Cleaning Guitars.

[RichRS6]

Hi, after checking out the show us your tops thread I am now seriously considering giving some of my babies a proper scrubbing up.

I don't mind my guitars looking like they're played rather than like they never come out of the cases but all my guitars get played regularly (and I sweat quite a bit when gigging) but I very rarely get chance to clean them properly so they're all getting a bit grimey.

I keep the fingerboards and strings as clean as possible (Fast Fret and Stringfellows F/B conditioner seem to work ok) but all the tops and bodies get is a quick wipe over and maybe a little furniture polish (I know probably not ideal) but its there when I get the urge.

l just bought some Gormalyte and am going to give the fingerboards and frets a good cleaning followed by some F/Board conditioner.

Is it worth using polish to get rid of the light scratches and bring up the shine like you can on cars ?

Any tips on cleaning products and methods appreciated.

[Steve Haynie]

Use Meguiar's rubbing compound if you want to get a light scratch out. Beware that you might end up with a shinier area around where you removed the scratch, so you might have to buff the entire guitar.

When using regular guitar polish use very little of it and rub very lightly. If you use too much you will have a mess. If you rub too hard you will dull your finish.

[Lockbody]

Virtuoso cleaner made my grimy, dull, '64 SG Jr look almost brand new. I didn't even use the polish on it afterwards.

[silentman]

I've been using the Dunlop 65 kit or the Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes to clean up my stuff

[Armitage]

Dunlop 65 is a great cleaner.

[murkat]

To "Clean" , naptha.

[Hfan]

Virtuoso cleaner made my grimy, dull, '64 SG Jr look almost brand new. I didn't even use the polish on it afterwards.

+1 on the virtuosso polish and cleaner which I use on my Nitro finishes and acoustics. I use the Dunlop cleaner for my poly finishes. Fret Dr is good for fretboards although a highly respected guitar tech in my area says just use tusq (spelling?) oil available from Home Depot. I'll stick with the Fret Dr.

I've heard not to use comericial furnuture polish as it contains silicon and that is bad if you need body repair done.

[cynic]

I too use and really like the virtuoso cleaner. The polish is also great, but I would warn anyone using it that it works more like a polish than most guitar products labeled as such, and will smooth and shine an older, dulled finish. In other words, if you've payed to make your guitar look old, avoid the polish.

[RichRS6]

Thanks for all the advice guys, looks like a visit to ebay for me to pick up some cleaners and polish.

It's a bit weird trying to get guitars clean when people will pay more for new ones that have been distressed to look old and abused !!

The binding has all yellowed on the Sunburst (not sure if its just aged like that or if its a combination of 20 Years of sweat and nicotine) and the top has become dull so it will be good to get them de-grimed.

I dont really want them to look too clean but it would be nice to be able to see the top properly.

I did think about removing all the hardware from the guitar so I can get into all the nooks and crannies but I'm of the opinion that its sometimes best to leave well enough alone.

Any advise for cleaning in and around the bridge (I thought a stiff paint brush and the hoover to get all the fluff out!) and for removing tarnish from nickel parts ?

Whats the best stuff to use for cleaning crackly pots ?

Once again thanks for all the help.

Cheers, Rich.

[hardheartedbill]

I buff out with a piece of brown paper bag

[Disturber]

There is a book called How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great were the writer says the best polish is to spit on the guitar and then rub. Kinda grose I never took his advice on that one.

I use a micro fiber cloth to get fingerprints and light grease of the guitar. If it is really dirty then I use some furniture polish that hardens into a white chalk like surface, when buffed out it cleans the guitar up 100%.

Don't use furniture polish that contains silicone. It will go in to the wood and can make a future re-finish of the instrument impossible.

[jwhitcomb3]

Gorgomyte does a great job on fingerboards and frets. After you apply it, you have to rub and buff like crazy to remove all the grime and the slightly sweet smell. Leaves the board very clean and the frets nicely buffed.

[coolhandjjl]

For the bodies, I use Nu Finish Scratch Doctor first (similar to the original, no longer available, version of Meguire Scratch-X), then polish it off with Zymol.