French Polish

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French Polish

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Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

French Polish

So I've got a guitar with French polish. I sometimes just look at entranced by its shininess and fearful of damaging it.

I was hoping the luthiers here could tell us about maintenance and if there is any level of repair that could ever be done by handy person or will it always have to go back to the guy who gave it man birth, or to a shop where stranger's hands will touch it?

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 18 2008 5:29:45

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: French Polish (in reply to Exitao)

well, basically dont maintain to much. A clean rag should do it

Shellack cannot be cleaned with alcohol or water.... If it gets very sweaty you can clean it off with a LITTLE bit of white spirit. You can also polish it with a silicone free polish (car polish)

When it needs to be touched up, leave in the hands of someone who knows.

I actually like French Polish when its a bit old and has lost some of its shine. It has a silky appereance which is very beatifull

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 18 2008 10:20:46

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: French Polish (in reply to Exitao)

Someone told me to use a soft chamois on it, and wipe it down every time I put it away.

I'm more worried about getting a tiny scuff or scratch or something incidental.

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 18 2008 18:08:12

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: French Polish (in reply to Exitao)

quote:

I'm more worried about getting a tiny scuff or scratch or something incidental.

Then dont play it and keep it in the case.

Scruffs and scraches are part of life. My mirror tells me every day. The difference between me and one of my guitars i that I cannot be repolished.

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 18 2008 23:05:59

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: French Polish (in reply to Exitao)

Perhaps, but when I look in the mirror, I'm pretty sure that my maker never got round to finishing up.
Most people will tell you that I've always lacked... polish.

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2008 2:28:50

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: French Polish (in reply to Exitao)

well hey now exitao, don't be so rough on yourself.

most ladies don't like that "polished" look anyways. they call it metrosexual and it doesn't work on all of them. keep it rugged!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2008 11:07:05

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: French Polish (in reply to at_leo_87)

Oh, I wasn't really complaining, just making an observation that amused me. If I was going to complain about the condition I'm in, I'd probably start with that awful buzzing.

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2008 18:45:34