I have a Taylor guitar with a eucalyptus fingerboard. I've had it for a few months and I like how fast it is, like maple or ebony. But it isn't really all that smooth when bending strings. I play elixers/Daddarios usually 10s but just got some Daddario Super Light 9s. They were actually hard to find even on their website but they do make them.
Anyway, does anyone else have any info or input on eucalyptus as a fretboard material? I'm hoping the surface will break in and smooth out. I've F-One oiled it, but I only have a couple of hours play time the guitar and was hoping one of you might know something.
It's the Walnut/Spruce AD12e. Sounds and looks amazing. Has perfect intonation, but I wish the board was ebony.
Never use oil on your fretboard. It'll gum up your strings and make them lifeless. If you need to clean the fretboard, use a paper towel , damp and warm. And some elbow grease. You could try the finest steel wool to polish but protect EVERYTHING from the steel fibers that will break off. You don't want that shit in your pots or stuck to your pickups. ( just realized you're talking about an acoustic).
Steel wool will impregnate the wood and eventually rust and discolor, it also causes electrolysis with the strings and frets if any particles of iron are left behind.
Thanks, that does make sense. Although ... 50 years ago when I was 13, I worked for a cabinet and fine furniture artisan. I eventually did all the finishing, including the final maintenance in the show room. I worked mostly with walnut and cherry After all the finishing we used 50/50 linseed oil and turpentine till the wood wouldn't absorb any more. Then periodically, lemon oil and fine steel wool. Never saw an issue with steel wool actually impregnating walnut or cherry. Rosewood or ebony are of course denser wood so I'd be surprised if there was an issue with steel impregnation. Eucalyptus ... who knows. I think you could get away with polishing further with steel wool. Especially on an acoustic. Just be sure to clean well afterwards with a damp paper towel. Caveat; I have zero experience with eucalyptus. The finest steel wool, (000) or (0000) won't scratch anything , it's too fine. It will polish.
[ - ] Name 1 point 1.3 yearsDec 29, 2022 08:58:31 ago (+1/-0)*
Send an email to the manufacturer and ask them.
Regarding polishing; steel wool, sandpaper or rubbing compound; it is just an abrasive.There’s not really too many reasons to use steel wool anymore because there are better modern alternatives. I’ve only messed around with an Ebony fretboard and I am a dumbass so take the following advice with a grain of salt; I think I would start with 600 or 1000Grit wet dry automotive sandpaper (Depending on surface condition of the wood) with a stiffer backing block. Use it wet. Move on to 1500, 2000 and then switch to automotive buffing compounds on a cotton rag, If necessary. 3M has some really nice product lines. You’re probably going to want to clean that rubbing compound off extremely thoroughly and quickly. Also common brass polish and silver polish are very similar to automotive rubbing compound just with much shittier quality control.
If I recall eucalyptus has a fiber structure much like white or red oak which is nowhere near as dense as Ebony. It’s grain structure may be open enough to technically be categorized as a “softwood.” Perhaps it was used primarily for its “Tone-wood“ characteristics rather than its durability? But I don’t remember. Haven’t messed with this shit in years.
I've been considering it, but I'm nervous to fuck up my new guitar. A friend of mine's father says it just needs to be played more. Got me wondering what you guys have to say. Anyway, thanks for the input.
I forgot to mention that the GC near me got it like the day before I bought it. So it's likely that only the guys at Taylor, maybe a GC employee, and I have played it.
Right on, it's the first actual brand new acoustic that wasn't a $160 clunker.
Now that I think of it my Reverend has a similarly rough/grainy rosewood fretboard. It's new too but I get a lot more time in on that one though. I will just play the heck out of them and see what happens. Thanks
It's funny because before I play it I always wash my hands like I'm going to perform surgery. Maybe I'll not wash up to such extent.
When I'm done playing, a wipedown with microfiber cloth is probably enough to keep it nice. It's that fear of hurting a new guitar. Still, I hope it's not just the wood itself. Not much out there about it for fretboards.
[ - ] bosunmoon 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 18:09:47 ago (+1/-0)
I've never had a Taylor, but I've liked every one I've tried. My father used to have one he wouldn't let me play stashed under his bed. When he wasn't around I would pull it out being careful to not desturb the dust on the case so I could play it without getting in trouble.
