There is arguably no debate more prevalent amongst guitarists than which oil you should be using on your fretboard. Indeed, every conversation and piece of research seems to have conflicting results, making it very difficult to come to your own conclusion. So, out of all the oils available on the market, you might be wondering, “Can I put baby oil on my fretboard?”
Since most baby oils are mineral-based, you can use them to oil your guitar’s fretboard, but it is not recommended. However, as with any other oil, baby oil should be used very sparingly on your guitar’s fretboard and only once a year if necessary. You should never use baby oil on maple fretboards.
By now, if you have already had a few conversations and done a little bit of research, your eyebrow is likely to be slightly raised. That is undoubtedly because of all the conflicting information that is out there. So, let’s explore the facts and discover if you can use baby oil on your fretboard, what other oils you can use, and which oil is the best to use on fretboards.
Can You Use Baby Oil On A Guitar Fretboard?
When it comes to which oil you should use on your fretboard, a quest to find out what should be accessible information can often leave you feeling frustrated and downright confused. You could ask guitar techs from various music stores or search the internet, and you are guaranteed to get conflicting answers about which oils you should and shouldn’t use.
This is because, typically speaking, when a guitarist or a guitar tech finds a guitar maintenance product that works for them, they will swear by it alone, and nothing else could live up to that standard. Indeed, brand and product loyalty is rampant amongst guitar players.
Generally speaking, the debate around which fretboard oil is best is very similar to the age-old debate of Gibson vs. Fender guitars. In many ways, the answer is far more about personal preference than fact. So, back to our original question, can you use baby oil on your guitar? The answer is yes, absolutely!
Most baby oils are mineral oils at their core. And the truth is that most commercial fretboard oil products are made using mineral oils. Most people’s issue with baby oil and mineral oils, in general, is that they are often petroleum distillation byproducts. These products’ real-life effect on fretboards has been blown way out of proportion.
The truth is that baby oil works wonders on a guitar fretboard, but specifically for cleaning and not so much conditioning. Using baby oil on your fretboard will have it looking brand-spanking new. However, its fretboard conditioning properties may not be as effective as products designed explicitly for fretboards, so we can’t say that we recommend using it.
A related question that you may also consider thinking about is whether you should oil your guitar body, check out the answer here!
If you are going to use baby oil on your fretboard, make sure that you purchase one without any added chemicals. Also, use it very sparingly, as you would with any other fretboard oil. A few drops roughly once a year is more than enough in most circumstances.
What Oil Can You Use On A Fretboard?
So, now that you know that baby oil is a viable option for oiling your guitar’s fretboard, what other oils can you use? Well, there are several options. As previously mentioned, almost every guitarist or guitar tech uses something different, yet each of them will swear by their results.
This is because out of all the options that are available and used by guitarists and guitar techs from all over the world, all of them will get the job done. Some, however, are guaranteed to work better than others – which we will get to later.
There are two primary types of oil that you should use for oiling your fretboard, and these types are used in commercial fretboard oil products. They are mineral oils and linseed oils. Let’s discover more detail about each of these kinds of oils.
Mineral Oil
In most cases, mineral oils are petroleum distillates. They are made as a byproduct of refining crude oil. That on its own doesn’t sound like something that you would want to put on your fretboard; however, the results undoubtedly speak for themselves.
Mineral oil is odorless, colorless, and, most importantly, lightweight. Thanks to its moisturizing and conditioning properties, it is used in a wide range of products, including skincare products. Another reason why mineral oil is so popular on fretboards is that it is a non-drying oil. This means that it won’t get grimy or hardened on your fretboard.
Dunlop’s Ultimate Lemon Oil is a great mineral oil-based product specifically for guitar fretboards. However, this should never be used with maple fretboards.
Linseed Oil
Linseed oil is produced from flax seeds and is another popular fretboard oil solution used by many guitarists and commercial fretboard products. Like mineral oil, linseed oil is lightweight, which is part of what makes it suitable for guitar fretboards.
However, unlike mineral oil, linseed oil is a drying oil. Many guitar players prefer this because it doesn’t leave a fretboard feeling as greasy as mineral oil products.
Another reason that some guitarists prefer linseed oil for their fretboards is that it does not contain petroleum distillates. While we’ve established that this isn’t an issue, some guitarists prefer it for peace of mind. Ultimately, both options are great and will undoubtedly get the job done.
Music Nomad’s F-One oil is a great option to try out.
Something else you may want to consider is whether you should remove the strings on your fretboard before oiling it, find out here!
The Best Oil To Use For Fretboards
So, what is the best oil to use for fretboards? Once again, the answer comes down to personal preference. You can’t go wrong with mineral oil and linseed oil-based fretboard conditioning products.
However, there is a favorite amongst many guitarists and guitar techs that has quickly made a name for itself as arguably one of the best fretboard oils to use. We would recommend using Fret Doctor. Made from a blend of plant oils, emulsifiers, and antioxidants, Fret Doctor is known for being an excellent product for guitar maintenance and preserving the health and quality of your fretboard.
The reviews speak for themselves, but it’s the results that ultimately count the most.
Conclusion
All in all, the debate around fretboard oils is something that needs to be laid to rest. The back and forth around different opinions has confused many guitar players around the world. Ultimately, knowing which fretboard oil to use is not that complicated, and if you stick to our guidelines, you will have a fresh looking and playing fretboard forever.
Resources
https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/baby-oil-fretboard.92691/
https://www.soft.com.sg/forum/showthread.php?79067-Using-Johnson-baby-oil-for-fretboard