Thank you so much for your superb advice! Based on your video I decided to not use Lemon Oil on my ukelele's fretboard. Just a microfiber cloth with a tiny bit of water. Love it! :)
I use simple almond oil for the fretboard and microfibre cloth for cleaning aswell. I bought a 250 ml bottle of the oil and filled 10 ml in a tiny squeeyz bottle (for Smoking liquid) and put it in the small gigbag pocket. The Rest of the oil is used for my hair and as a make up remover. So there are no funky chemicals on my uke or after playing on my fingers. The oil is absolute neutral smelling and not so greasy. And the rosewood seems to love it
Yes that works - but like all oil applications - don't apply too much. Vegetable based oils like this can go rancid over time and start to smell. I literally apply oil to fretboards about once every two or three years - IF NEEDED. Needs no more than that.
When you said bore oil I was like why in the world does that sound familiar. Then when you said people who play clarinet use it I just had flashbacks to middle school playing the clarinet. Even though I tend to block out middle school, knowing what that is thanks to my time there as a now beginner ukulele player will help me know what to look for. I totally agree, you don't need a bunch of stuff on a wooden instrument. If you wouldn't put it on nice wooden furniture, don't put it on your uke! My sister plays violin and all she uses is a microfiber washcloth to clean the residue from the rosin off her strings and instrument. There really isn't a need for all the specialty stuff.
I once bought a spray bottle of "lemon oil" recommended by a guitar specialist for an acoustic guitar I was borrowing. It didn't even smell like lemon, it smelt like petroleum... Really nasty. Used it once but never again. Thinking of using sweet almond oil, as that's what I use in my baroque woodwinds.
Yeah - whilst you CAN get real lemon oil if you look for it - virtually none of the stuff in music shops is the real deal. Almond oil is great - as is orange if you can get the real stuff. I use bore oil.
i’m not sure what is on my ukulele. i’ve had it for 4+ years and i’ve just looked at the fret board, and it is coated with some kind of dirt? it’s all crusted into it and i’m not sure what to do. so far i’ve just been scratching it off with my hands but i’m not sure what else i can do
Yes, absolutely. In fact the oil from your fingers conditions the board. People spend money on oils for the same purpose - I always work on the basis that your fingers are best. Plus, it shows you play it!
Thx dude. I planned to buy a lemon oil from my local hardware store. The store says the lemon oil is good to all kind of wood stuffs.🙄 I don't know what should I use then. Maybe just some coconut oil from my kitchen.
What do i do if i got a nice ukelele from my dad hut he hasnt played it in years, the fret board has a bunch of white lines in the wood going down vertically. Im not surebif its a design thing or if its just cracked
Could be a few things - could be a dry board that is starting to crack - you could try some fretboard oil to condition it. Also seen this happen with open pore wood when somebody has applied wax polish to it - the polish collects in the grains and appears as white spots or lines
I almost bought lemon oil! Thanks for the tip. I have been wondering since I saw this though, What exactly are you doing that you are getting blood and sweat on your instrument? lol Made my day. Thanks!
I once played a 2 hour gig in a VERY hot club and it was very sweaty. Also played so much blistered two strumming fingers which were bleeding by the finish!
If its just a case of removing dust, light grime, fingerboard oils from hands etc - the towel is completely dry. If there is some more stubborn dirt I might VERY lightly dampen a part of the towel to release it. Otherwise - dry is fine.
No, I dont think so - the points with any oil are the following 1. You hardly need any at all, and when you do use it it can literally be an application per year (or less) and natural oils are better. i know people who use walnut oil and orange oil. The issue with natural oils is if you apply too much, they can congeal and then go rancid - meaning the uke will start to smell bad - tiny amounts should be fine though, so long as you are not applying every month.
Thank you so much for your superb advice! Based on your video I decided to not use Lemon Oil on my ukelele's fretboard. Just a microfiber cloth with a tiny bit of water. Love it! :)
510JAZZ my pleasure!
I just lick mine once a week.
***** They taste like chicken Mike...
😂😂😂😂❤
I use simple almond oil for the fretboard and microfibre cloth for cleaning aswell. I bought a 250 ml bottle of the oil and filled 10 ml in a tiny squeeyz bottle (for Smoking liquid) and put it in the small gigbag pocket. The Rest of the oil is used for my hair and as a make up remover. So there are no funky chemicals on my uke or after playing on my fingers. The oil is absolute neutral smelling and not so greasy. And the rosewood seems to love it
Yes that works - but like all oil applications - don't apply too much. Vegetable based oils like this can go rancid over time and start to smell. I literally apply oil to fretboards about once every two or three years - IF NEEDED. Needs no more than that.
Btw.. tons more beginners tips (the stuff tutor books gloss over) here www.gotaukulele.com/p/beginners-guides.html?m=0
Great video - very helpful! Sweet, simple "how to" video that probably just saved the life of my new uke - thanks for posting on this topic!
azwepa62 Thanks!
