Lemon Oil

[BeenDown139]

my lemon oil bottle lives in a cool dark closet, i only pull it out every once3 or 4 months when i change strings or do neck work or cleanup.  i did notice the last time that it didn't smell as pleasantly lemony as it had before, so i'm thinking that it's time to 86 this batch (it's almost gone anyway) and refrigerate the next one in between uses.

[ZuMan]

I have always used the Kyser brand "Lem-oil" on my open pore fret and fingerboards.  No reason other than it was readily available at a local music store back when I purchased my first Epic (~25 years ago).  I went through one bottle, but I have near half of another bottle that has to be more than 10 yrs old.  Still seems fine - no residue, no off odor.

I have also seen other high end manufacturers suggest pure mineral oil (no perfumes or additives) to be used.  If it's been awhile between applications they are suggesting applying with 0000 grade steel wool (first fully cover pickups).

Any thoughts on either account?
 

[gtrguy]

I am still using good old WD-40 after 40 plus years! I make sure to wipe it all afterwards.

[mica]

The reason I suggest using pure lemon oil on Ebony fingerboards is because the heavy turpines in lemon oil and in the Ebony are similar. The water and smaller molecules evaporate out of the wood rather quickly, but the big turpines take longer, and they are more destructive when they do since they are big. When you condition the board with lemon oil, you stuff some of those broken cells with chunky lemon turpines, and that protects the layers below it.

There's nothing wrong with pure mineral oil, or any other oil you like to use. On one account, you're cleaning debris off with it, and just about anything will do for this purpose. The lemon oil provides cleaning and conditioning. But if you're taking care of your fingerboard with any suitable substance with any regularity you're way ahead of most.

[Pete si]

I should look up what a ‘turpine’ is but it’s way too early. The reason I chose lemon oil to treat my fingerboard is it doesn’t leave a residue. I would hate to have oil residue getting on my fingers but more so oil residue is a magnet for dirt and is very difficult to remove.

[lbpesq]

Actually, the correct spelling is “terpene”.  Terpenes are unsaturated polycarbons usually produced by plants.  Terpenes are what give cannabis it’s unique smell and flavor.

Bill, tgo

[StephenR]

Actually, the correct spelling is “terpene”.  Terpenes are unsaturated polycarbons usually produced by plants.  Terpenes are what give cannabis it’s unique smell and flavor.

Bill, tgo

Maybe we need to think about using hash oil to condition our fretboards?

[lbpesq]

Maybe we need to think about using hash oil to condition our fretboards?

Nah, the hash oil conditions the player!

hehehehe

Bill, tgo

[mica]

One other note with lemon oil and its heavy terpenes: some people are sensitive to it. So while you should really wipe up excess oil from any source, definitely clean up residual unabsorbed pure lemon oil. I have also been known to throw in a drop or orange or lime oil if I'm cleaning a particularly stinky bass. How do they get so very gross? 

[lbpesq]

"Stinky Bass" ...  sounds like a punk band!

Bill, tgo

[BeenDown139]

it was time for the annual string changing party for the fretless.  After having read this thread, i pulled out my bottle of lemon oil that's been sitting in a closet and it didn't smell exactly wonderful, so i hopped on the bicycle (we're having summer in december here in the mile high city, but that's another story) went down to whole foods and picked up a fresh bottle.  the difference between the old and new was striking.  so out with the old, in with the new.  gonna oil up the fingerboard and throw on a new set of TI flats tonight.  maybe post pictures tomorrow. 

so my conclusion is that it probably ages (for the worst) if not refrigerated.  your actual results may vary from the results presented...

[edwin]

Dawn had a client in Boston who had her design a scent for his upright bass. He would massage it into the fingerboard and as he played and it warmed up, it would exude his inspirational olfactory desires. And his fingerboard was kept in great shape!

[lbpesq]

Dawn had a client in Boston who had her design a scent for his upright bass. He would massage it into the fingerboard and as he played and it warmed up, it would exude his inspirational olfactory desires. And his fingerboard was kept in great shape!

Sounds like the musical version of scratch ‘n sniff.  Cool!

Bill, tgo

[pauldo]

Dawn had a client in Boston who had her design a scent for his upright bass. He would massage it into the fingerboard and as he played and it warmed up, it would exude his inspirational olfactory desires. And his fingerboard was kept in great shape!

Sounds like the musical version of scratch ‘n sniff.  Cool!

Bill, tgo

And now we can circle back to hash oil!   

[BeenDown139]

well i can definitely say lemon oil loses its pizzazz if you let it sit around long enough.  yesterday morning i restrung the fretless and gave the fingerboard a dose of fresh lemon oil straight from whole foods.  spiffed it right up.  now the house smells lemon-y and the fretless has a new set of strings and a cleaned up fingerboard to boot.  the weather in denver has been so dry that it soaked it right up.  i try to do this every 3 months or so.

nothing like a freshly oiled unlined alembic fretless ebony fingerboard.  sorry about the crappy picture, it was 0500 when i did this and the day was just getting started...