Guitar Restoration Part 13

Oiling the neck of your guitar to bring the wood back to life is important. Without the oil the neck the wood dries out and has a propensity to warp, therefore the guitar will not stay in tune.

There are a few products on the market like mineral oil and lemon oil, I would avoid both regardless of what the boffin’s in the stores tell you. Mineral oil is derived from petroleum and not natural to the wood grain, whilst lemon oil is acidic and will eventual break down the wood and its binding properties. Both result in an unnatural feel and rapid deterioration of your precious baby.

I once had a conversation with Tommy Emmanual about this, his emphatic response was "Linseed Oil!". For those unfamiliar, Linseed oil is also known as Flaxseed oil (yeah, the stuff those health nuts have been telling you to eat for years!). This oil restores the woods natural oils and keeps it moist, thus replenishing the grains and extending the life of your guitar.