Author Topic: Fretboard oil and string change (Read 113 times)

jalevinemd · « **on:** October 15, 2006, 01:18:14 PM »

Even after you've thoroughly wiped down your fretboard after a little lemon oil, is there still a certain period of time you should wait before putting on a new set of strings?

tom_z · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2006, 01:58:04 PM »

Jonathan - Mica recommends putting the old strings back on for a couple days. To be honest - I've oiled my board and put on new strings within a couple of hours with no problem. But then, if guitar strings get gunked up they aren't as expensive to replace as bass strings.

Peace
Tom

bsee · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2006, 02:04:27 PM »

Heck, I oil mine with the strings on it most of the time. It might not be best if you're into that crisp stainless roundwound tone, and you might want to let it dry a little. I'm no expert, but I would apply the oil and give it 5-10 minutes to soak in. At that point, I'd give it a wipe down to pick up anything left on the surface and wait another five to re-string.

I think it is mostly an issue if you have to heavily oil the board because you only do it once or twice a decade. Something on the order of 5-6 drops does my whole board about quarterly, so there's not much slop to get on the strings. Love that lemon oil smell!

jbybj · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2006, 09:19:49 PM »

I read somewhere, I can't remember exactly where, that this was one of the benefits of using pure essential lemon oil, as opposed to stuff with mineral oil or other additives, that the lemon oil was not going to gunk your strings. I think human oil from your hands and fingers is more harmful to the strings.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2006, 11:12:34 PM »

Usually when I oil mine, I leave it to soak in overnight then wipe off the excess before I put the strings back.

I don't change my strings that often as I''m not a regularly gigging bassist. To be honest I haven't had a problem with the oil being picked up in the strings and have oiled the necks on my instruments maybe about 3 times in the last year. I use Elixir coated strings for guitar mostly now so i presume they would not get impregnated with the oil anyway.

talking about oily things gunking up strings, I'm sure I read somewhere that old Jaco sometimes put chicken grease on his fingers to lubricate them before playing. So I'm sure a bit of lemon oil won't hurt that much.
Ok here is a link about that and there is also a mention on the fender web site too.

http://www.jacop.net/faq.html
Jazzyvee

lbpesq · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2006, 06:48:46 AM »

I find that right after I oil my fretboard the strings, especially the plain E, B, and G, do tend to blacken a little at the frets where I play the most. For this reason I follow Mica's suggestion and put the old strings back on for a few days of playing before I change to new strings.

Bill, tgo