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"Moisture bubbles" (?) on my Jimmy Page CA fretboard...

The Greek

New member
Joined
Jul 17, 2008
Messages
111
Hi everyone.

Has anyone else experienced this on their Les Pauls?

I took some (crappy) photos with my mobile phone where the "moisture bubbles" can be hopefully seen...This is the first time that something like that happens to any of my guitars...

The guitar "lives" in a 4-floor house and it's mainly kept on the 2nd or 3rd floor.I say this because this happened about 45 minutes after I took the guitar to the basement where my office/"guitar workshop" is.I wanted to change the strings when I suddenly noticed it.It's very humid here because the last 2-3 days it's constantly raining.I perfectly know about the excessive moisture/dryness dangers that's why I don't keep it in its case and I always keep her in a well ventilated area.

Should I really worry?As I said,never before sth like that has ever happened to any of my guitars...

Thanks for your help!

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stipping

New member
Joined
Nov 30, 2008
Messages
126
Were the bubbles there when you took it out of the case? I've never experienced on the fret board but had two instances when I was on the road where I took my LP out of the case and there was condensation on the back of the guitar. It was hot and humid and what we figured was the guitar had some sweat on it from the last performance and I didn't wipe it down well. I've been very conscious of wiping it down after gigs since and have never seen it again. I can understand your concern, it scared me to see the entire back of my guitar with droplets of water on it after pulling it out of its case. But after cleaning it and drying out that spot of the case, everything has been fine. Hope it's similar for you.
 

The Greek

New member
Joined
Jul 17, 2008
Messages
111
Were the bubbles there when you took it out of the case?

It wasn't in a case.It was on a stand on the 3rd floor of my house without that condensation thing.Then I took it down to the basement along with a Strat to change their strings.Started with the Strat,then moved on to it and noticed it.It was already in the basement for aprox. 45min.This "condensation thing" was only on the fretboard and nowhere else.

I'm not a pro musician,so 99% of the time my guitars are in the house.I generally follow the golden rule (according to my opinion) of keeping my guitars wherever I feel comfortable.No dehumidifiers or anything like that,just good natural ventilation etc.

I'm pretty sure that this was a combination of a generally very humid environment the last 3-4 days where it constantly rains and the fact that the guitar was moved in the basement where the humidity levels were higher...

I've already wiped it and put on the new strings and it's ok now,but I'm worried whether this condensation thing happening could have a bad impact on the structural rigidity of the fretboard in the long term or any other bad impact... :hmm
 

J T

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
10,501
Dude that's from your fingers. The oil on your fingers while playing. You can get some Fret Doctor and lightly wipe down the board it will soak into the wood and even out the color
 

Chef Greg

Active member
Joined
Jan 17, 2002
Messages
6,611
Yep, I agree w/ JT ... not worry -- use a bit of Fret Dr. at every string change or two, play the devil out of it and all will be fine!
 

The Greek

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Joined
Jul 17, 2008
Messages
111
Dude that's from your fingers. The oil on your fingers while playing.

I wasn't playing it when this happened.In fact it was over 24-48 hours since I last played it.I just took it with me in the basement and it was on its stand when those little "moisture bubbles" came up...

(unless you're referring to those fingertip marks on the fretboard,but that's not what I'm talking about here.Unfortunately,those pics aren't clear enough to show those little "moisture bubbles" that came/popped up on the fretboard...)

play the devil out of it and all will be fine!

This guitar is my favorite and is played nearly every day for at least 1 hour or so.That's why I'm so worried about that incident...
 

J T

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
10,501
A dry fretboard will act like a sponge and soak up the oils from your fingers. Those little glistening dots appear to be just that. Those specks look like they are only in the dark elliptical areas where your fingers land on the fretboard. Just a little Fret Doctor and a clean lint free cloth and light rubbing will fix that right up. :)
 

wild.joz

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Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
1,934
I wouldn't worry too much.
As you've said, constant raining means a possible extreme high relative humidity in your house, even more in the basement. That's in the ambient air, and there's not much you can do, but keeping your guitar away from its environement, at least until the weather gets better/dryier. Just wipe the fretboard clean and keep the guitar in the case. Those tiny micro-drops are probably equivalent to a fraction of the amount of water you put on it everyday with your sweat :)
 

Left Paw

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Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
39
It is condensation. Any cool object taken to a warmer more humid location will have condensation form. Wipe it off and try to avoid such abrupt changes.

LP
 

Al Russo

Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
585
It wasn't in a case.It was on a stand on the 3rd floor of my house without that condensation thing.Then I took it down to the basement along with a Strat to change their strings.Started with the Strat,then moved on to it and noticed it.It was already in the basement for aprox. 45min.This "condensation thing" was only on the fretboard and nowhere else.

I'm not a pro musician,so 99% of the time my guitars are in the house.I generally follow the golden rule (according to my opinion) of keeping my guitars wherever I feel comfortable.No dehumidifiers or anything like that,just good natural ventilation etc.

I'm pretty sure that this was a combination of a generally very humid environment the last 3-4 days where it constantly rains and the fact that the guitar was moved in the basement where the humidity levels were higher...

I've already wiped it and put on the new strings and it's ok now,but I'm worried whether this condensation thing happening could have a bad impact on the structural rigidity of the fretboard in the long term or any other bad impact... :hmm

1st off buy a dehumidifier...they can be adjusted to whatever moisture level you desire. 2nd thing is to apply some lemon oil to the fretboard. Any moisture that has accumulated on/in the board will be pushed out w/the oil...don't use too much...a little goes a long way....
 

Big Al

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Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
1st off buy a dehumidifier...they can be adjusted to whatever moisture level you desire. 2nd thing is to apply some lemon oil to the fretboard. Any moisture that has accumulated on/in the board will be pushed out w/the oil...don't use too much...a little goes a long way....

There ya go, 'nuff said.
 

Big Al

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Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
Rosewood is a naturally oily wood. Moisture due to humidity or sweat would bead up on it. Nothing to worry about.
 
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