Zoom Gear & Home Recording Forum

No way, you guys rock!

I think we had a discussion like this a while ago. I've never used lemon oil on a guitar, because once I read something in some magazine or somewhere that said not to. The reason why goes something like this-- Lemon oil is a petroleum product (it's not made from lemons, it's just lemon scented). Its contents are not regulated. It may contain thinners or other stuff that's not good for the wood. OK, I can't be more specific than this, all I really remember is that I read it once. The traditional fretboard refresher is boiled linseed oil. Boiled, not raw. Don't try to boil it yourself, you'll have to move out for a week and then clean up the smoke damage. If a neck is really grimy, you can use 0000 ("four-ought") plain steel wool on it, moving in the direction of the grain only. There are other products sold for fretboards, but I wouldn't use them, only because I don't know what's in them (trade secret, y'know). And don't use olive oil, like this jerk I used to know did.

You shouldn't wipe it anywhere else on the guitar, because any kind of oil could get under the finish through a chip or crack and discolor the wood, or even cause it to swell and worsen the finish damage.

Crackling from the electronics can sometimes be fixed by exercising, but it works a lot better if you take the cavity cover (pickguard, plates, whatever) off (removing knobs and the nut underneath them is usually a good idea) and give the pot or switch a spray with zero residue electronics cleaner. There's a hole in most pots for this. Spray the stuff in and let it run out, catch the runoff with a rag if possible, then do the gazillion times thing (maybe a few minutes will suffice). Do it again the same day. I've read that not all electronics cleaner is the same, that some brands work better than others. I've used CRC with good results. You can get the good stuff here http://www.stewmac.com/ plus whatever else you might possibly need for messing up a perfectly good guitar.

I love cheap guitars, I wish I had the space to keep them and the time to play them. I'd buy at least a tele copy and a full bodied archtop (I still love my 'bergers, anyway). And I second the comment that they are done and finished a lot better than in the past.

I wouldn't get much use outta an archtop, but I've played one of these, and it was very nice.

$170+S&H. Thinking about buying one. Always thinking.

They had a model very similar, but with toaster humbuckers, a la Ric. That's what I played. Twas very cool.

That guitar looks amazing Matty....you couldn't make one for that kind of money........sideshow bob

Yeah, but I gotta stop buying guitars... for a while. Bills to pay; the Man tryin' to bring me down.

Very interested as to how it goes with you building that bass for Barb. I would lub to have a Jazz bass with Music Man pup & guts. Good for funk & metal, yet traditional looking. Post pics!

Cheap can be very cool. I've got an Epi Les Paul Plus that kicks ass---with 2 Seymour Duncan installed. It's 85% of a legit Les Paul, and I saved about $2000.00 I've also got a $150.00 Squier bass that everybody loves. Go figure.

No worries Matty....I will fully document the build with pics and comments....I'm putting the finishing touches on my LP, and plan to post the build log of both instruments in the future, probably right here in the 'off topic' forum.....good rockin' bro!......sideshow bob