Oiling a Guitar’s Fretboard – It’s Not a Salad
If you’re going to oil your guitar’s fretboard, use the right kind of oil
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Last Updated: January 24, 2021
At some point in every guitar owner’s journey they’ll hear the following advice:
“You should oil your guitar’s fretboard.”
Good advice, but you don’t need to oil your fretboard very often, and when you do, you don’t need to use very much oil. I’ve seen 30-year-old guitars that have NEVER had their fretboards oiled, and they basically looked fine. I wouldn’t recommend never giving your fretboard a drink, I’m just saying: take it easy. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on how much you use/abuse your guitar.
Now, if oiling your fretboard is something you want to do, I’d like to make one very important point:
Your guitar is not a salad.
Don’t use oils on the fretboard that we humans can actually eat, such as olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, sesame oil, etc. Why? These food-grade oils have a limited shelf life. They eventually spoil. Do you REALLY want rancid oil deep inside your guitar’s fingerboard?
Every so often I hear of someone using food grade oils on their fretboard, and the reasons range from simply not knowing any better to straight-up misperceptions like, “If I can eat it, then it MUST be safe for wood.” People making the latter argument have obviously forgotten that edible items eventually spoil.
What Does a Rancid Fingerboard Look & Smell Like?
Usually, if you’re lucky, nothing too dramatic.
When these food oils go rancid they won’t smell horrible nor will your fretboard sprout mushrooms (although, in extreme cases, mold spores can grow and actually become visible on the fretboard). Oil rancidity is so common that most of us have unknowingly eaten rancid oils at one time or another. It’s only detectable as a change in the oil’s flavor and smell, and you’d only recognize it if you really knew what rancid oil tastes/smells like.
But again I ask: do you really want rancid oil soaked into the wood fibers of your fretboard?
In the short-term, slathering these food oils on your fretboard will make it look very healthy and nourished–like any oil would. Where it becomes a potential problem is when it’s done repeatedly over a very long period of time.
If You’re Gonna Oil Your Fretboard, Then Use the Right Stuff
Really, it comes down to this: food oils just aren’t the best thing to use on your guitar’s fretboard, so why risk it? There are many good alternatives out there–products that have been used by luthiers and guitar techs for decades.
If you’ve decided that oiling your fretboard is something you’d like to do, then use oils and products that are made specifically for guitar fretboards by well-known guitar product companies. These companies don’t want to damage your guitar; that’s bad for business.
My Recommendations
The following are things that I personally use (or have used) and recommend as safe and effective for oiling fretboards:
Safe For: Unfinished rosewood, ebony, and maple fretboards.
When I first discovered the Music Nomad company (and products), I ordered some of their F-ONE oil to try out as a possible replacement for the plain mineral oil I’d been using for years. I absolutely loved it, and it’s all I use now on fretboards. Even though it says “cleaner” I really only use it for conditioning after I’ve given my fretboards a thorough cleaning via other means. This can be used on unfinished rosewood, ebony, and even maple fretboards.
Safe For: Unfinished rosewood, ebony, and maple fretboards.
This is what I used for years: plain mineral oil. It’s the same stuff you can drink as a laxative. Though I’m providing an Amazon link here to an excellent brand (which I’ve used), you can also just grab a little bottle of it pretty cheaply at your local grocery store, pharmacy, etc. Just be sure it’s pure and doesn’t have any weird additives such as colors or scents. Since you’ll only be oiling your fretboard once a year (or less), you only need a small bottle.
Safe For: Unfinished rosewood and ebony fretboards (purportedly safe for maple too, but I’ve not personally tried them on maple).
I used some of these a couple years ago, and thought they worked well. There’s the added advantage that they’re individually packaged, which makes them very convenient. I’ve known many people over the years who absolutely love them and swear by them. Start with the 6-pack. If you only own 1 guitar, then the 6 pack should last you a few years.
Question:
What do you use on your fretboard? I’d love it if you told me in the comments section down below.
Teakoil?
Hi Martin. I’ve never used teak oil on a fretboard, so I can’t give an opinion.
Pharmaceutical grade mineral oil from any pharmacy is all I use to oil my fretboards. I use Ronsonol lighter fluid to clean them-great article Bobby
I use lighter fluid (naphtha) as well, but only very rarely and in extreme cases–for stuck-on gunk that will not come off by other means. So, nothing wrong with using lighter fluid, just use it very infrequently.
Have you had any expirence with Dr. Ducks Axe Wax and string lube. I use it on my Martin’s ebony fretboard. Have been using it for about a year. Just want to make sure I am not damaging my high end Martin by using this product. It appears to be working fine and it says it is for polishing and cleaning the entire musical instrument including the fretboard
Hi Larry. I don’t have any personal experience with Dr. Ducks Axe Wax. Though I tend to be skeptical that any one liquid can clean/condition every part of a guitar well, that’s just me being old-fashioned and somewhat set in my ways. That said, I’ve only heard good things about Dr. Ducks, and I don’t think you need to worry at all about it damaging your Martin. Dr. Ducks has been around for quite awhile, and if it was somehow damaging guitars we’d all have heard about it by now.
