony as it ages. This keeps cracks from forming. Some people are sensitive and may even get contact dermatitis from lemon oil, so those people should not use it. Will their fingerboards crack off their Alembic? No. Frankly even if you never oil your fingerboard you'll probably be okay if the instrument is kept where people like to be, but it will likely develop cracks at some point which are 100% repairable. Even with regular oiling, you will likely have cracks at some distant point in the future.
I have heard horror stories about over-use of lemon oil that frankly would probably have the same result regardless of the the oil used. Most are with petroleum distillates with scant lemon oil for scent, but still, lemon oil gets the credit. No guitar wants to be bathed in the stuff!
However, I suggest you take care of your fingerboard with whatever makes you happy. If it's a commercially marketed fretboard cleaner - great if that works for you. If it's lemon oil, awesome, I know that stuff works well. If it's olive oil, well, I'll think fondly of our old friend Paul. Like to use lighter fluid to clean it up? Well okay if that's your thing (but stinky!). The important part is to inspect your fingerboard regularly and react to changes and little problems before they become a big problem.
Note that my recommendation for pure lemon oil is for conditioning the board. Only a few drops is needed if you do it once a year. Our fingerboard have no finish on them other than lemon oil, so you're free to use whatever works best for you.
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And there you have it! Whatever you choose...just take care of your axe!
Post Script
Thanks Mica!
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Mica, you always skillfully and beautifully cut to the chase.
Thanks for the input. I bought a lemon oil product (comes in a small brown bottle) at a health food store.
The brand is NOW essential oils...100% pure lemon is printed on the label.
I assume this is an excellent product for the neck.
Anybody else heard of this product?
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Yes, I've seen it, too. My Health food store, currently out of Lemon Oil altogether...has been stocking "Nature's Alchemy". (Same stuff!)
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I use Boyajian Pure Lemon Oil. A bottle lasts me several years, and that includes treating every guitar I sell before I ship it out. A little goes a LONG way! I get it on line.
Bill, tgo
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wick5 - really smiled when I saw your post about the chainsaws. Would have "liked" it if I could!
For those who didn't recognize it:
No, not trying to sell insurance, just like the commercial!
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I have been using the NOW Foods brand for years.
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And, for the record, it might not be the recommended solution, but many years ago, I purchased a bottle of liquid beeswax/carnauba-based finishing wax called Gleivo from a German company called Livos at MacBeath Hardwoods in Berkeley. I got it intending to use it as surface polish/wax, but it's a bit soft. But I do like it on unfinished fingerboards - looks good, not shiny, you don't feel it. These days I use P21 Concours Carnauba Wax on the painted/finished surfaces. This is car wax that too expensive to use on a car(!), but pretty nice on a guitar.
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Is this what you recommend for ebony Mica? https://www.nowfoods.com/essential-oils/lemon-oil
I have been using Orange oil based on an old recommendation but want to use what is highly recommended for ebony (Alembic) fingerboards.
Happy New Year!!
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I have been using the 100% Pure Lemon Oil from the health food store for the last 5 yrs now.
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I use lemon oil on Rosewood fingerboards, too.
Bill, tgo
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Is this what you recommend for ebony Mica? https://www.nowfoods.com/essential-oils/lemon-oil
I have been using Orange oil based on an old recommendation but want to use what is highly recommended for ebony (Alembic) fingerboards.
Happy New Year!!
This is the one I get. I have used orange oil before, but I was able to find more data on the lemon oil at the time I was researching. I sometimes add a drop of orange just for the aroma... I admit it!
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I'm using the NOW one - think I picked it up at Whole Foods - treated the Stanley Clarke Signature2 at some point a few months ago (maybe the Autumnal Equinox) and have done so before - no problems.
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I would think that the orange would have slightly less high end tone than the lemon, and a bit more mid-high.
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I would think that the orange would have slightly less high end tone than the lemon, and a bit more mid-high.
That sounds about right, a slight shift towards the red spectrum ???
