Don't forget to oil the Fretboard

[charles_holmes]

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]

How frequently do you oil your fretboard, guys?

[lbpesq]

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]

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]

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 .

[David Houck]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Experience is the best teacher, thanks Wolf