Know Your Gear Podcast Episode 406 Summary Title: Fretboard Conditioner Destroying Fretboards
Host: Phillip McKnight
Release Date: March 27, 2025

Introduction and Overview

Phillip McKnight kicks off Episode 406 of the Know Your Gear Podcast by expressing gratitude to Patreon members, channel members, and viewers for their support. He emphasizes the absence of commercials during the live broadcast and encourages listeners to become patron members for an ad-free experience.

Fretboard Conditioner Debate

Question from Listener: A listener inquires about using baby oil versus F1 oil from Music Nomad on their Ibanez bass with a Jatoba fretboard. (Timestamp: 00:07 - 15:00)

Discussion Highlights:

• Phillip’s Experience: He shares his extensive experience with various fretboard conditioners, including unconventional options like vegetable oil, gunstock oil, and even Crisco. He states, "I've repaired more fretboards from not hydrating them than from over hydrating."

• Brand Reliability: Phillip emphasizes the importance of using products from reputable brands where he can easily reach out for support. He remarks, "I pick a product, I use it consistently. If there's an issue, I know exactly who to talk to."

• Music Nomad F1 Oil Concerns: Despite initial concerns about stickiness from F1 oil, Phillip reviews current Sweetwater ratings and finds mostly positive feedback, although he notes a specific negative review mentioning stickiness. (Timestamp: 00:07 - 15:00)

• Maintenance Tips: He advises regular cleaning and conditioning of fretboards, suggesting oiling when restringing—typically once a year for him. "If you restring once a year, oiling every time is fine."

Notable Quote: "Everybody's gonna have a very strong opinion about what it did. And it's always funny to me." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 00:07 - 15:00)

Listener Questions and Answers

1. Replacement Bass Pickup Advice

Listener: Amanda from KDub
Question: Suggestions for a good but not expensive replacement bass pickup for a Hill short scale passive bass. (Timestamp: 15:00 - 30:00)

Phillip’s Recommendations:

• EQ Pedals: He strongly recommends using an EQ pedal to shape the bass tone effectively. "Every guitar player, bass player should have an EQ pedal."

• Pickup Quality: Suggests Bartolini pickups as a good option but cautions that a better pickup might accentuate existing tonal issues rather than fix them.

• Installation Tips: Highlights the importance of proper wiring and potential modifications like adding a preamp. (Timestamp: 15:00 - 30:00)

Notable Quote: "If the problem with the tone is the bass, you're going to be exaggerating the problem by putting a better pickup in it." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 15:00 - 30:00)

2. Recommendations for Class A Tube Amps

Listener: Todd0864
Question: Affordable Class A tube amps besides the Bujera V5. (Timestamp: 30:00 - 35:00)

Phillip’s Insights:

• Price vs. Performance: Acknowledges that many Class A amps may not truly be Class A and discusses his personal experiences with sound reactivity and versatility.

• Personal Preference: Prefers amps that offer more utility and versatility over strictly Class A designs.

Notable Quote: "A lot of Class A tube amps aren't Class A. They just say they're Class A." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 30:00 - 35:00)

3. Acoustic Instrument Buzzing Hiss

Listener: Antique Rocker
Question: Causes and prevention of buzzing hiss in acoustic instruments with piezo pickups, especially upright basses using a bow. (Timestamp: 35:00 - 45:00)

Phillip’s Solutions:

• Active vs. Passive Systems: Recommends switching to active transducer pickups to reduce noise floors inherent in passive systems.

• Signal Boosting: Suggests using preamps or EQ pedals to enhance signal strength without amplifying noise.

• Testing Methods: Advises testing with an EQ pedal to identify and mitigate noise issues.

Notable Quote: "Your hands are the delivery system for most everything that's going to ruin the strings, which is why I say you should wipe them down." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 35:00 - 45:00)

Guitar Maintenance and Accessories

4. Mitigating String Wear

Listener: Eric
Question: Best indications of worn strings and maintenance tips. (Timestamp: 45:00 - 55:00)

Phillip’s Advice:

• Visual and Tonal Signs: Dead strings often require increased high frequencies for clarity. For guitar players, pinch harmonics become harder with worn strings.

• String Cleaning: Recommends wiping strings with a clean, dry microfiber cloth after each play session to remove oils and extend string life.

Notable Quote: "The best way to clean your strings is with a clean, dry cloth. After every play, you do one wipe on top of the strings." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 45:00 - 55:00)

5. Guitar Setup Kits Recommendation

Listener: Bob
Question: Recommendation for a guitar setup kit to learn guitar setups. (Timestamp: 55:00 - 1:10:00)

Phillip’s Recommendations:

• Music Nomad Setup Kits: Discusses the pros and cons of the Music Nomad kits, including difficulties in finding specific kits online and critiques on included items like the guitar pick instead of a capo.

• Educational Resources: Plans to create a dedicated video reviewing the setup kit and shares frustration with searching for specific products.

Notable Quote: "The Keep it simple guitar setup kit is great. It's effective especially if you watch any of the deep dive." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 55:00 - 1:10:00)

Guitar of the Week: Hills Bass

Introduction to Guitar of the Week:
Phillip introduces the Hills Bass, highlighting its retro 80s design, lightweight build (approximately 5.5-6 pounds), and specific features like a satin finish, 24 stainless steel frets, and individual saddles.

Key Features Discussed:

• Headless Design: Appreciates the headless feature for tuning stability and aesthetic appeal.

• Scale Length: Emphasizes the benefits of the 30-inch scale for guitar players transitioning to bass.

• Sound Quality: Demonstrates the bass’s mid-heavy tone using an on-the-spot track, showcasing its ability to cut through a mix effectively.

Notable Quote: "Every guitar player is a bass player just by how it works. So it's a lot easier." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 1:10:00 - 1:30:00)

Additional Listener Interactions

6. Acoustic Basses and PRS Hollow Body 2 Piezo Reviews

Phillip addresses queries about acoustic basses, mentioning his past preference for models like the Tacoma Thunderchie. He discusses the versatility and aesthetic aspects of acoustic basses, ultimately recommending traditional basses for most jam sessions.

Listener: Grumpy Mike
Question: Recommendations for 2-inch speakers and thoughts on PRS Hollow Body 2 Piezo. (Timestamp: 1:30:00 - 1:50:00)

Phillip’s Insights:

• Speaker Preferences: Prefers creamback speakers for their clarity and tonal balance. Discusses the benefits of mixing different speaker types but remains loyal to creambacks.

• Transducer Pickups: Advises against modifying high-end guitars with transducer pickups due to potential tonal compromises, recommending pre-installed systems instead.

Notable Quote: "I prefer having guitars that already have it in there. That way, I don't have a reference of whether or not the guitar sounds better or worse." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 1:30:00 - 1:50:00)

7. Guitar Stand Recommendations

Listener: The Lamp
Question: Recommendations for a stand or hanger suitable for nitro-finished guitars. (Timestamp: 1:50:00 - 2:05:00)

Phillip’s Suggestions:

• String Swing Stands: Highly recommends String Swing for their durability and reliability with nitro finishes, despite their website not explicitly endorsing them for such use.

• Shimmer Stands: Suggests zither stands as an alternative if ceiling space is an issue.

Notable Quote: "I recommend String Swing... I'm not paid by String Swing. I've never received a single penny from String Swing ever in my life." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 1:50:00 - 2:05:00)

Personal Insights and Stories

Phillip shares anecdotes about interacting with manufacturers, managing his YouTube channel, and balancing content creation with personal gear preferences. He touches on the challenges of overpaying for gear, maintaining a personal guitar inventory, and the support from his wife in managing his gear purchases.

Notable Quote: "Sometimes the best inspiration is just to get away from something." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: 1:10:00 - 2:15:00)

Conclusion

Phillip wraps up the episode by thanking listeners, patrons, moderators, and highlighting upcoming content, including a bonus podcast with John from Throwback Pickups. He encourages ongoing engagement and participation in future episodes.

Final Quote: "As always, I want to thank you guys, the moderators, the patrons, everybody, for hanging out and talking guitars." – Phillip McKnight (Timestamp: End of Show)

Key Takeaways

• Fretboard Maintenance: Regular cleaning and conditioning are crucial. Choose reliable products and brands that offer support.

• Pickup Upgrades: Consider the overall tone and signal chain before upgrading pickups. EQ pedals can be a powerful tool for customizing your sound.

• Speaker Choices: Creamback speakers are favored for their clarity. Mixing speakers can offer tonal diversity but should align with personal preference.

• Guitar Care: Proper setup and maintenance tools are essential. Invest in quality setup kits and learn to use them effectively.

• Community Engagement: Listener questions drive the content, fostering a supportive and informative community around guitar maintenance and gear.

Note: This summary captures the essence of Episode 406, distilling the extensive discussions and interactions into organized sections for ease of understanding. For detailed insights and specific advice, listening to the full episode is recommended.