[ + ] zongongo
[ - ] zongongo 2 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 18:23:42 ago (+2/-0)
It'll gum up your strings and make them lifeless.
If you need to clean the fretboard, use a paper towel , damp and warm.
And some elbow grease.
You could try the finest steel wool to polish but protect EVERYTHING from the steel fibers that will break off.
You don't want that shit in your pots or stuck to your pickups.
( just realized you're talking about an acoustic).
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon 0 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 18:51:22 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] zongongo
[ - ] zongongo 0 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 19:12:55 ago (+0/-0)*
I worked mostly with walnut and cherry
After all the finishing we used 50/50 linseed oil and turpentine till the wood wouldn't absorb any more.
Then periodically, lemon oil and fine steel wool. Never saw an issue with steel wool actually impregnating walnut or cherry.
Rosewood or ebony are of course denser wood so I'd be surprised if there was an issue with steel impregnation.
Eucalyptus ... who knows.
I think you could get away with polishing further with steel wool. Especially on an acoustic.
Just be sure to clean well afterwards with a damp paper towel.
Caveat; I have zero experience with eucalyptus.
The finest steel wool, (000) or (0000) won't scratch anything , it's too fine. It will polish.
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon 0 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 19:17:32 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Hall_of_Cost
[ - ] Hall_of_Cost [op] 0 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 22:30:03 ago (+0/-0)
I'm just going to play it more often and see if it breaks in and smooths out. I've been babying that guitar too much.
[ + ] Name
[ - ] Name 1 point 1.3 yearsDec 29, 2022 08:58:31 ago (+1/-0)*
Regarding polishing; steel wool, sandpaper or rubbing compound; it is just an abrasive.There’s not really too many reasons to use steel wool anymore because there are better modern alternatives. I’ve only messed around with an Ebony fretboard and I am a dumbass so take the following advice with a grain of salt; I think I would start with 600 or 1000Grit wet dry automotive sandpaper (Depending on surface condition of the wood) with a stiffer backing block. Use it wet. Move on to 1500, 2000 and then switch to automotive buffing compounds on a cotton rag, If necessary. 3M has some really nice product lines. You’re probably going to want to clean that rubbing compound off extremely thoroughly and quickly. Also common brass polish and silver polish are very similar to automotive rubbing compound just with much shittier quality control.
If I recall eucalyptus has a fiber structure much like white or red oak which is nowhere near as dense as Ebony. It’s grain structure may be open enough to technically be categorized as a “softwood.” Perhaps it was used primarily for its “Tone-wood“ characteristics rather than its durability? But I don’t remember. Haven’t messed with this shit in years.
[ + ] PeckerwoodPerry
[ - ] PeckerwoodPerry 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 20:27:39 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] AmalekTheZOG
[ - ] AmalekTheZOG 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 16:56:31 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Hall_of_Cost
[ - ] Hall_of_Cost [op] 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 17:04:17 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon 2 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 17:39:54 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] Hall_of_Cost
[ - ] Hall_of_Cost [op] 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 17:41:38 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 17:43:51 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Hall_of_Cost
[ - ] Hall_of_Cost [op] 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 17:54:54 ago (+1/-0)
Now that I think of it my Reverend has a similarly rough/grainy rosewood fretboard. It's new too but I get a lot more time in on that one though. I will just play the heck out of them and see what happens. Thanks
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 18:07:05 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Peleg
[ - ] Peleg 2 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 18:28:43 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] Hall_of_Cost
[ - ] Hall_of_Cost [op] 0 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 22:16:57 ago (+0/-0)
Maybe I'll not wash up to such extent.
When I'm done playing, a wipedown with microfiber cloth is probably enough to keep it nice. It's that fear of hurting a new guitar. Still, I hope it's not just the wood itself. Not much out there about it for fretboards.
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon 1 point 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 18:09:47 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Anus_Expander
[ - ] Anus_Expander 0 points 1.3 yearsDec 29, 2022 08:35:29 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] gaybeeye
[ - ] gaybeeye 0 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 18:37:10 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon 0 points 1.4 yearsDec 28, 2022 18:47:23 ago (+0/-0)