I’ve a guitar with a very light-colored rosewood fretboard. I like the best way it seems after I apply lemon oil, however that solely lasts a day or so. I’ve some wipe-on poly I’ve been itching to rub in to see if I can get a gorgeous depth to that board. Would this injury the guitar? Alternatively, is there an oil that might shine it up and final deal longer? —Will Sutter

Typically, I counsel in opposition to utilizing something past the standard fretboard oils. Wipe-on poly and different such merchandise are designed to construct a movie on a floor. This isn’t what you need on a fretboard—typically, an unfinished floor is what most of us are used to feeling. A poly therapy might additionally complicate future service corresponding to refrets and even fret dressing. Additionally, since your fretboard absolutely already has oils, sweat, and different goodies deeply impregnated into the floor, I might not wager an excessive amount of on correct adhesion between the poly and the floor. The product would possibly by no means dry accurately, or it would dry after which peel off—neither of which is a fascinating final result.

Most lemon oils in the marketplace are, in actual fact, mineral oils with some lemon scent added, or a small proportion of precise lemon oil. These do a fantastic job of wetting the floor and making the whole lot look good, however the mineral oil by no means dries fully, so the impact tends to not final very lengthy. 

There are some oil merchandise in the marketplace which can be designed to polymerize upon publicity to oxygen. A few of these, corresponding to tung oil, have been used traditionally as wooden finishes. Nevertheless, many of those drying oil merchandise have metallic drying brokers corresponding to cobalt combined in which can be considerably poisonous, and that may are likely to make the dried oil gel nearer to the floor somewhat than penetrating. 

Some pure oils, like walnut oil, can oxidize to a dry state and last more than the standard lemon oils. I’ve used the Protect nut-oil–based mostly salad bowl end efficiently; that’s meals protected and can dry.

I’ve additionally had some latest success utilizing paste wax as a fretboard therapy, somewhat than oil. Utilized with some energetic friction, it leaves a beautiful, darkish, and shiny floor that persists longer than the oils. The Renaissance model of microcrystalline wax is a well-liked selection and suggestion. Watch out to keep away from hardware-store waxes (Briwax, for instance), which comprise solvents corresponding to toluene. These are unhealthy for you and your guitar!

As all the time, I like to recommend moderation with oils and waxes. I’ve seen free frets attributable to overzealous oiling, and please don’t deal with any lacquered or completed surfaces with oil—it is not going to assist them and may really trigger issues. Give the wax a strive, and good luck!