“I’ll take those Boomers, some of these picks, and some woodwind bore oil, please”
The clerk behind the counter said to me “You’re a guitar guy, why are you buying bore oil”
For as long as I can remember band directors have been preaching the virtue of bore oil to clarinet players. It’s used to protect the bore, and prevent mouth liquid from penetrating into the instrument. Basically it adds years to the instrument, prevents cracking, and helps to maintain the integrity of the joints.
I made the connection when I was working retail in a full line music store. every September we would rent or sell hundreds of clarinets, along with the sale bore oil at the directors urging. it was at that time I started using bore oil for fingerboards. The material is thin, so it goes on easily and colorless, so it won’t discolor your board.
About every other month or when I change strings, and apply a fresh coat of bore oil to the board. It penetrates, and makes the board look nice, along with making the guitar it a little faster. This stuff is cheap too, about $2 a bottle. A 2 oz. bottle can last more than a year and can be picked up at any music store that sells band instruments and accessories.
(Note: bore oil can NOT penetrate fingerboards that are lacquered)
Woodwind bore oil. Give it a try.
Filed under: Guitar Tip | Tagged: Bore Oil, Fingerboards, Guitar Maintanance
Great advice! I occasionally use beeswax polish on my fretboard. I’ve found that it really conditions the wood well. But I’m going to try bore oil.
The nice thing about bore oil is that it is thin, and penetrates quickly. it leaves no residue, and virtually no build up.
used musical instruments…
Music was always big in my family! My dad not only owned a music store for a short time but can also play anything with strings. He is such a talented musician and especially when I was little he used to perform with his friends at our house and I used…