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I've been using Alisyn Fingerboard Oil for years - 100% pure synthetic hydrocarbons. Wood loves it! (it told me so ;) ) Totally non-toxic as well.
1oz bottle for $7.00 - a small amount goes a LONG way. I know it sounds like overkill or voodoo or something like that, but I'm just lettin' ya know what I use. (I have no affiliation with the company whatsoever)
http://syntheticlubricants.aerospacelubricants.com/viewitems/market-musical-instrument-lubricant/alisyn-fingerboard-oil
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Here's the Lemon Oil that I've been using. I purchase mine from Fresh Life. In addition, I'm going to try Mica's idea of adding some orange oil in da mix!! Thanks Mica!!
Right now here on the East Coast it's 13 degrees (brrr) it's EAGLES Weather! Go Eagles!!
Happy New year everyone!!
Chalie
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Right now in Minneapolis it's -9 F with a predicted low of -11 tonight. That's almost cold enough to make your lemon oil freeze.
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That's pretty cold. It's cold here too, but not that cold. I went for groceries today, and when I left the store, the roads had iced over. First and second gear all the way home, but made it safely. I hope all stay warm and safe.
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Moder Dave, I'll bet your driveway is quite challenging when iced over! Glad all of you in the cold climes are doing o.k. Cold out here is the 40's. Freezing cold is the high 30's. When it comes to weather, we in the Bay Area admittedly are wusses!
Stay warm, everyone.
Bill, tgo
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Bill; you have a good memory. I parked at the bottom, and carried the groceries up in two trips. I've had adventures with that driveway iced over before, and don't care to have them again. Driving home today was enough of a challenge; I was happy to walk the rest of the way.
:)
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30 degrees is a heat wave! Anyway, to celebrate my wife took me to see Justice League....it was good! I'm glad I lived long enough to see most of my comic book heroes on the Silver Screen! Yo Hammer....I'm a big fan of Prince too! I'm scared the Vikings may cream the Eagles provided the Eagles get their act together
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Not to rub it in, but 74º outside currently here in SoCal. :)
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It was 0 degrees (F) and -18 wind chill here when I woke up this morning. It has warmed up to 7 degrees (F) now, but will drop to 2 tonight with -14 wind chill. Let’s hear it for wool sweaters and down parkas! :)
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Single digits here in Virginia again tonight... Brr. Not sure which is worse - wind chill or heat index. I think the same guy came up with both. ;D
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I took this picture of my favorite axe a few years ago! I put the Lemon Oil & Orange Oil on this fingerboard last night and let it soak in real good,the aroma was/superb! Hey Mica, thanks for the idea!! I'll put some photos up with the oils being enjoyed by my fingerboard shortly.
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yummers!
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So far, all I've accomplished is a note on my to-do list; but it's a start.
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Here's a couple more photos! Soon I will shine up the body's satin finish with some Luthier Polish designed by Jeff Judd that works marvelously on my axe. It really makes the satin finish glow! I use the polish on my Double Bass & a few years ago tried the polish on my Distillate & now that's all I use!! This is like Christmas all over again! I still get excited each time I clean up my axe!
Chalie
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Hey Dave! Your cover of Chick Corea's tune was beautiful!! What did you use to record the song?
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Thanks, Chalie! For recording, I'm using a DAW called Reaper. I'm not very good at using it, but I've figured out enough to know which is the record button. :) Still takes me a while to get the beginning and end trimmed. The interface I'm using is a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6.
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The aroma is the bonus, right Chalie? You use a lot more oil than I do - I guess you must wipe up a bit when you're done?
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That’s a really cool looking bass, Charle. :)
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Thanks for the information Dave, once again, your recording sounds amazing! You're absolutely correct Mica in that I do use a lot of the oil but the bonus aroma of the orange!... It's like an aromatic elixir!...That was a great idea Mica! Hey rv_bass, My Distillate & I appreciate the compliment!!