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I've got an Ibanez which has a sort of clear satin finish on the back of the neck - nothing nearly as thick as laquer, it's not even visible, just a very thin layer of something to prevent whatever (yeah, I'm that knowledgeable about necks). Could I use Lemon Oil to clean this, or would that be bad?

I only use lemon oil on my rosewood necks or any neck that doesn't have a finish over it....I usually use a little oil whenever I change strings(Which isn't too often with 9 guitars)...LOL...

If you see the rosewood looking like it's dry and cracking,that's a good time to oil up the neck..

Use a cleaner/polish on the back of the neck if it has a sealer or clear finish over the wood and not lemon oil..

I think lemon oil is usually used on fingerboards (rosewood, etc). Even then you want to be sure not to use it too often, you could quot;over-moisturizequot; the wood which could allow frets to loosen in their slots, etc. I typically use it once or twice a year.

Someone please correct me if I'm off base here...

yep.....you don't want to put it on the back of the neck.

Alrighty, gracias.

I use orange oil- same difference.

The back of your neck is most likely satin finished, which is just a thin finish that's buffed smooth. The general rule is that you can lemon oil bare wood and satin finished, but you should only use guitar polish on painted or glossy finishes. People usually just use guitar polish on satin finished necks....like the back of a Fender neck.

For unfinished necks you're going to want to clean it off with (and I believe this is the nuimber) 0 (zero) grade sandpaper. It essentially is a small slightly rough pad. To add moisture to the wood (if that's a problem) use Tung Oil Finish. Tung Oil is also known as quot;Gun Oilquot; for the stocks of rifles and hunting guns.

For fretboards I would suggest a product like Gurian Oil or Guitar Honey. Both do more for the fretboard than Lemon Oil does, which typically dries too quicky and very rarely gets the sort of saturation and depth you're looking for.

BTW...I quot;definishedquot; a Telecaster neck about 15 years ago and do the 0 grade sandpaper a few times a year; just a quick run or two down it. If there was going to be a noticable loss of mass of the wood I think it probably would have been noticable by now.


Originally Posted by GearjoneserThe back of your neck is most likely satin finished, which is just a thin finish that's buffed smooth. The general rule is that you can lemon oil bare wood and satin finished, but you should only use guitar polish on painted or glossy finishes. People usually just use guitar polish on satin finished necks....like the back of a Fender neck.

1 for guitar polish on the back of your neck. Save the lemon oil for your fretboard.

pardon me if i am hijacking. i find that lemon oil dries out my rosewood board more than it lubricates. maybe i am doing it wrong. anybody else realize this?

I use lemon oil on just about anything!

The stuff I use is just mineral oil with a lemon scent added to it. Baby oil is the same thing.

I use it mostly like John does on: on rosewood fingerboards that can absorb it. But it works fine on finishes too as long as you don't overdo it and use so much that you're spending a 1/2 hour wiping it off again.

Roy Buchanan uses Lemon Pledge on his '53 Tele...especially on the neck.

I stay away from that stuff. It used to have silicone in it., though I don't know if it still does.

Lew


Originally Posted by FretFireI think lemon oil is usually used on fingerboards (rosewood, etc). Even then you want to be sure not to use it too often, you could quot;over-moisturizequot; the wood which could allow frets to loosen in their slots, etc. I typically use it once or twice a year.

Someone please correct me if I'm off base here...

I use lemon oil on my rosewood fretboards whenever I change strings (about once a month). No problems yet. (knocks on wood).

Using lemon oil to clean the frets and the fretboard is part of my monthly ritual with all my guitars, which includes a polish, new strings and a thorogh inspection for loose parts, crooked tuners, etc.

Am I really in danger of my frets coming loose? I've been doing this for several years now. I don't see any problems as of yet, but what about in the long run?


Originally Posted by lex666I use lemon oil on my rosewood fretboards whenever I change strings (about once a month). No problems yet. (knocks on wood).

Using lemon oil to clean the frets and the fretboard is part of my monthly ritual with all my guitars, which includes a polish, new strings and a thorogh inspection for loose parts, crooked tuners, etc.

Am I really in danger of my frets coming loose? I've been doing this for several years now. I don't see any problems as of yet, but what about in the long run?

If you haven't noticed anything yet, chances are I was told wrong. I wasn't positive about that, hence the quot;please correct mequot; disclaimer . Perhaps the person that told me that way overdid it when he used it.


Originally Posted by SkarekroughFor fretboards I would suggest a product like Gurian Oil or Guitar Honey. Both do more for the fretboard than Lemon Oil does, which typically dries too quicky and very rarely gets the sort of saturation and depth you're looking for.

But can you still apply Lemon Oil on unfinished fretboards, or is that a no-no?


Originally Posted by TorBut can you still apply Lemon Oil on unfinished fretboards, or is that a no-no?Any fretboard other than a maple one is unfinished, so yes you can.

Okey. Because I have unfinished maple neck and fretboard, and so I was quite confused what to do and what to not do.. Thanks.