Thank you. This is exactly why we admire you and love your channel 👍👍👍
So nice of you
When you said bore oil I was like why in the world does that sound familiar. Then when you said people who play clarinet use it I just had flashbacks to middle school playing the clarinet. Even though I tend to block out middle school, knowing what that is thanks to my time there as a now beginner ukulele player will help me know what to look for. I totally agree, you don't need a bunch of stuff on a wooden instrument. If you wouldn't put it on nice wooden furniture, don't put it on your uke! My sister plays violin and all she uses is a microfiber washcloth to clean the residue from the rosin off her strings and instrument. There really isn't a need for all the specialty stuff.
That's the stuff!
Thanks for uploading this, good to know I wasn't completely on the wrong track. I'm off now to bin the lemon oil.
Zero BS approach! Love it. many thanks. 😎
It's the only way to approach things I find!
my cat vomited in my uke's sound hole. 😞
Ack...
XDDDD
Thank you this is actually really helpful ☺️
My pleasure!
I once bought a spray bottle of "lemon oil" recommended by a guitar specialist for an acoustic guitar I was borrowing. It didn't even smell like lemon, it smelt like petroleum... Really nasty. Used it once but never again. Thinking of using sweet almond oil, as that's what I use in my baroque woodwinds.
Yeah - whilst you CAN get real lemon oil if you look for it - virtually none of the stuff in music shops is the real deal. Almond oil is great - as is orange if you can get the real stuff. I use bore oil.
Thank you very down to earth information.
My pleasure!
Very thanks ! Very helpful !🎻
No worries!
Great advice!
i’m not sure what is on my ukulele. i’ve had it for 4+ years and i’ve just looked at the fret board, and it is coated with some kind of dirt? it’s all crusted into it and i’m not sure what to do. so far i’ve just been scratching it off with my hands but i’m not sure what else i can do
Not heard of that before - could just be grime from finger oils
TY TY TY I was so scared bc I'm having my first ukulele lessons and I didn't want to have a dirty ukulele
So if it looks like I have little oily spots from my fingers on the fretboard that’s fine?
Yes, absolutely. In fact the oil from your fingers conditions the board. People spend money on oils for the same purpose - I always work on the basis that your fingers are best. Plus, it shows you play it!
GotAUkulele thank you!
Thanks!
No problem!
Thx dude. I planned to buy a lemon oil from my local hardware store. The store says the lemon oil is good to all kind of wood stuffs.🙄 I don't know what should I use then. Maybe just some coconut oil from my kitchen.
I use the bore oil that classical woodwind players use. They put that stuff on instruments that cost thousands of $$$
What do i do if i got a nice ukelele from my dad hut he hasnt played it in years, the fret board has a bunch of white lines in the wood going down vertically. Im not surebif its a design thing or if its just cracked
It’s from beaver creek
Could be a few things - could be a dry board that is starting to crack - you could try some fretboard oil to condition it. Also seen this happen with open pore wood when somebody has applied wax polish to it - the polish collects in the grains and appears as white spots or lines
@@GotAUkulele would clarinet cork oil work?
I almost bought lemon oil! Thanks for the tip. I have been wondering since I saw this though, What exactly are you doing that you are getting blood and sweat on your instrument? lol Made my day. Thanks!
I once played a 2 hour gig in a VERY hot club and it was very sweaty. Also played so much blistered two strumming fingers which were bleeding by the finish!
@@GotAUkulele lol must have been an incredible show! I hope i get good enough to get blood and sweat on my instrument!
@@emilysaxer3558 One of those where the audience are really going for it and you give it everthing. Really upliftng!
Question: do you dry the towel when your done using it to clean your ukulele?
If its just a case of removing dust, light grime, fingerboard oils from hands etc - the towel is completely dry. If there is some more stubborn dirt I might VERY lightly dampen a part of the towel to release it. Otherwise - dry is fine.
GotAUkulele
Thank you. This helped.
Any substitute for lemon oil?
I use the stuff that oboe / clarinet players use - mineral bore oil. Google something called Fret Doctor
What about the bridge? Should that be oiled as well?
Not particularly important - purely visual.
Thanks, I will keep that in mind for next time.
I used Olive oil on rosewood fretboard... Am I screwed??
No, I dont think so - the points with any oil are the following 1. You hardly need any at all, and when you do use it it can literally be an application per year (or less) and natural oils are better. i know people who use walnut oil and orange oil. The issue with natural oils is if you apply too much, they can congeal and then go rancid - meaning the uke will start to smell bad - tiny amounts should be fine though, so long as you are not applying every month.
Should i put cold or warm water to clean it?
Really not sure it matters - you should be literally own using a drop or two - to barely make a cloth damp
@@GotAUkulele okay thanks its because I put a whole bunch of water it the cloth and uke started to smell bad