Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul?

EasyAce · 08-09-2010, 06:19 PM

The great news---my Les Paul Classic zebrawood arrived today. (Bought it on eBay and she's perfect!)

The bad news---I don't have a clue on what to use to keep the unlacquered finish clean and buff. (I know lemon oil works on the fretboard, and I have good polish for my other Les Paul, a 2006 Studio in wine red.)

Suggestions? Hints? Warnings against? I'm open and I'm grateful.

J.T. · 08-09-2010, 10:12 PM

Just because it's not shiny doesn't mean it's not sealed. Oil won't penetrate it - try it & see. Just keep it wiped down & it'll be fine (lovely wood, by the way!). My Music Rising guitar has a similar sealer, although Gibson wouldn't tell me what it is. If it gets dirty, use a cloth dampened with mild soapy water & wipe it dry afterward.

Now, onto the lemon oil for the fretboard. It's one of my pet peeves. Citrus oils eat glue. Go check the main ingredient in Googone. There's lots of things glued to your fretboard, like fret markers and binding, that you don't want coming unglued. Boiled linseed oil is a better choice, IMO. And $5 will get you a lifetime supply down at your local hardware store.

EasyAce · 08-09-2010, 11:05 PM

Thank you, J.T.! Actually, Beatsie* has a bit of a nice sheen to her. I tried going to the company the other poster linked and all they could tell me was all about zebrawood itself but not the best care. And thanks for the early warning about lemon oil, too! I'm going to buy a bottle of linseed oil tomorrow.

* - I've named her for my favourite paternal great aunt---her real name was Beatrice, "Beatsie" was a family nickname for her, which sort of fits since she was the family's great nicknamer . . . she had a nickname for almost everyone . . . My '06 Studio, wine red with cream trim I had installed instead of the subdued black to make her look like the classic she sounds like and feels like, is named Bessie for my favourite maternal great aunt---who was almost the only maternal relative beside my grandmother who didn't think playing a guitar was a waste of time . . . God rest them both in peace.

FourT6and2 · 08-10-2010, 01:05 AM

I use Guitar Honey on fretboards and Dr. Ducks Axe Wax for everything else. And nice guitar! My bed's headboard is Zebrawood. Sounds great when the ladies bang on it for a tone wood tap test.

diceman · 08-10-2010, 01:10 AM

It looks great - congrats!

EasyAce · 08-10-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FourT6and2

I use Guitar Honey on fretboards and Dr. Ducks Axe Wax for everything else. And nice guitar!

Making notes . . . and many thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FourT6and2

My bed's headboard is Zebrawood. Sounds great when the ladies bang on it for a tone wood tap test.

And that's your business.

EasyAce · 08-10-2010, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diceman

It looks great - congrats!

Thank you, diceman. The only thing better than the way she looks is the way she plays. Like butter on an English muffin.

Gemm · 08-10-2010, 03:55 AM

Wow, what an outrageous finish! Congrats!

BTW, I use a pure beeswax balsam for the neck of my Ovation.

rockstar232007 · 08-10-2010, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diceman

It looks great - congrats!

+1.

Imagine how much that wood grain would "POP" with a glossy finish!

EasyAce · 08-10-2010, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemm

Wow, what an outrageous finish! Congrats!

Thanks so much! I have to admit that the look of the finish helped sway me to this one---I'd wanted a Classic, anyway, I played one in a store and fell in love with the buttery feel and deeper sound, and I'd seen a couple of zebrawoods elsewhere whose finishes didn't look all that straight, but this one is a beauty. I'm very blessed to have two Les Pauls to be proud of, this Classic and my Studio . . .

EasyAce · 08-10-2010, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstar232007

+1.

Imagine how much that wood grain would "POP" with a glossy finish!

"Pop" as in shimmer, or "pop" as in explode?

I like her just the way she is. Smooth in the finish as she is to play.

rockstar232007 · 08-10-2010, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasyAce

"Pop" as in shimmer, or "pop" as in explode?

I like her just the way she is. Smooth in the finish as she is to play.

I'm not saying that you should make it glossy, as she is beautiful reguardless, but how great it would have been if they would have had a glossy version available also.

