this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2025
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Other than bringing out the colour, it reinforces the wood: if you let the wood dry too much it becomes brittle and over time gets ruined by just playing it.
About how often you have to do it, it really depends on the wheather where you live: if you live in a dry weather or you have a dry house, it might be a good idea putting just a little bit oil on every time you change the strings
That's my goal now that I have some oil to use. Dot really change strings much. Only if I'm gonna record something important in the next day or so
And I suggest you don't spend a fortune with guitar products either: I use ~~linseed~~ mineral oil for furniture, you can buy it in hardware stores at 3€ for a liter (which is pretty much a lifetime supply), but also whatever cooking oil you have in the house is fine
Linseed oil is tricky and comes in many forms. I'd say avoid it or read up. Also on the dangers of its handling and disposal.
Many food oils can go rancid. Some will be fine. I'd say avoid it or read up.
Many furniture products are irritant and many contain silicone oil, which ruins everything that it contaminates. Which is everything. Avoid silicone oil like the plague.
Plain mineral (paraffin) oil is usually the go to for wood including utensils and cutting boards. Absorbs pretty well and doesn't gum up or go rancid. Should not be allergenic. Most guitar products are just paraffin oil with an added scent and branding.
Some people also use beeswax or other paste wax instead of a runnier oil.
But YMMV. I'd say see what's available and read up. Good oil should be available dirt cheap. Of course you only need a few drops, so cost hardly matters that much if all you ever oil is a fretboard.
Oh, don't oil lacquered (maple) or probably synthetic fretboards. Just in case that's not obvious to some reader. :)
Yeah let me correct myself, where I'm from we call "linseed oil" every clear furniture oil, I'm sure it's not actual linseed but some sort of refined mineral oil
I got some oil from a site because if I spent over a minimum I'd get free shipping so figured I'd get some.