Taking care of French Polish

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kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

Taking care of French Polish

Perhaps this question has been asked many times, but I couldnt find something quickly with the search function.

Since a month or so I have a FP guitar and the fact that it should be handled with more care I already found out when I put the new strings on.
The first small scratch was made with 10 minutes having the guitar in my hands.
So I'd put a small piece of golpeador behind the bridge block to prevent more scratches.

I always wipe the guitar after playing but I noticed that the edge were the right arm 'rests' feels more worn the the edges elsewere.
Every now and then I clean the guitar with 'Violin'-oil which contains no alchohol.

Is this a good way to take care of FP?
If there are more tips I really appreciate!

thanks

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 12:36:52

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Taking care of French Polish (in reply to kozz)

hey mate! I was like you when I got my Anders, babied it, try to make sure it don't get scratched... now I really don't care if I tarnish the finish, of course i'm taking care not to do it, but if I do, I really dun mind anymore.. I even tried scratching (lightly) the FP to see how easy it was to marr the FP..

It's inevitable mate, the FP where I rest my arm is not longer that shiny, and I often play my guitar without my shirt on and a little part of the back is also not that shiny..

I think little scratches gives the guitar character..
it's like blemish on a new car, no matter how much you baby it, it will get tarnished...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 13:38:52

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Taking care of French Polish (in reply to HolyEvil)

quote:

It's inevitable mate, the FP where I rest my arm is not longer that shiny, and I often play my guitar without my shirt on and a little part of the back is also not that shiny..

Takes about 5 minutes to bring that back up to shine.

The scratches are a little harder to repair but certainly repairable... personally I wouldn't worry a bit about scratching up the polish. In 10 years if it's truly beat to hell just go get it repaired.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 13:45:10

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Taking care of French Polish (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

quote:

ORIGINAL: deteresa1

Takes about 5 minutes to bring that back up to shine.

how do i do that? just rubbing with a microfibre cloth?

cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 15:56:57

estebanana

Posts: 9367
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Taking care of French Polish (in reply to kozz)

The best thing to do is wipe your guitar off with a soft cloth to get the sweat and body oil off of it after you play.

Don''t mess with any abrasives or try to re French polish your own guitar unless you learn and practice French polish on scrap wood first. Take it to a pro.

You can use plexiglass plastic polish on a soft cloth to lightly buff the guitar every 3 or 4 months if that. Other than that don't mess with it and wipe the sweat off the finish after you play. Wipe your strings off too, they will last longer.

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 16:58:43

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: Taking care of French Polish (in reply to kozz)

I love the worn look of a guitar and with electrics guitars it's always been an issue that they use a high gloss finish that takes forever to soften and dull a bit.

In fact these days, the worn in look is in vogue, Fender Road Worn guitar etc..I even saw a custom shop Jeff Beck Tele for £stupid.

Take care not to scratch it etc but where it wears from playing I think it adds great character.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 21:40:03

kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

RE: Taking care of French Polish (in reply to HolyEvil)

quote:

hey mate! I was like you when I got my Anders, babied it, try to make sure it don't get scratched... now I really don't care if I tarnish the finish, of course i'm taking care not to do it, but if I do, I really dun mind anymore.. I even tried scratching (lightly) the FP to see how easy it was to marr the FP..

quote:

The scratches are a little harder to repair but certainly repairable... personally I wouldn't worry a bit about scratching up the polish. In 10 years if it's truly beat to hell just go get it repaired.

Yeah amigos, I also like worn guitars, but I was afraid I was already breaking down the guitar to its bones. Never thought it would be such a big handeling difference.
I even dont take the guitar outside now, its to cold and I'm afraid it'll crack due to temperature difference.

quote:

The best thing to do is wipe your guitar off with a soft cloth to get the sweat and body oil off of it after you play.

Don''t mess with any abrasives or try to re French polish your own guitar unless you learn and practice French polish on scrap wood first. Take it to a pro.

You can use plexiglass plastic polish on a soft cloth to lightly buff the guitar every 3 or 4 months if that. Other than that don't mess with it and wipe the sweat off the finish after you play. Wipe your strings off too, they will last longer.

Thanks Estebanana,
I already thought I had to buff it every 2 weeks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 21:40:31

estebanana

Posts: 9367
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Taking care of French Polish (in reply to kozz)

People tend to over care for French polish and lacquer finishes. Wipe with soft cloth and put it away dry.

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 11 2010 12:28:02

kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

RE: Taking care of French Polish (in reply to estebanana)

quote:

People tend to over care for French polish and lacquer finishes. Wipe with soft cloth and put it away dry.

I'll keep it safe in the box, and I would definately have take over-care of it...
Thanks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 14 2010 14:15:08

Kubase

Posts: 72
Joined: May 20 2009

RE: Taking care of French Polish (in reply to kozz)

I just give my guitar a quick wipe at the end of every playing session. Then, every now and then, I'll give it a proper good clean when I change the strings.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2010 0:08:53