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08 Mar 25 - 08:06 AM (#4218659) Subject: Guitar Polish From: Fred What do you use, if any? I used to use polish (mostly Virtuoso) but stopped and now just use a damp cloth followed by a dry one If I need to remove anything stubborn, I'll use naptha or Virtuoso Cleaner on the body. I've removed a horrible black mess on the lower bout (forearm sweat) using those two products. What's in YOUR axe-shining/cleaning cupboard? Fred |
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08 Mar 25 - 09:56 AM (#4218665) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: John MacKenzie I have some Martin guitar polish, which doesn't get a lot of use :) |
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08 Mar 25 - 10:18 AM (#4218666) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Fred Thanks John :) Feed |
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08 Mar 25 - 10:25 AM (#4218667) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Fred That's what happens if you mix posting with drink guys - you hit the wrong keys! Fred |
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08 Mar 25 - 12:12 PM (#4218674) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: GUEST,Ray It really depends upon the instrument finish but, generally, nothing. For poly finishes - I don’t have any of them so use whatever you like! For nitrocellulose, a damp cloth but if that doesn’t work a minimal amount of lemon oil (if I can stand the smell). For French polished finishes “Super Nicko”. And, before you ask, you can get it from Beare & Sons Ltd., Dunstable, LU6 1NE. If it’s scratches you’re bothered about, try “Nova” plastic polish. It comes in grades 1, 2 and 3. Which is the most abrasive, I’m not sure - I’ve only ever had a bottle of grade 2. |
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08 Mar 25 - 12:18 PM (#4218678) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Backwoodsman After a playing session - wipe down with a damp microfibre cloth followed by a dry cloth. Wipe strings and FB with a dry microfibre cloth. At each string change - Same as above, followed by a spritz of the body and back of the neck with either Lizard-Spit or Music Nomad Guitar Detailer, and buff with a soft dry cloth. Under this regime, I never get build-ups of any kind of sh*te either on the body or FB, so I don’t have to resort to ‘cleaners’ but, if I did, it would be naphtha followed by Virtuose. In 60+ years of plating I’ve never needed to use a scraper, wire-wool, or a flame-thrower on my FBs. ;-) |
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08 Mar 25 - 12:19 PM (#4218679) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Backwoodsman Plating? Bloody predictive text! PLAYING! |
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08 Mar 25 - 12:52 PM (#4218684) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Fred There WAS a time (years ago) when I liked a guitar to look shiny and brand new, but these days I've moved away from that. As long as it's clean, I prefer it to reflect a little of its age. Fred |
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08 Mar 25 - 01:06 PM (#4218685) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: GUEST,Ray A luthier friend of mine did once tell me that he had to replace a “rotten” fretboard on one guitar. It’s owner had religiously oiled the fretboard every time he changed the strings. So little, and not so often. |
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08 Mar 25 - 01:37 PM (#4218692) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Fred With this D-18 I'll use a small amount of Dr Ducks Axe Wax once a year on the ebony board, the rest I'll just damp cloth dry cloth, Humidipak and all should be good. Fred |
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08 Mar 25 - 02:20 PM (#4218695) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Fred A word of caution, though: if your guitar has a satin finish, do NOT use Virtuoso. It will shine it and it can't be reversed. Fred |
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08 Mar 25 - 02:27 PM (#4218696) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Backwoodsman ”A word of caution, though: if your guitar has a satin finish, do NOT use Virtuoso. It will shine it and it can't be reversed.” Precisely why I use Lizard Spit or Music Nomad Guitar Detailer - both are suitable for both gloss and satin finishes, they will shine up a gloss finish, but leave a satin finish (such as my Lowden) errrrmm…satin! |
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09 Mar 25 - 04:06 AM (#4218720) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: GUEST,Ray Satin finishes have a nasty habit of going shiny anyway; in places where they’re regularly touched. The, originally satin, neck on my mandola is now as shiny as it’s gloss top. I could matt it down again with wire wool but, do that too often, and the finish will eventually wear through. |
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09 Mar 25 - 04:17 AM (#4218721) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Backwoodsman There are satin finishes and satin finishes. The cheap satin finishes, such as those used by Martin et al are just lacquer with an added ‘flatting’ agent - I think it’s called catalysed lacquer, but I could be wrong - and those do shine up where arms, hands etc. touch, and it can happen pretty quickly - within a few weeks or months even. Satin finishes such as those on Lowden guitars are in a different class - they are ‘normal’ gloss lacquer which is ‘knocked back’ by hand-rubbing with finer and finer grades of abrasive (wire wool, IIRC), and they don’t shine up as easily, if at all. My Lowden O-25 had little or no shine in those spots after seventeen years of regular play, and my F-23 has zero shine after seven years. |
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09 Mar 25 - 06:14 AM (#4218726) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: MaJoC the Filk Personally, I prefer to leave the battle scars in place: they make an instrument look well-used and well-loved ("lived-in", if you prefer). That may or may not reduce their resale value, but my instruments will be inherited, not sold. |
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09 Mar 25 - 07:41 AM (#4218731) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Backwoodsman I’m not talking ‘battle-scars’ though - I just get over those and let them be, often an attempt to disguise a ding or scratch just makes it worse, so I don’t try to disguise those. But personally, I intensely dislike dirty instruments, and I prefer to keep mine clean and hygienic - when I see some of the grunge and shite that some people allow to build up on what would otherwise be nice instruments, I could vomit. Not my style, they’re welcome to theirs. |
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09 Mar 25 - 07:43 AM (#4218732) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Fred Dr Ducks Axe Wax can be used all over a guitar - but again, be aware. If you have lighter-coloured bare wood (behind the headstock, say) and you go over it with this product, it will instantly darken it. Fred |
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09 Mar 25 - 09:02 AM (#4218738) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: GUEST,Ray The “cheap” satin finish on my mandola was done by Collings. |
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09 Mar 25 - 12:32 PM (#4218746) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Dave the Gnome I put mine in the dishwasher... |
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09 Mar 25 - 12:39 PM (#4218748) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: gillymor You're wasting precious water and electric, Dave. The environmentally responsible move would be to rub it with a steak and let the dog lick it clean. |
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09 Mar 25 - 01:03 PM (#4218751) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: gillymor Btw, I was talking about your guitar. |
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09 Mar 25 - 01:11 PM (#4218752) Subject: RE: Guitar Polish From: Fred LOL |