fretboard 'deep conditioning' in dry climates?

[bernm]

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone can please share any advice about fretboard conditioning / oiling? If this has already been covered, feel free to point me to an existing forum post, or to a site where this has been discussed.

I know there are options with regards to fretboard conditioning, but my question has more to do with living in a dry rural part of the central west of NSW. Since moving here less than 2 years ago, I've noticed changes in some of our furniture - cracks appearing, etc. Thankfully, my guitars are okay, and I just added a Planet Waves humidifier to one of them as a precaution.

But all of this has got me thinking about the fretboards. I sometimes use a little lemon oil fretboard conditioner on the fretboard when cleaning my guitars, and that has been sufficient, but I'm wondering if there is something more 'substantial' or 'preventative' that I could be doing, given that I now live in a dry part of Australia? Is there an oil that's recommended for low humidity? Or should I stick with basic lemon oil and simply apply it a little more often?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've recently been given an old mandolin banjo with a fretboard that has really suffered from dryness or decades and decades - I'd hate that to be the fate of any of my guitars!

Thanks in advance.

Bern Merchant

bmweb@iinet.net.au

[Bob Connor]

G'day Bern and welcome to the forum.

I don't think any different fingerboard oil will prevent the ravages of low humidity.

Probably best to keep your instruments in their cases with something like a Planet Waves humidifier if you aren't using them.

A plastic soap case with a wet sponge and holes drilled in it will do the same job as the Planet waves device.