Thank you for the information
I’ve used Dr. Ducks since 2006 on my Babicz. It has an ebony fretboard and I have no complaints. Actually I use it on all my fretboards, so times six.
Richard thank you for your reply. I have used Dr Ducks for over a year with no complaints. I am happy to hear your success with this product. Thank you
No need to buy expensive oils for fretboard or strings. I have for 35+ yrs used just mineral oil or even baby oil (same thing) for both. Mineral oil cleans and lubricates well enough I think
Plain, clear mineral oil (without additives)… the kind you can drink as a laxative… is just fine for fretboards. I used it for years and it’s really cheap. Keeps you AND your fretboard regular.
I wouldn’t recommend baby oil though, as I don’t like fragrance additives on fretboards. I’m just never 100% what the makeup of the fragrance is or what effect it might have on the wood with long term use. Better off to stick with mineral oil if you’re looking to save money.
Hi,
I read all I can and watch a ton of videos, about guitars. I about to turn 71 and have a lot of time to do so. I have always thought I was talking the the best possible care of my guitars. I have been playing on & off since I was about 12. I used to use what we had in the house to shine up my guitars, thinking it was good for furniture and it did look good. That was a very long time ago. The most recent oil I used, before what I now think is best, was lemon oil. I have used it on unfinished antique furniture, noticing what I now believe is an important point.
I put it on and it looks good, then over time, it dries out, making the wood look as before or even worst. I now enjoy collecting guitars and repairing them, almost as much as playing them. I have herd of stories of the frets falling out, because of over oiling them and myself, have purchased used guitars with loose high frets, noticing that their boards were shinny and very oily. I like what I learned from “Dave’s World of fun stuff”(youtube). He uses lighter fluid(Naphtha) to clean(if needed/oily) and very little linseed oil to seal & protect the board.
This stuff is cheep and it seems to do as he says.(coagulates) I got one can from my local hardware store and it should last me the rest of my life… (Now having a few dozen guitars and do play them all) He applies just a few drops, rubbing them in thoroughly, then without waiting, wipes off all the excess. This IMHO leaves a long lasting luster, that looks like a new guitar fretboard. The linseed oil does not smell bad at any time, but if you need to use the lighter fluid to clean the board, that does have an expected short term smell.( do a small spot, wiping it off quickly and always use a clean spot on the rag/towel.) Dave claims this method was passed on to him from an old well respected luthier. Dave has hundreds of guitar repairs posted on line and to me looks like he is very well experienced at his repairs. Check him out. Just like the guitar answer guy, he is doing us all a great service. Hope this helps, Dan
Hi Dan! I use Naphtha as well to clean fretboards–but not very often. I only use it as the “nuclear option” when there’s something extremely stubborn adhering to the wood that I can’t get off with #0000 steel wool. You’ll hear some people say “Naphtha is lighter fluid! Never use that on your guitar!”… but what those people don’t realize is that guitar techs and luthiers have been using it for decades. You do have to be careful with certain lacquers though (vintage), as it can strip them right off. However, for unfinished rosewood and ebony boards, it’s a great cleaner if used sparingly.
Linseed oil is indeed a good fingerboard conditioner that a lot of luthiers like to use. I tried it, and I personally didn’t care for it because it seemed to leave the fretboard feeling a bit sticky. Depends on the humidity and heat where you live. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad fingerboard conditioner. I just prefer the clean, light feel of the F-One oil instead.
I know of Dave’s YouTube channel. He’s one of the few people out there giving guitar care advice that I recommend you actually listen to (and mine is a very short list).
Thanks for the reply…
Hi there, I bought a bottle of f1 recently and cleaned a rosewood fretboard with it. The bottle smells fine but after a couple of weeks now, my board smells like old oil. Not necessarily rancid, but not pleasant, either. I’m wondering if this is normal? If not, what should I do? It’s an old guitar that’s quite important to me do I’m a bit worried …
Well, it’s “normal” for an older guitar that’s had previous owners. It’s not the F1 oil that you’re smelling, it’s whatever previous owners have used on the fretboard over the years–and there’s no telling what they used, or how much. When you applied the F1, it essentially re-activated whatever was already in the wood, leftover from yesteryear. That’s what you’re smelling: history.
The good news is, your fretboard isn’t in any danger here, unless the fretboard seems over saturated with oil. It simply smells unpleasant, which should go away within a few days after the smell has had a chance to dissipate.
If the fretboard does seem over saturated with oil, simply spend a little time with a dry paper towel rubbing and soaking up any excess oil between the frets. Then, don’t apply more oil for about a year or so.
Well that’s good news! Thanks a bunch for the reply!
Why doesn’t anyone ever use rosewood oil. From the Rosewood tree
Great question, but unfortunately I don’t have a good answer. In doing some research, I couldn’t find any pro/cons to doing so, nor any concrete instances of reputable luthiers and repairmen using rosewood oil.
