Author Topic: Care & Feeding of Alembics (Read 900 times)

pmoran · « **on:** August 25, 2005, 06:25:20 AM »

mica suggested, and who wouldn't follow her advice, that i purchase 100% pure, organic lemon oil to keep my fretboards in top shape, and to bring dried out fretboards back to life. i went to a health food store and found the pure, unadulterated stuff w/o any problem. my other alembics were older and the oval inlays had some wear and discoloring, a patina if you will, to them. my new mark king possesses absolutely clean, bright, pristine oval markers. so, if and when i oil my fretboard, does any care need to be taken to avoid getting the oil on the oval fret marker inlays? will they discolor or can the oil get in behind the inlays and discolor them or cause other problems w/them? are the inlays somehow sealed so there would be no problems? anyone know? mica? val?

jeffrey · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2005, 08:02:13 AM »

Pure lemon juice sounds a little raw, i'd be weary too. I like the Dr.Stringfellow Lem-Oil personally. Not sure in your case though with the older instrument. I hope someone that really has tried it can reply for you.

rockbassist · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2005, 08:18:00 AM »

Jeffrey, You do not use pure lemon juice. Juice comes from the fruit itself and is very acidic. Pure lemon oil is made from the rind/skin of the lemon. Alembic does recommend pure lemon oil for proper fretboard maintenance. You can usually find this in a health food or bath & body store in the aroma therapy section.

glocke · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2005, 08:45:52 AM »

I had a teacher recomend bore oil (for horns) on the fetboard, hr claimed that lemon oil discolors inlays on the fretboard...since this guy was a pretty good expert on vintage jazz basses i tend to trust him

oggydoggy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2005, 06:21:38 PM »

I have been using Fast Fret on all of my basses for years now and I find it works the best. For one thing lemon oil causes strings to go dead (and possible inlay discoloration?) I always use Fast Fret before and after playing, which keeps my fretboards in good order, but when I come across a board that is dry, like my new 78' Series, I take my time and completely refresh each fret while changing strings one by one.
OOO and Fast Fret prolongs string life!!!
Later,
-Ed

bob · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2005, 07:54:37 PM »

For one thing lemon oil causes strings to go dead (and possible inlay discoloration?)

If you're using it properly - small quantity, let it soak in for a few minutes, wipe off excess - I am extremely skeptical that pure essential lemon oil will cause your strings to go dead. Though I suppose it's possible that if you regularly use a good bit of Fast Fret, it might help to prolong your string life, as you suggest at the end (maybe, no experience here).

As for discoloration, I have no inlays and can't speak to that. However, I do find it curious that given the incredible inlay work that Alembic is known for... they still recommend lemon oil. But again, I've never heard a definitive statement from them in regard to inlays, so if you're skeptical that's fine.

There have been a number of other discussions here on pure lemon oil, such as this one, and including some converts from other stuff. A search should turn them up pretty easily.
-Bob

David Houck · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2005, 04:37:04 AM »

There is also this post in the FAQ section, which points to the links that Bob cited, as well as another, and quotes Mica from one of those threads.

pmoran · « **Reply #7 on:** August 26, 2005, 05:49:35 AM »

thanks, dave. that thread from mica, and a subsequent personal email from her further recommending the proper technique, was where i got the idea for lemon oil. i had gone back and read it again, when i got my mark king. i just couldn't find anything that assured me i wouldn't discolor the oval inlays, which are really pretty. btw, has anyone else noticed that there are just some dogs you can look at and tell from your heart that they are a really good dog. you can just tell looking at her that daisy, the alembic licking dog, is a great dog.

bob · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2005, 10:05:17 AM »

(sorry, Dave - I remembered we talked about putting this in the FAQ list and went looking there first, but I guess my eyes were too tired or something and missed it.)

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2005, 10:29:23 AM »

As far as the lemon oil kills strings syndrome, the good folks at Alembic suggested to me that after I treat the fingerboard with lemon oil, I should put the old strings back on and play it for a bit, THEN change strings. This seems to work o.k. I did recently oil my Daion (probably hadn't been oiled in 24 years) and without thinking put new strings on right away. They did tend to discolor a little in between the frets where I had pushed down with my fingers. I haven't noticed any problems with inlay discoloration.

Bill, tgo

keith_h · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2005, 01:58:46 PM »

I've been using lemon oil on both of my basses with good results. I oil the neck just as Alembic suggests a couple of weeks before changing the strings. For the first day or two the old strings appear to pick up some oil (as evidenced by the black marks on my fingers). I wipe down the strings and fretboard with an absorbent rag and within a few days the strings stop picking up oil. Like Bill I haven't noticed any change to the inlays, albeit I have not been doing this for 20 years to see long term results.

Keith

yggdrasil · « **Reply #11 on:** August 27, 2005, 03:10:43 AM »

my SC Sig has a coco bolo fretboard.
Does the wood of the fretboard change the oil recommended?

I use Stew Mac fretboard oil on my basses - I noticed the SC sig reacted differently - took longer to lose the oil smell, and the smell was stronger - in fact unpleasant - for about a week. Made me wonder if it was reacting differently to the cocbolo.

David Houck · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2005, 06:07:59 AM »

Frank; did it soak into the fretboard normally, or did it take longer and was there more residue to wipe off?

David Houck · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2005, 06:29:39 AM »

Frank; I ran a Google search and did not come up with any similar reports.

albrecht · « **Reply #14 on:** August 27, 2005, 07:12:18 AM »

hi & this is how i do it = nothing at all...i?ve been playing the same basses for 30 yrs+. never dunne no nothing to the fretboards (exept scraping off the blood ?n skin-cell-residue-shit. NEVER had any problems. might be the horrible swedish climate, or?...but i doubt that you should worry to much...