Music Nomad F-ONE Fretboard Oil Cleaner User Reviews

After playing for almost 30 years now, I've done a few string changes, and tried a TON of different fretboard cleaner/conditioner formulas..... and honestly, most of them seem to work about equally well. Never had one damage a fretboard through drying or oversaturation, never had one that wouldn't wipe clean, never even had any of them leave strings feeling sticky afterwards. BUT there is one thing that I've learned makes a HUGE difference: the applicator! For a long time I used the "Guitar Honey" brand since it was easy to find locally, and the spray-mist cap works fine but 1. makes a bit of a mess, and B. wastes a bit of the product every time you spray it. So when my last bottle ran out a couple years ago, I decided to try the Dunlop "65" polish-and-fretboard-oil pack. With that one, the polish (spray bottle) is fine, although it doesn't smell as nice as the Gibson-branded one I'm used to. But the fretboard oil that comes with it uses a DAUBER for application! That's right, a felt-tipped dauber almost an inch wide, and it's part of the bottle so you can't even unscrew it to dump the oil onto something else! You might say "Well what's wrong with that?" until you try to use it to oil up the fretboard right next to the fret - it's not happening. Even getting that top between the frets above the 15th is almost impossible; at best, it's a huge pain in the posterior. Ultimately, I got maybe a third of the way through the bottle before I got sick of it and ordered this one - and I am SO glad I did! As expected, the oil itself is on par with any of the others (not sure if much better or worse yet, as I've only done 2 string changes since I got it). But the applicator is EXACTLY what it should be: a fine-tip dropper that allows you to apply just enough oil to the fretboard, exactly where you want it, every single time! I love it!

Sound

As a cleaning/maintenance product, this doesn't have much of its own sound ;) What it does have is a great way to clean and condition unfinished fretboards, without making a mess or wasting product. So after using it, the new strings sound great on my guitars.

Features

THIS is where the F-ONE sets itself above its competitors: that fine-tipped applicator that lets you apply it right where it needs to go. If you accidentally drip too much, you can even use the tip to suck the excess oil back into the bottle! Perfection.

Ease of Use

SUPER easy to use! Just apply a bead of oil to the fretboard, spread it around with your finger, wait a few minutes for it to work its magic, and wipe off the excess with a clean, dry cloth.

Quality

Looks well-put-together, the bottle is just flexible enough without being flimsy. The oil itself looks, feels, and smells like most other products of its kind, and seems to clean and condition normally as well. Will have to see how the boards hold up over the long term, but I expect good results.

Value

Worth it and then some! You can pay more, but I doubt very much that you'll get a better value.

Manufacturer Support

No problems so far, and with their reputation, I don't expect any.

The Wow Factor

It's hard to get a "WOW" from a maintenance product like a cleaner/conditioner, but in this case, I'm gonna let one out. If for no other reason than they didn't overcomplicate the application process with more-expensive processes that waste the product AND don't work right! Good job Music Nomad!

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Submitted April 29, 2016 by Richard V in Oceanport, NJ

"fret oil"

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It does what in is supposed to, and do and does it well. Finger board looks clean and beautiful. Works wonders. Always looks brand new.

Musical Background:

Playing since 7...Guitars, Invent all that will never be heard on the crapy radio...

Musical Style:

interpenetration through strings, Damn the rules.

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Submitted August 8, 2017 by Kevin B in Jewett City, CT

"This is the one"

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After searching and reading reviews on this product I decided to buy some. All natural ingredients w/o all that smelly lemon stuff. I use it at every string change. It makes the grain in my rosewood stand out. Great stuff. Buy some and try it!

Musical Background:

3 year novice player

Musical Style:

rock, goth

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Submitted January 24, 2018 by David Stotts in Newton, NC

"Miracle Liquid"

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I put this on my Ibanez BTB and did it do a great job! Bass fretboard looks new.

Musical Background:

Forever playing, lol

Musical Style:

Standard genres

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