Ziricote Fretboard Maintenance

[JBYeager]

I've tried looking around but haven't found a clear answer on this. I recently purchased a Wood Library Custom 24 with a ziricote fretboard, are there any differences in maintaining the wood vs. a normal (ebony or rosewood) fretboard? Just regular cleaning with the PRS cleaner and oiling with the PRS Tung oil once every ~6 months or so?

 

[d^rren]

Not really. Ziricote is very similar in pore structure to Ebony, in my experience. Gentle cleaning and a bit of woodwind bore oil is all you should need on it.

Tung oil on a fretboard? I haven't heard of that before.

 

[JBYeager]

Not really. Ziricote is very similar in pore structure to Ebony, in my experience. Gentle cleaning and a bit of woodwind bore oil is all you should need on it.

Tung oil on a fretboard? I haven't heard of that before.

Tung oil is what comes in the PRS Cleaning Kit. I've used it on my ebony fretboard and it seems to work fine.

PRS Guitar Care Kit

The Guitar Care Bundle includes everything you'll need to keep your PRS guitar in top shape. The bundle includes guitar cleaner, guitar polish, and Tung Oil(all nitro safe) and three micro-fiber polishing cloths. This cleaning system may be used on either nitro or standard PRS finishes. PRS...

us.prsaccessories.com

 

[worthmoremusic]

I've tried looking around but haven't found a clear answer on this. I recently purchased a Wood Library Custom 24 with a ziricote fretboard, are there any differences in maintaining the wood vs. a normal (ebony or rosewood) fretboard? Just regular cleaning with the PRS cleaner and oiling with the PRS Tung oil once every ~6 months or so?

According to NOMAD you can use F1 on all finished fretboards regardless of wood type without worry. I have even used it on fretboards that have an extremely light finish to where it almost feels unfinished without any harm.

 

[JasonE]

I would caution you on putting oil on it at some specific interval. Only put it on if it is needed. Too much oil on a fretboard can cause havoc. If you are playing it a lot, you probably don't need to oil it at all. If you do oil it, you want the least amount of oil on it you can apply. Don't leave any excess on it. I own more than my fair share of guitars and I use Fret Dr. rosewood bore oil. I have some guitars that I have never had to put oil on and others that I oiled one time. I am not sure if I have any that I have ever oiled more than twice, and this is over a couple of decades of owning them. I think people get too carried away with oiling fretboards. This is actually a concern of mine when buying used guitars.

 

[Bogner]

I would caution you on putting oil on it at some specific interval. Only put it on if it is needed. Too much oil on a fretboard can cause havoc. If you are playing it a lot, you probably don't need to oil it at all. If you do oil it, you want the least amount of oil on it you can apply. Don't leave any excess on it. I own more than my fair share of guitars and I use Fret Dr. rosewood bore oil. I have some guitars that I have never had to put oil on and others that I oiled one time. I am not sure if I have any that I have ever oiled more than twice, and this is over a couple of decades of owning them. I think people get too carried away with oiling fretboards. This is actually a concern of mine when buying used guitars.

Very True. Over Oiling Causes Way More Harm Than Good.

 

[worthmoremusic]

I would caution you on putting oil on it at some specific interval. Only put it on if it is needed. Too much oil on a fretboard can cause havoc. If you are playing it a lot, you probably don't need to oil it at all. If you do oil it, you want the least amount of oil on it you can apply. Don't leave any excess on it. I own more than my fair share of guitars and I use Fret Dr. rosewood bore oil. I have some guitars that I have never had to put oil on and others that I oiled one time. I am not sure if I have any that I have ever oiled more than twice, and this is over a couple of decades of owning them. I think people get too carried away with oiling fretboards. This is actually a concern of mine when buying used guitars.

I have only used it a couple of times...on all of my guitars.. I use it very sparingly...it is only left on for maybe 30sec (if that) and wiped off and used only if needed. My apt. has very low humidity so wood can easily dry out. Thanks...but after 30+yrs, so far so good re: maintenance.

 

[alantig]

I've found a quart of oil every 100,000 notes seems to be a good maintenance program.

 

[Greywolf]

a lil dab will do ya

 

[Bogner]

I've found a quart of oil every 100,000 notes seems to be a good maintenance program.

Unless You Are Pulling The Heavies.

 

[rcsrich]

I've found a quart of oil every 100,000 notes seems to be a good maintenance program.

Dinner at KFC, then exercises to make sure you hit every fret.

 

[rcsrich]

I would caution you on putting oil on it at some specific interval. Only put it on if it is needed. Too much oil on a fretboard can cause havoc. If you are playing it a lot, you probably don't need to oil it at all. If you do oil it, you want the least amount of oil on it you can apply. Don't leave any excess on it. I own more than my fair share of guitars and I use Fret Dr. rosewood bore oil. I have some guitars that I have never had to put oil on and others that I oiled one time. I am not sure if I have any that I have ever oiled more than twice, and this is over a couple of decades of owning them. I think people get too carried away with oiling fretboards. This is actually a concern of mine when buying used guitars.

Amen. Oiled my 2012 SG when purchased, just had my tech clean & oil when in the shop last month. Don't think I've ever oiled an ebony board.

 

[Prina]

My '74 LP wasn't oiled till last year and except for the highest frets didn't really need it.

It did get oiled because I'm a big fan of PRS Tung Oil. One of the benefits of tung oil is that it gradually polymerizes and turns into a hard coating. The couple of new(er) fretboards that got it looked & felt better. But as others noted, don't use much.