Fretboard “conditioner”

[Dub-T-123]

I remember there was basically a consensus here on which brand of fretboard “conditioner” is the best. Can someone remind me? I tried searching the forum but I’m a bit impatient I guess

[Pinch]

Could've been Guitar Honey, or Axe Wax, or Dunlop. All good choices I assume. I use Dunlop once a year. 

[rct]

4 sets a night, one or two nights a week in a crummy bar,  plus rehearsals.

rct

[Pinch]

7 hours ago, Farnsbarns said:

Fret doctor

Oh yeah, I think that was the consensus one. 

[Murph]

I bought the 2 oz. Gibson Fretboard conditioner many, many years ago. I've used it on my J-45 a few times. It has an ebony board.

I've also used it on my 2017 J-15 with a walnut board a few times, it looked dry when I bought it around 2017.

I may have used a few drops on the ES-339 when it was gigging, and I also think my old Studio LP got a few drops once.

The bottle is still full, over the label.

I've never put any on my 1933 Gibson mandolin which has an ebony board. It doesn't need any, looks fine.

Scotty Stoneman sweated on it for me.

 

[kidblast]

I seem to recall Nomad's F1 Oil was mentioned a # of times, 

I've got a bottle of that and also a bottle of Guitar Honey.  They both do the job.  You don't need much of it either.

[Sgt. Pepper]

I have Gerlitz Guitar Honey. I put in on and wipe it off every 3 or 4 string changes.

Edited December 7, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper

[badbluesplayer]

Mineral oil.  That's what they make all that stuff from.  It costs like, $2.19 for a pint at Target.  You can oil all the fretboards in town with that.

[fortyearspickn]

Virgin Coconut Oil.   Doesn't 'harden',  prevents bacteria, also cleans.   I've been using it for years on my fretboards. (and cutting boards). 

[Sgt. Pepper]

27 minutes ago, fortyearspickn said:

Virgin Coconut Oil.   Doesn't 'harden',  prevents bacteria, also cleans.   I've been using it for years on my fretboards. (and cutting boards). 

That is what the guy uses who I took the guitar set up class from. I used it once or twice as my wife has some in the pantry. 

[Whitefang]

I use Old English lemon oil.  Every string change.

Whitefang

[Murph]

Just now, Whitefang said:

I use Old English lemon oil.  Every string change.

 

Damn, that seems excessive!

I've only done my J-45 like twice in 20 years.

[Whitefang]

That's about how often I change strings.  

Not playing for a living They last me longer than a pro musician's might.

Realistically, it's about once every two years.

Whitefang

[Big Bill]

49 minutes ago, fortyearspickn said:

Virgin Coconut Oil.   Doesn't 'harden',  prevents bacteria, also cleans.   I've been using it for years on my fretboards. (and cutting boards). 

I prefer mine to be a little more sluty!

[Sgt. Pepper]

44 minutes ago, Big Bill said:

I prefer mine to be a little more sluty!

Yeah but everyone wants to be the first one in.

[SteveFord]

Same as Whitefang although the latest bottle is Formby's Lemon Oil Treatment.

The guy put his face on the label, he must be pretty proud of the product.

[Murph]

With a name like "Formby's" it's got to be good...

[fortyearspickn]

If I recall from the last time we had a thread on this, Old English lemon oil doesn’t have any “lemon” in it.  Just”oil”, as in petroleum derivatives.   

[fortyearspickn]

7 hours ago, Murph said:

With a name like "Formby's" it's got to be good...

Parents thought naming him Homer would be the icing on the cake. 

[Whitefang]

14 hours ago, fortyearspickn said:

If I recall from the last time we had a thread on this, Old English lemon oil doesn’t have any “lemon” in it.  Just”oil”, as in petroleum derivatives.   

Really, it contains mineral oil, which has more in common with Vaseline than any other petroleum derivatives.  And a lemon fragrance added just like in lemon Pledge. And don't jump to the imprecise conclusion that because something is a petroleum derivative that it means you're treating your wood with gasoline.  

Whitefang

[Sgt. Pepper]

Some people use Bore Oil on there boards. 

[Pinch]

16 hours ago, fortyearspickn said:

If I recall from the last time we had a thread on this, Old English lemon oil doesn’t have any “lemon” in it.  Just”oil”, as in petroleum derivatives.   

No one should put actual lemon juice on a fretboard. I've read some people have, though. Shudder to think. 

[kidblast]

55 minutes ago, Pinch said:

No one should put actual lemon juice on a fretboard. I've read some people have, though. Shudder to think. 

Jeesh!

if one is not going to use a product made for treating/hydrating rosewood, or ebony,  then just leave it be.

[jdgm]

I have a small bottle of thin camera oil which I've had since the 1970s and still isn't finished yet.  I bought a bottle of sewing machine oil for when it's gone.   Once a year, maybe.

[gearbasher]

I also use Old English Lemon Oil. I still have 99% of the bottle I bought about 20 years ago. But, after reading this, I questioned my choice. Then I found This:

 

It seems to be about the same as Old English.