DN3 Ebony Fretboard clean/condition

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Chalupsky on February 20, 2012 at 11:46pm

I have used Fret Doctor on all my guitars.  Use lightly, let it sit, then wipe off excess.

Permalink Reply by Rick Heenan on February 21, 2012 at 6:58am

I have a 614CE and a couple of Gibson's that have ebony fretboards.  I use Gibson Fretboard Conditioner on all of them.  I would also recommend using that 4 aught steel wool sparingly and lightly, avoiding the inlays whenever possible.  A clean neck is a fast and happy neck.

Permalink Reply by 12-stringer on February 21, 2012 at 12:40pm

Is this what you're referring to? At one of the early Taylor Road Shows (several years back), the amazing Taylor factory technician demonstrated the steel wool fretboard cleaning procedure and then recommended the very sparing use of Howard Feed-N-Wax ONLY on the fingerboard and bridge (both ebony). As also mentioned in the Taylor article linked to above, the rest of the guitar was then polished with Turtle Wax Express Shine.

Another fine fingerboard treatment option is Gerlitz Guitar Honey.

I rotate between the two, using the Howard one time and the Gerlitz the next. Even with treating multiple Taylors, I figure I probably have a lifetime supply with one bottle of each.

And, no, I am not a paid shill for any of the above mentioned firms.

Permalink Reply by george souza on February 21, 2012 at 8:32pm

Thanks guys. I contacted Taylor this morning and was told that they use "boiled linseed oil" on their ebony fretboards. They said to use very very little on a small cloth, and to rub it in well, in the direction of the grain. I Google'd boiled linseed oil and found extreme opinions ranging from "it works great", to "I would never let the stuff touch my fretboard".  

Permalink Reply by Troy Pagels on February 27, 2012 at 4:15pm

What about Bore Oil?

Permalink Reply by Mark Baker on March 26, 2012 at 12:44pm

I've recently started using Dr. Duck's Axe Wax on all my guitars, including my Taylor.  The manufacturer recommends using it on all parts of the guitar, from the finished parts as a cleaning/polishing agent, to the bare wood of the fretboard and bridge, to the metal of the tuners.  I'll admit, I was skeptical at first, but it really works well - including as a fretboard cleaner/conditioner.