Author Topic: Care & Feeding of Alembics (Read 928 times)

mica · « **Reply #30 on:** August 30, 2005, 10:46:26 AM »

Our thought on the finish of a fingerboard is that Ebony is very stong and durable all on its own and we prefer it in its natural state. It also has a wonderful touch.

In my experience, both pure linseed oil and pure tung oil rarely fully harden. That bothers me, but perhaps I'm just very sensitive. Polymerized oils do fully harden, but that too changes the touch. I've even heard of folks using Thompson's Water Seal on fingerboards.

As the larger organic molecules, like the heavy turpines, evaporate from the Ebony, a pure lemon oil (which is rich in these compounds) penetrates just enough to replenish these and impede cracking.

Oils also help dissolve the gunk that accumulates on well-played fingerboards. Eduardo once suggested lighter fluid (naptha) is commonly used in Mexico for cleaning fingerboards so I tried it. It evaporates pretty quickly, and the board isn't super rich black when done, but it does seem clean. After some pure lemon oil, it looked great.

It's true that some people never oil their fingerboards and never have any troubles with cracking. We repair far fewer cracks on fingerboards where the owner has cared for it with a good quality oil.

We use a fairly thick piece of Ebony, and it can take levelling and refretting several times if done by a carfeul repairperson. The fingerboard is not viewed as a permanent part of the instrument. Hopefully eventually someone will play the instrument enough that it requires replacing after several refrets. I think that means we did a good job, worthy of a player spending time making that much music on it.

You have to balance how much you want to preserve the board to the way it feels when you play it.

mica · « **Reply #31 on:** August 30, 2005, 10:52:51 AM »

Oh yeah - will it discolor the inlays? I've never noticed it doing so. We've been using pure lemon oil for many years now.

indigo · « **Reply #32 on:** August 30, 2005, 10:53:48 AM »

Hi all,

For what it is worth, I used lemon oil (the essential oil type) on my fingerboard over the weekend. Since the bass sat in Alembic's showroom for a year I figured it hadn't been oiled since it was built. It was pretty easy and it looks and feels GREAT!

Since I live in the godforsaken desert (Las Vegas) I am going to be sure to do it every six months. Or, since it is so hot and dry here, would I be better off oiling it every 3 months? The posts by Mr. Fung lead me to believe a bit more often may be necessary. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Troy

lbpesq · « **Reply #33 on:** August 30, 2005, 11:09:50 AM »

Troy:

I don't know about a 3 month oil schedule, but I suspect your bass would really appreciate a humidifier in the case. Especially in a place like Vegas.

Bill, tgo

son_of_magni · « **Reply #34 on:** August 30, 2005, 11:17:36 AM »

The godforsaken desert? That's not a Firesign Theater reference isit?

hollis · « **Reply #35 on:** August 30, 2005, 12:00:19 PM »

Which way did we go?

indigo · « **Reply #36 on:** August 30, 2005, 12:30:51 PM »

Bill...
Thanks for the tip. I will look for a humidifier for the case. I hadn't thought about that....durrr

Karl...
To show my high degree of lameness, I don't know about the Firesign Theater. I just know 4 months above 100 degrees (often above 110) sucks. :-) And I've been here for over 30 years!

Cheers,
Troy

lbpesq · « **Reply #37 on:** August 30, 2005, 12:44:46 PM »

Don't crush that dwarf, hand me the pliers!

Yeah, Firesign!

Bill, tgo

hollis · « **Reply #38 on:** August 30, 2005, 12:47:17 PM »

We went that-a-way!

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #39 on:** August 30, 2005, 02:58:42 PM »

Now you folks are SOOOO weird. It's just this little chromium switch here...

They're still releasing new materiel

Mike

beelee · « **Reply #40 on:** August 30, 2005, 03:00:24 PM »

Hi Troy,

Planet Waves makes a real nice case humidifier, I picked one up a few months ago, found it on Ebay brand new ( typed in Humidifier in the musical instrument catagory) its leak proof, oval shaped, comes with a syringe to fill it, and comes with Velcro so it can be attached where you want it.
It was inexpensive, I have to look through my emails for the price, I couldn't find one like it anywhere else and it cost less than other stores were selling it for if they even had it.
I purchased it cause one of my Conklin 7 string basses started to have a problem, I noticed a small split starting to run up the fretboard underneath the G & C strings, it came out of nowhere, I saw it when changing strings.
I was like how the hell did that happen ?
The person who works on my basses told me it was cause of dryness, I got one of those plastic cup humidifiers with the clay in it, and checked it 3 x daily for days, there was no change, put in the planet waves one in and in no time it was completely gone, it can't even be seen and hasn't come back.

I keep my basses in their cases when not in use, all in the same room, temperature and humidity is constant, I own/ owned many different basses, in my 24 years of playing I've never ever seen that happen to any of my instruments before.

Bruce

pmoran · « **Reply #41 on:** August 30, 2005, 03:48:59 PM »

ah, porgie. he's so good with the help!

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #42 on:** August 30, 2005, 04:59:35 PM »

Oh Boy, roadcakes! Heavy on the thiry wieght, Mom.

uh..still ... Hideo Gump

son_of_magni · « **Reply #43 on:** August 30, 2005, 05:38:42 PM »

Vezzzzrrght! Hey, you got to plug in the female!

(Message edited by son_of_magni on August 30, 2005)

lbpesq · « **Reply #44 on:** August 30, 2005, 05:38:54 PM »

Bruce:

Which planet waves humidifier did you get? The small one - approximately 3 inches long, or the big one - approximately 5 1/2 inches long? Are you using a hygrometer? Which one?

Bill, tgo