Gummy contact pickup?

Subject: Gummy contact pickup?
From: Buffalo
Date: 11 May 09 - 07:39 PM

Ok, so I decided at the last minute to use my new, pristine, cherry wood dulcimer for a brunch gig, but this meant sticking my contact pickup on the top. Bad mistake. My old, workhorse dulcimer just shrugs off the gummy stuff, but now I've got a mess (like chewed gum) on my beautiful, silky dulcimer top, and I don't know how to get it off without damaging the finish.
Surely, I can't be the only one who's dealt with this problem. I'm going to have an internal pickup installed as soon as I can. Should have done it before I played this gig.
What do you do with this junk?
Thanks.
                   Buffalo/Oakland, CA. USA

Subject: RE: Gummy contact pickup?
From: DADGBE
Date: 11 May 09 - 11:29 PM

You might try picking up a can of V. M. & P naphtha at the local paint store. It's a good solvent for lots of different gunk and doesn't hurt instrument finishes. Luthiers use it for cleaning.

Subject: RE: Gummy contact pickup?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 12 May 09 - 12:51 AM

I suggest you ask the people who made your dulcimer. Look for a website and send them an e-mail.

If your new dulcimer doesn't react to the familiar 'gummy stuff' in the usual way, then it may have a new or special finish.

Subject: RE: Gummy contact pickup?
From: Bert
Date: 12 May 09 - 02:03 AM

Try soap and water first.

Subject: RE: Gummy contact pickup?
From: reggie miles
Date: 12 May 09 - 01:27 PM

Gently, scrape as much of it as you can off with something that won't damage your finish, like your finger nail. Remember, easy does it, so you won't leave a mark. Then try the above varied suggestions, soap and water etc. If you can't get a good answer from contacting the maker of the instrument or the pickup folks, try using an art gum eraser to pick up the rest of the goo.

Art gum erasers can be neaded and soften from the heat of your hands when they are stretched and pulled. Once sufficiently warmed and softened they can become similar in density to the sticky goo on your guitar and therefore might more easily be able to be used to pull off the goo from the surface. One more thing comes to mind. Try heating the finish where the goo is located gently with a hair dryer set on a low setting. Softening the goo this way might help to convince it to let go of your finish. You might also try something like wrapping a piece of sticky tape around your finger, sticky side out and then carefully touching the remainder of the contact pickup goo with the tape and see if that helps to remove it from your finish.

I should probably offer that, though I've faced this same challenge, I have no instruments that I hold in such high regard as to be too concerned with what might happen to them from the use of the wrong solvent, or whatever, to clean off such messy things. I just keep going until something works, and if nothing works, well it's just a little more character added to mix. But then, my approach to this musical path is a little more raw and gritty than most. Another bump or scratch won't hurt.

Subject: RE: Gummy contact pickup?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 12 May 09 - 02:21 PM

Pickups will never replace a good condenser mic on an instrument that was made to be
heard in front of it, not inside of it or sitting on the top of it.

I've tried 'em all and none of them are as good a a mic (even a good dynamic).

Frank

Subject: RE: Gummy contact pickup?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 12 May 09 - 04:54 PM

They'll never replace gummy bears or gummy worms.

Subject: RE: Gummy contact pickup?
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 12 May 09 - 08:15 PM

The stuff sold in the UK as "Blutak" is, as its name suggests, a blue tacky substance used for temporary fixations of anything from posters to light plaques or picture frames to walls, doors, etc. When wadded up and used as you would use the artist's eraser described above, it has the property of lifting old, dried-up Blutak and various other adhesives from surfaces you would not wish to use anything abrasive on. In some cases it might be used as a substitute for the problem adhesive, but I believe there is something in it which might leave a mark or stain on some finishes, so not always a good idea for long-term fixing.

Ross

Subject: RE: Gummy contact pickup?
From: breezy
Date: 13 May 09 - 09:41 AM

blu tak can pull off the varnish !