Cleaning your guitar (Full Version)

Foro Flamenco: http://www.foroflamenco.com/
- Discussions: http://www.foroflamenco.com/default.asp?catApp=0
- - Lutherie: http://www.foroflamenco.com/in_forum.asp?forumid=22
- - - Cleaning your guitar: http://www.foroflamenco.com/fb.asp?m=185050



Message

Haydn -> Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 8 2011 15:57:38)

Hello all,

Lately my guitar has started to look in need of a clean, and I wanted some advice from a reliable source [;)] Whilst it might only be a Yamaha CG172SF, it is my only flamenco guitar and after reading some horror stories online about certain products/methods of cleaning, I thought I'd be better safe than sorry. So here goes:

What are some good, and "safe", cleaning products to use on a guitar's body and fretboard? (I assume they differ..?)
What's the best way to remove the residue of sweat and dead skin on the fretboard? (I've read all sorts; from wire wool to scraping with an old credit card)

Apologies if this seems like a no-brainer, but I've only had experience with electric guitars prior to starting to learn flamenco.

Thanks for your help guys! [:)]



jshelton5040 -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 8 2011 18:04:08)

windex and a soft cotton cloth for the finish. A very light coating of lemon oil (walnut oil, olive oil, whatever) can be applied to the fingerboard and scrubbed with a cotton cloth. Back and forth not lengthwise.



El Kiko -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 8 2011 22:31:21)

wood furniture polish stuff and an old tooth brush on the neck and frets....



TANúñez -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 9 2011 0:34:24)

For the body I use a soft cloth and just buff it up a bit. I've used windex too and it works well. For the fretboard I use 0000 steel wool. This will really polish the frets and remove the junk that collects on the fingerboard. I then apply a small amount of boiled linseed oil. This helps seal the fingerboard and gives it a nice clean finish.



n85ae -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 9 2011 4:26:07)

Some might cringe, but I've had really good luck using automotive detailing
sprays ... Yes that's right - Automotive. I use Meguiar's Ultimate Detailer on
my plane to clean it after flight, so I always have it on hand. One day I
tried it on the guitar, and have been using it ever since ... So far four
different guitar's and nothing but good results. It's a very thin film
synthetic, and it really shines nicely.

For Lacquer it's perfectly fine - Not sure how it would work on French
Polish though, so if you tried it on that ... You might have a bad
experience.

Regards,
Jeff



JuanDaBomb -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 9 2011 5:55:44)

I've actually ended up using this stuff here:

http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/formula-no-65-guitar-polish--cleaner

I was liking the Martin polish except it leaves an oily film that doesn't polish off. The dunlop 65 doesn't, and rubs off nicely. on lacquer, that is. dunno about french polish.



Ruphus -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 9 2011 10:08:53)

With furniture polish I had the feeling as if it could be penetrating the finish. At least I fancied how the guitar would be dulling a tad.

My sister uses windex ( that would be the glass cleaning spray right?) for all laquered surfaces, but in a way I suspect that it could brittle finishes over time by polymerisation, thus don´t use it for such.

I find a damp sponge with dish soap solution and rubbing dry right afterwards to work well for cleaning the finish.

- While doing this with an aquired 40 year old guitar you could tell by a nasty smell that was coming up with the damp how needed a cleaning can be at times.

Ruphus



n85ae -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 9 2011 14:19:41)

Windex normally contains ammonia for cutting grease and film on windows,
probably not the best best thing to be spraying on a finished wood surface.

Jeff



jshelton5040 -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 9 2011 18:05:49)

quote:

ORIGINAL: n85ae

Windex normally contains ammonia for cutting grease and film on windows,
probably not the best best thing to be spraying on a finished wood surface.

Jeff

I've been using it for many years and never seen any damage to lacquer or any of the synthetic finishes commonly used on factory guitars. He was asking how to clean his Yamaha.



n85ae -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 9 2011 18:14:39)

I stand corrected. Thanks for the info!

Jeff



Doitsujin -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 10 2011 1:27:03)

quote:

Cleaning your guitar



not


I play it.



TANúñez -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 10 2011 2:01:30)

quote:

I've been using it for many years and never seen any damage to lacquer or any of the synthetic finishes commonly used on factory guitars. He was asking how to clean his Yamaha.


Yeah Jeff. [8D]

I've actually used some Mcguire's and 3M products as well on lacquered finished and it's worked fine.



Haydn -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 10 2011 21:27:36)

Thanks for all the info guys.

Next time I change strings, I'll clean my guitar up until it dazzles anyone who looks directly at it [;)]



flyeogh -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 11 2011 11:19:45)

I use bees wax on my french polished anders. Any thoughts?

I remember asking Anders how to clean it shortly after collecting it from him. He replied "don't clean it, play it". If ever I lack inspiration I think of those words [;)] Guess doitsujin you feel the same [:)]

ps I posted elsewhere on the foro to find a former teacher in Madrid called Ricardo. I note the thread got over 170 hits. Thinking about it on this foro I now realise why. Sorry [8|]



keith -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 14 2011 12:40:04)

i have heard one should oil the fretboard about once a year. following this recommendation i would be a little careful about oiling the fretboard in the winter time in a northern climate. in the winter time the big worry is the lack of humidity and, as we know, oil will repel water and therefore the fretboard may not get adequate moisture. if i were to oil the fretboard i would do it just before summer when too much humidity will become an issue in the upcoming months.

for cleaning the fretboard, as it was mentioned, 0000 steelwool works great--just cover the sound hole as micro shredding of the steelwood occurs. micromesh 1500 then 4000 then 6000 works great--cleans and really polishes up the wood for a smooth, fast surface.



Rmn -> RE: Cleaning your guitar (Dec. 23 2011 23:28:37)

quote:

I remember asking Anders how to clean it shortly after collecting it from him. He replied "don't clean it, play it". If ever I lack inspiration I think of those words


haha, that is a funny quote indeed [:D]



Page: [1]

Valid CSS!




Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET