Rosewood fingerboard: to finish or not to finish?

That is the question. The maple neck and head stock will be lightly stained and satin nitro'ed, but I am not sure whether to leave the rosewood raw or oil it or... ?

What is the usual treatment. Or IS there a usual treatment?

Oh, and this is for a bass.

No finish.

rosewood does not need a finish on it. There are natural oils in the wood that prevent wood rot and deterioration as occurs with maple. Since you are going satin finish, I woudld think that you are not interested in 'shiny'...although your satin finish will be 'polished' out to a shiny finish by simple wear.

To answer your question, the usual treatment is no finish for rosewood. That being said, I clean my rosewood necks periodically and treat them with oil. About once a year if the guitar sees a lot of action, longer if I only play it occasionally.
Some rosewood necks are finished. They have a little different feel but I don't find it to be a problem.

Sounds good. Thanks.

I wipe my Rosewood boards down with some oil ( I like teak oil) to add some color to the wood. Its not really finish, it doesn't add a protective film and still feels like raw wood.