Just to reiterate

J.T. · 08-10-2010, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasyAce

Thank you, J.T.! Actually, Beatsie* has a bit of a nice sheen to her. I tried going to the company the other poster linked and all they could tell me was all about zebrawood itself but not the best care. And thanks for the early warning about lemon oil, too! I'm going to buy a bottle of linseed oil tomorrow.

Make sure it's boiled linseed oil. The non-boiled oil will get tacky and harden up. The boiled type won't. And to be honest, I've never seen citrus oil do anything bad to a guitar, but my furniture refinisher guy has told me that it will delaminate veneered wood, so I'd rather not take any chances with my guitars. Gotta figure the glue isn't that much different.

EasyAce · 08-10-2010, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.T.

[T]o be honest, I've never seen citrus oil do anything bad to a guitar, but my furniture refinisher guy has told me that it will delaminate veneered wood, so I'd rather not take any chances with my guitars. Gotta figure the glue isn't that much different.

That's the key. You don't want to take chances with something as fine as a good guitar.

tolm · 08-10-2010, 11:51 AM

Sweet guitar - love Zebrawood!

Would the same stuff mentioned in this thread be good for cleaning/polishing my LP Studio Vintage Mahongany / Faded? It's looking like it could do with something but it's a very rough (to the touch) finish so cloths tend to leave a lot of lint behind - been tempted to try oiling it but don't want to mess it up completely!!!

River · 08-10-2010, 12:01 PM

Most "Lemon Oil" is not citrus oil - it's Mineral Oil. I've used Mineral Oil (pure, straight, drinkable, sold as a laxative) for decades with no ill effects.

EasyAce · 08-10-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.sewell

Sweet guitar - love Zebrawood!

Thank you! I fell in love with the finish on this guitar when seeing it listed on eBay; I'd wanted a Classic, loved the way one felt when I played it in a store recently, and this one was the best-looking zebrawood grain of any of the ones whose images I'd seen. I'm thrilled to say that, since I got her yesterday, she plays like butter on a muffin. And if you play the blues (not "blues rock," not "blues-influenced rock," I mean the blues), this is about the sweetest piece of guitar to play the blues you'll ever get your hands on!

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.sewell

Would the same stuff mentioned in this thread be good for cleaning/polishing my LP Studio Vintage Mahongany / Faded? It's looking like it could do with something but it's a very rough (to the touch) finish so cloths tend to leave a lot of lint behind - been tempted to try oiling it but don't want to mess it up completely!!!

I can't see where the stuff our other friends have mentioned could hurt your guitar. I suppose the trick, if your Studio has either a rough or slightly porous finish, would be to go over it with a mildly damp cloth once to pick up the leftover lint and then wipe dry with a dry cloth. I've been using the Gibson Gear cloths on my glossy guitars and I used one just to dry-wipe Beatsie when she arrived Monday, and I didn't notice any problem with leftover fuzz.

DonP · 08-10-2010, 01:56 PM

This guitar is going to get ****ed up.

Just play the dam thing and stop trying to destroy it.

EasyAce · 08-10-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonP

This guitar is going to get ****ed up.

Just play the dam thing and stop trying to destroy it.

I appreciate the sentiment but believe me, I'm not looking to **** the guitar up. I just want to take care of her the right way. (Fool that I am, I take care of my instruments . . . )

08-09-2010, 06:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
EasyAce Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 7,688 Thanks: 95 Thanked 141 Times in 55 Posts	Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul? The great news---my Les Paul Classic zebrawood arrived today. (Bought it on eBay and she's perfect!) The bad news---I don't have a clue on what to use to keep the unlacquered finish clean and buff. (I know lemon oil works on the fretboard, and I have good polish for my other Les Paul, a 2006 Studio in wine red.) Suggestions? Hints? Warnings against? I'm open and I'm grateful.

