H's LPA-1. How much more black?

[wazkelly]

Sounds good.

[UpperCaseH]

Haha, yeah, looks like it's gonna come up OK in the end. I got pretty disilusioned there for a bit, but it seems like just about everything is fixable with a lot of reading, learning, and effort.

I can now confirm that the 2000 grit with tru oil works well to smooth out a rough-ish body that's been stained and already has many coats of TO. I was worried that I'd rub through the stain, but it doesn't look like it's an issue. There's a small piece on the back where I tested with 1200 grit and that definitely looked like it'd go straight through, so I don't think I'd want to try it with anything coarser than 2000.

I've got about 6 TO coats on the neck, and I think I'll leave it at that. It's got that satin-ish feel at this point and I don't want it to go any glossier.

Anyone know where's a good place to get lemon oil for the fretboard? I can pick it up at a local music shop, but it seems... uh... somewhat over priced for the size of the bottle.

[Simon Barden]

It's never cheap. I normally use the Dunlop 65 lemon oil. I've got a small spray bottle (expensive for what you get) which I keep topped up from one of their larger felt-pad topped bottles (much better value for money) and just look on eBay for the cheapest price.

[wazkelly]

G'day H, I bought some from an Aussie supplier on eBay a while back as that seems to be where you find better prices but unfortunately it doesn't help our local economies.

[Zandit75]

My bottle of lemon oil only cost about $10 from my local music shop, but I can tell it is going to last me a life time. You barely use any for a fretboard.

[Simon Barden]

...though it may depend on the state of the fretboard. On used guitars, which may never have seen any fretboard oil or cleaning in their lifetime, you can tell by how quickly it gets absorbed as to how dry the board is. I have sometimes used three of even four applications to get it 're-oildrated'. You can also use lemon oil for cleaning fretboards, and you can get through a fair bit on a really dirty board with loads of crud build-up. I must admit that I tend to use the Dunlop spray bottle, which is quicker than applying with a rag but more wasteful, so some of the high usage is my own fault.

[FrankenWashie]

I've always been of the more frugal applicator. Hit the cloth with the oil spray and then work in vigorously, tends to re-oil and clean in one operation.

[Simon Barden]

That's fine for regular maintenance work, but sometimes neglected guitars need a lot more attention.

[wazkelly]

And some rosewood fret boards are thirstier than others thus requiring multiple applications over several days or weeks.

[FrankenWashie]

That's fine for regular maintenance work, but sometimes neglected guitars need a lot more attention.

Yeah true enough, though I don't usually only work my own and none of mine are neglected.