I think it really just boils down to cost and practicality. Good-quality rosewood oil is usually found as an “essential oil” and can be relatively expensive for a tiny bottle. I would be suspicious of a cheap bottle of rosewood oil. On the other hand, plain mineral oil (a decent fretboard conditioner on its own) can be found in any drugstore in large quantities for pretty cheap. The same can be said for many of the guitar fretboard oils on the market. For less than $10 you can get a quantity that’ll last you for quite a long time, depending on how many guitars you have.
And now, given the new restrictions for all rosewood species, the cost of rosewood oil may go up, or the quality may go down in order to keep the cost the same.
Hey Answer Guy, thanks for your reply. So I looked into Rosewood Oil. Essential Oil is not made from the same wood as the finger board on our guitars. Genuine Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia Nigra) has never been used to make Rosewood Oil. To make the oil either they use (aniba rosaeodora) a type of Magnolia tree or (Dalbergia sissoo) a type of Indian Rosewood, but not the same at all. I hope you found this of some interest. It “resonated ” with me (sorry). Best regards Joe
Thanks for that info Joe, and good job tracking down those facts!
Also, is there any reason why I should attempt to clean the fretboard of whatever else has been used on it, if say, the smell does not dissipate? I received and cleaned the guitar about three weeks ago, and have played it everyday since, and the smell just popped up a few days ago.
Not really, but if the smell is so bad that it’s affecting your enjoyment of the guitar, you could attempt to strip the wood. You can mix a very dilute mixture of white vinegar and warm water, and use a very soft toothbrush to gently clean the wood (brushing with the direction of the woodgrain, not across). We’re talking a mixture of about 1 teaspoon of vinegar to about 16oz. of warm water. Be extremely careful not to over-soak the wood. You don’t want your frets lifting out of the fret slots. Scrub (gently) a little on one fret, then immediately dry the wood with a paper towel. After you’ve done them all, let the wood completely air dry for a day or two, then apply a very small amount of the F1 oil (because you don’t want to leave the wood completely stripped of moisture). I can’t guarantee it’ll work, but it just may. This is the kind of procedure we’d use to rid a fretboard of fungus (usually the result of people using edible oils that have gone rancid).
Ok thanks for the help! I appreciate it.
http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm I’ve used this product and it works great! I haven’t tried the Music Nomad F-One oil yet but they do make some great guitar products.
Bore Doctor is indeed good stuff. However, I’d encourage anyone reading this to scroll a bit further down that page and there you’ll find the sister product, Fret Doctor, which is made specifically for guitar fretboards.
Though I’ve never tried it, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Fret Doctor. My only beef with it is the price, but if you only have 1 or 2 guitars, a small bottle should last you for several years.
I’ve always used either lemon oil or linseed oil (the type used for cricket bats etc. not the stuff you get from a health food store).
If you’re going to use lemon oil, be sure you’re using the right kind. Not all lemon oils are created equal. Some contain extra harsh chemicals, and some contain NO actual lemon oil at all. I talk about this in my blog post: The Great Lemon Oil Debate. Is Lemon Oil Safe for Guitar Fretboards?
Have you ever heard of anyone using Aroma Therapy Oil on their guitar?
Some of the “Old Hippies” (O.K., 2) here in Austin wiped down their guitars
with Aroma Therapy Oil because they “wanted a better vibe” (not the string
vibration, or guitar sound box vibration) but a better ‘hippie vibe.’ A spiritual
connection to their guitar.
Nope, that would be a first. However, it’s just one of the many strange things I’ve seen people do to their guitars, so I’m not entirely surprised. Hopefully they’re not doing this to high-end Martins, Taylors, etc. The guitar will probably survive, but suffice to say aromatherapy oils weren’t really made for this purpose. Anything used on a guitar has the potential to alter it’s sound in a negative way. If a spiritual connection is more important to them than the guitar’s longevity or tone, then I supposed they’re on the right track.
Nice article, I recently did a write up of the best fretboard oils and Music Nomads F-ONE Oil came out on top. YOU can have a look at it here if you like! djenthub.com/best-fretboard-oil/
Thanks John. I took a look at your article and it’s a nice little writeup. I encourage my readers to pop over to the URL you provided and check it out.
Thanks Bobby, I have plain mineral oil in the house.
Perfect! Apply generously, but don’t let it “soak” too long. Rub it on with a soft cloth (enough that the wood looks shiny), let it set for 2-3 minutes, then wipe off all excess. Don’t let it soak for any extended period. In fact, you’re not trying to “soak” the wood at all.
If it still seems dry after one application, you can repeat the process once more, but don’t over-saturate the wood. If the wood gets soaked with oil, bad stuff can potentially happen (frets can actually lift out of their slots).
Let me know how it goes. Mineral oil isn’t as nice as the F-One oil, but it’s cheap and what I used for years.