08-09-2010, 10:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
J.T. Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: FLA, USA Posts: 1,536 Thanks: 16 Thanked 28 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul? Just because it's not shiny doesn't mean it's not sealed. Oil won't penetrate it - try it & see. Just keep it wiped down & it'll be fine (lovely wood, by the way!). My Music Rising guitar has a similar sealer, although Gibson wouldn't tell me what it is. If it gets dirty, use a cloth dampened with mild soapy water & wipe it dry afterward. Now, onto the lemon oil for the fretboard. It's one of my pet peeves. Citrus oils eat glue. Go check the main ingredient in Googone. There's lots of things glued to your fretboard, like fret markers and binding, that you don't want coming unglued. Boiled linseed oil is a better choice, IMO. And $5 will get you a lifetime supply down at your local hardware store. __________________ LP's - '57 Alnico Custom, '61 Standard, '80 Heritage 80 Elite, '82 Heritage 80 Std., '83 Spotlight Special ASB, '83 Flametop 59 Reissue, '84 Goldtop Reissue, '05 Music Rising, '08 Spotlight proto Others - '59 ES-225TD, '64 Melody Maker, '69 Firebird I, '07 Martin OMC-28E Amps - '57 Fender Super, '77 MusicMan HD130R/212RH, '09 Orange Dual Terror 196? Echoplex EP-1 - serial # 856

08-09-2010, 11:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
EasyAce Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 7,688 Thanks: 95 Thanked 141 Times in 55 Posts	Re: Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul? Thank you, J.T.! Actually, Beatsie* has a bit of a nice sheen to her. I tried going to the company the other poster linked and all they could tell me was all about zebrawood itself but not the best care. And thanks for the early warning about lemon oil, too! I'm going to buy a bottle of linseed oil tomorrow. * - I've named her for my favourite paternal great aunt---her real name was Beatrice, "Beatsie" was a family nickname for her, which sort of fits since she was the family's great nicknamer . . . she had a nickname for almost everyone . . . My '06 Studio, wine red with cream trim I had installed instead of the subdued black to make her look like the classic she sounds like and feels like, is named Bessie for my favourite maternal great aunt---who was almost the only maternal relative beside my grandmother who didn't think playing a guitar was a waste of time . . . God rest them both in peace. __________________ R9, R6, Classic Antique; two Fender amps (Twin Reverb, Deluxe Reverb 65RI); Boss volume pedal; Boss equaliser pedal *When I’m singing blues, I’m singing life. People that can’t stand to listen to the blues, they’ve got to be phonies.---Etta James Without a guitar, I'm like a poet with no hands.---Mike Bloomfield. [If it wasn’t] for the blues, we’d all be sitting around sipping tea and listening to chamber music.*---Mickey Baker. http://soundcloud.com/easyace/my-home-is-where-my-heart-is

08-10-2010, 01:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
FourT6and2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 859 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul? I use Guitar Honey on fretboards and Dr. Ducks Axe Wax for everything else. And nice guitar! My bed's headboard is Zebrawood. Sounds great when the ladies bang on it for a tone wood tap test. __________________ Diezel VH4 Cameron CCV Bogner 4x12 '79 Silverburst '84 Silverburst

08-10-2010, 01:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 29,930 Thanks: 1,212 Thanked 419 Times in 83 Posts	Re: Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul? It looks great - congrats!

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08-10-2010, 03:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Gemm Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: UK Posts: 676 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul? Wow, what an outrageous finish! Congrats! BTW, I use a pure beeswax balsam for the neck of my Ovation.

08-10-2010, 11:51 AM	#15 (permalink)
tolm Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bournemouth, UK Posts: 2,388 Thanks: 27 Thanked 19 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul? Sweet guitar - love Zebrawood! Would the same stuff mentioned in this thread be good for cleaning/polishing my LP Studio Vintage Mahongany / Faded? It's looking like it could do with something but it's a very rough (to the touch) finish so cloths tend to leave a lot of lint behind - been tempted to try oiling it but don't want to mess it up completely!!!

08-10-2010, 12:01 PM	#16 (permalink)
River Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rural Colorado, USA Posts: 54,544 Thanks: 745 Thanked 847 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul? Most "Lemon Oil" is not citrus oil - it's Mineral Oil. I've used Mineral Oil (pure, straight, drinkable, sold as a laxative) for decades with no ill effects. __________________ River Bottom Blues Band - Music Home of the River Bottom Blues Band

08-10-2010, 01:56 PM	#18 (permalink)
DonP Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 547 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Help---What is the Best Care for a Zebrawood Les Paul? This guitar is going to get ****ed up. Just play the dam thing and stop trying to destroy it.

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