LORE® Cold Pressed Lemon Seed Fingerboard Oil is formulated from cold pressed lemon seed oil — a stable, plant-based oil that conditions unfinished fingerboard wood without the petroleum derivatives, mineral oil, or synthetic fragrance found in most commercial "lemon oils." This guide covers everything you need to know to get the best results from it.
What It's For
LORE® Fingerboard Oil is designed for unfinished fingerboard woods — rosewood, ebony, pau ferro, and similar porous woods. It conditions the wood, replenishes natural moisture, and protects against the drying effects of sweat, heat, and low humidity.
It is not for use on finished maple fingerboards. If your fingerboard has a lacquer, polyurethane, or nitrocellulose coating, use LORE® Instrument Polish instead.
What You'll Need
- LORE® Cold Pressed Lemon Seed Fingerboard Oil
- A clean microfibre cloth or lint-free cloth
- A soft brush (optional, for fret slots)
Step-by-Step Application
1. Remove the strings. For a thorough application, remove all strings to give yourself full access to the fingerboard. For a quick maintenance application, you can work around the strings, but full access gives better results.
2. Clean the fingerboard first. Wipe the board with a dry cloth to remove loose debris. For heavier grime, clean before oiling — oil applied over grime seals it in rather than conditioning the wood.
3. Apply a small amount of oil to your cloth. A few drops — roughly the size of a 5p coin — is sufficient for a full fingerboard. Apply to the cloth, not directly to the wood. Less is more: you can always add a second application if the wood is very dry.
4. Work the oil into the wood. Using the cloth, work the oil into the fingerboard in small sections, moving along the grain. Pay attention to the fret edges where grime accumulates. A soft brush can help work oil into fret edge.
5. Leave to absorb. Allow 5–10 minutes for the oil to absorb into the wood. On a very dry board, you may see the oil absorb quickly and the wood darken evenly — this is normal and desirable.
6. Wipe away all excess. This step is critical. After the absorption period, wipe the entire fingerboard thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth. Any oil remaining on the surface after this point is excess — it won't absorb further and will attract debris. The board should feel smooth and slightly enriched, not oily or tacky.
7. Restring and play. Allow a few minutes after wiping before restringing. The fingerboard should feel noticeably smoother and look richer in colour.
How Often to Apply
- Rosewood: 2–4 times per year, or when the wood looks dry or ashy
- Ebony: 1–2 times per year — ebony is denser and needs less frequent treatment
- Pau ferro and similar: 2–3 times per year
Oil by condition, not by calendar. If the board looks and feels fine, it doesn't need oil yet.
What to Expect
After application, the fingerboard will appear slightly darker and richer in colour — this is the wood absorbing the oil and is the desired result. The surface should feel smooth and supple, not greasy. If it feels tacky, you've applied too much — wipe thoroughly with a dry cloth and allow to dry further.
A Note on New Guitars
New guitars often have very dry boards. Applying oil to a new fingerboard is worth while however — assess it first. If it looks and feels fine, leave it until it shows signs of dryness.
LORE® Cold Pressed Lemon Seed Fingerboard Oil is designed to do one thing well: condition unfinished fingerboard wood with a clean, stable, plant-based oil that absorbs properly and leaves no harmful residue. Apply sparingly, wipe thoroughly, and oil only when the wood needs it.
LORE® Cold Pressed Lemon Seed Fingerboard Oil also pairs perfectly with the LORE® Fingerboard & Body Wax. They are both oil based and work well as a two-part system. Apply the oil first as stated above and finish with the wax for a longer lasting finish.