More often than not, every guitar owner needs to hear this advice: “It’s essential to oil your guitar’s fretboard.” That is solid advice, still, you don’t need to oil your fretboard quite frequently. So, when you do decide to do it, you don’t need to use too much oil. Can I use sunflower oil on my guitar? Stay tuned for more down below!
Many people wonder if they can use sunflower oil on their guitar fretboard. Let’s say you’re using organic oil products in little doses. That can be okay to some extent. However, it is not advisable to use any edible oils as they can degrade.
Table of Contents
Oiling the Guitar Fretboard
You may have seen some ancient guitars that have never had their fretboards oiled, and still, they appeared fine. Nobody would advise giving your fretboard any drink, just take it easy. Surely, your mileage might differ relying on how much you use or abuse your precious string instrument.
Notably, if oiling your fretboard is something you want to do, think about this critical point: Your guitar is not a salad. This truly goes without saying!
Try not to use oils on the guitar fretboard that humans can eat, such as olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, etc. Why is this important? These food-grade oils include a finite shelf life. They ultimately spoil. Now think about if you truly want gross oil deep inside your guitar’s fingerboard. Not really.
You may hear some people using food-grade oils on their fretboard. The causes vary from not knowing any better to straight-up falsehoods like, “If I can eat it, it’s likely safe for wood too.” Individuals making the latter statement have forgotten that edible items someday do degrade.
Tip: If you are curious about this topic, you can check out our guide which explains if tube amps are obsolete.
Rancid Fingerboard – The Obvious Signs
More often than not, if you’re fortunate, nothing too surprising. When these edible oils go bad, they won’t smell awful, nor will your guitar fretboard outgrow mushrooms. Even though, in severe cases, mold spores can develop and become perceptible on the fretboard).
Oil rancidity is so standard that most of us have unconsciously eaten decaying oils at one time or another. It’s just noticeable as a difference in the oil’s flavor and scent. Notably, you’d only realize it if you knew what rancid oil tastes or smell like.
There’s still an intriguing question: Do you want rancid oil absorbed into the wood fibers of your guitar fretboard?
To cut a long story short, slathering these edible oils on your fretboard will make it look wholesome and nourished as any oil would. Where it becomes a possible issue is when it’s done often over a very long time.
Tip: Take this into consideration! Be aware and understand that tuning up a guitar does not need to be bad.
Utilize the Right Stuff
We have this fact, after all: food oils simply aren’t the best thing to utilize on your fretboard, so why would you risk it? There are numerous alternatives out there.
If you’ve determined that oiling your fretboard is something you’d like to do, then utilize oils and stuff only for guitar fretboards by popular guitar product businesses. These businesses don’t want to harm your guitar; that’s wrong for business. Keep this in mind at all times!
Tip: You can really see if your guitar is plywood by locating the tiny smudged part. Did you know this?
The Best Products to Use on the Guitar Fretboard
The pursuing are items that are proven to be safe and effective for oiling fretboards. Let’s dive into them now!
#1 Plain, Pure Mineral Oil
This is one product that many people use: plain mineral oil. It’s the same things people can drink as a laxative.
You can find this on Amazon, or you can also grab a tiny bottle of it cheaply at your local supermarket or pharmacy. Only make sure it’s hygienic and doesn’t have any odd additives such as tints or scents. As you’ll just be oiling your fretboard once a year, you exclusively need a little bottle.
Note: For your sake, and for the sake of others, try not to play the guitar in a big storm. Safety always matters!
#2 Music Nomad Fretboard Oil Cleaner
You can also try this one as a potential substitute for plain mineral oil. You will definitely love it as you start using it regularly on guitar fretboards. Although it states “cleaner” you can use it for conditioning after you have given your fretboards a complete cleaning with other stuff. This can be employed on unfinished rosewood too!
Tip: Now, we need to mention another crucial concept. You should know how tight your guitar tuners should be.
#3 Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes
Last but certainly not least, this is also an amazing item for your guitar fretboard. There’s the extra benefit that they’re separately packaged, which makes them very suitable.
You may have seen many individuals who love these wipes and worship them. Begin with the basic six-pack, by all means. If you exclusively hold one guitar, then the six-pack should endure a couple of years.
How to Store a Guitar?
The sound quality of your guitar depends on its maintenance. It may seem illogical to you, but it is true. The most important thing when maintaining a guitar is choosing the right and safe place to store it.
It’s usually the guitar case itself. When you’re not playing the guitar, it’s logical to store it away in a guitar case. Some of you keep your guitars in plain sight, on a stand. Yes, they can look great there, as a room decoration.
The problem arises if they fall or tip over because severe damage can occur. But, if you decide to store your guitar(s) on the stand, place it somewhere in some safe corner of the room.
It is also necessary to check the humidity in the room where you keep the guitar. This is exactly why we recommend that you use a guitar case.
Temperature Changes and the Effect on Your Guitar
Sudden changes in temperature over a short period can damage the guitar. Never leave your guitar in extreme heat or cold for too long when traveling. If this does happen to you, don’t panic.
Just bring the guitar inside and give it as much time as possible to acclimate to room temperature. To speed up the process, try opening the guitar case.
Keep Consistent Humidity
The other important thing you need to consider is to maintain consistent humidity. This is practically necessary if you have an acoustic guitar. Too much moisture can cause cracks and destroy fret ends on your guitar.
To prevent this, you need to get a humidification system. This system will ensure that your guitar is kept at a constant humidity level of 45% to 50%.
Set Up Your Guitar
Guitar supervision usually includes the requirement to be set up to keep their playability. Environments with continually changing weather will need adjustments more often than not, by all means.
It is advisable to take a look at the guitar setup manual for more details about setting up your precious guitar.
Tip: Is it really true that some guitarists are quite arrogant? Is this a false impression or is it possible that some really are?
How to Clean a Guitar?
Please try to clean your guitar as often as you can. By cleaning, you will preserve your guitar and extend the life of your strings and hardware. Here are some tips for keeping your guitar clean and in good shape.
Make it a daily Ruthin to clean your precious instrument. We promise you won’t be sorry. And try to remember the following tip – before playing, always wash your hands. It is good to wipe off your guitar after playing and before you place it in a guitar case. To clean guitar strings, use the special string cleaner.
How to Clean the Potentiometers?
It happens that dirt, such as dust and sweat, accumulates in the potentiometers (buttons). This can cause a scratchy sound when you play the guitar.
The solution to this inconvenience is to repeatedly turn the pot back and forth until it disappears. If the sound does not go away, take the guitar to the technician. You can also get “Deoxlt” spray for deep cleaning and better performance maintenance.
Fretboard Cleaning and Upkeep
The best time for cleaning your guitar’s fretboard is when you change or remove your strings. You can buy a fretboard conditioner to do the proper cleaning.
They will make your fingerboard hydrated and look shiny and new. Never use furniture polish or any glass cleaner on a guitar because this will damage the finish.
Special warning for maple fretboards:
Many Stratocasters and Telecasters have a maple fretboard. If this is the case, don’t ever use lemon oil or a fretboard conditioner on them. You just need to wipe them down with a microfiber cloth or a guitar polish.