#1
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Maintaining Ebony fretboard
Hi guys.
I have a Martin Om-21 special, and I'm loving it! The fretboard is made of Solid Black Ebony and recently I've noticed that there's some slight discolored lines (almost not noticeable). From what I'm aware of, they have always been there. I've tried using the rough side of one of those sponges, but that doesn't seem to help. But lately I've been wondering if it's because it needs some oils or something. Does this seem likely. If so... what should i use for Solid Black Ebony? Best regards, Michael |
#2
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Much of the ebony used these days isn't not pure black ebony.
Some if not most is dyed black. What you may be seeing is the grain. If so, there is nothing wrong with it. Now on a different note, I use finger board oil on the fret boards, on all my guitars. Be sure to use the proper oil. Check with your manufacture to find out what they reccomend for your guitar. http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROCRTFO
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Happiness Is A New Set Of Strings L-20A |
#3
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A couple of times a year (during restringing) buff the frets with 0000 steel wool. Buff in the same direction as the lenghth of the neck (the long way and not across the neck). Cover or stuff a rag in the sound hole to insure that the filings from the steel wool do not enter the body of the guitar. This is especially important if your guitar has an internal pickup.
Then use a very light amount of lemon oil or commercially available finger board oil Use enough to wet the finger board, but do not soak it. With a clean cloth immediatelywipe away the excess. Too much oil over time and you will saturate the finger board.
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1957 Gibson RB-150 5 string banjo. Bought it new & I still have it. 1983 Yairi - Alvarez DY 73 1992 Taylor K-20 1993 Yair - Alvarez DY99A 2001 Yairi-Alvarez DY-91 SOLD! 2002 Taylor Stock 810 Ltd. 2003 Taylor 855e 2003 Taylor 814ce Fall Ltd 2003 Tradition Jerry Reid Sig. Telecaster 200? Esteban American Legacy (New Owner Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center) |
#4
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Here is a link to a thread on the same subject from yesterday with links to sites that talk about guitar maintenance/cleaning.;
http://69.41.173.82/forums/showthread.php?t=150468 Bottom line, your fretboard does not need "maintenance", "feeding", oiling, etc.. Wipe it down with a clean cloth after playing and when changing strings. Maybe once a year a few drops of mineral oil on a clean rag wiped onto and then removed from the fretboard. A light brush over with 0000 steel wool. You will potentially do more damage to your fretboard with constant applications of oil/cleaners/whatever than if you just leave it alone.
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"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke "It is in the world of slow time that truth and art are found as one" Norman Maclean, |
#5
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Ebony is way to dense to absorb any type of oil.
Boiled Linseed oil or mineral oil will just sit on the surface and just make your fretboard look shinny and shorten the life of your strings. |