Cleaner for thin water based satin finish on acoustic guitars

[BigTim]

Hey guys, I am just curious what some of you use for just average wipe down for a clear satin water based finish with out clogging up the finish any.


I was thinking mild soap and water would work well but I want to see what some of you guys might use.

[jaymarsch]

I have no experience with them but both Taylor and Martin have products specifically formulated for cleaning satin finished guitars. Maybe some folks here have used them and can chime in. I’ve seen the products offered on both Amazon and Sweetwater.
Best,
Jayne

[Talk2Me]

You can just use the damp rag and skip the soap unless it's really bad.

[LAPlayer]

I use DUNLOP 654 Formula 65 Guitar Polish & Cleaner 4oz. on everything. Spritz and wipe without streaks or anything. I keep a bottle in the studio and in my gig-bag and wipe down after any playing sessions or sets. It keeps any sweat, palm, hand, body... secretions off the guitar before anything effects the finish. Cheap and lasts forever. Forget that it says polish. It does not polish just cleans nicely.

[Bowie]

A clean rag. Damp if needed. A mild cleaner (any number of them will do but I kinda like the one Gibson makes) a couple times a year if there's grime. Naptha will clean them up well without leaving anything behind. I'm just not super fond of handling it so I only use it once in a while.

Most of the time, just a cloth. Using cleaners a lot actually makes them dirtier in my experience as the cleaners can leave a little bit of film behind.

[BigTim]

Thank you all for your input.
The guitar I am referring to is the Taylor 724ce koa model.

It has a very thin water based finish open grain finish and since I do have some of the Dunlop products already and a couple of others I will use them on it.

[Rev Roy]

Originally Posted by BigTim

Thank you all for your input.
The guitar I am referring to is the Taylor 724ce koa model.

It has a very thin water based finish open grain finish and since I do have some of the Dunlop products already and a couple of others I will use them on it.

I’d just contact Taylor to be sure. Great customer service. Taylor makes a satin finish polish that may or may not work for your guitar’s particular finish. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...3&gclsrc=3p.ds

[JayBee1404]

A wipe over with a warm, damp cloth, followed by a soft, dry cloth is all it should need. Do that regularly after playing, and there will never be a need for any kind of ‘cleaner’. An occasional (like maybe once a year) spritz with Music Nomad Guitar Detailer or Lizard Spit won’t hurt.

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by BigTim

Thank you all for your input.
The guitar I am referring to is the Taylor 724ce koa model.

It has a very thin water based finish open grain finish and since I do have some of the Dunlop products already and a couple of others I will use them on it.

With open-grain I'm even less likely to use a cleaner very often as I don't want to add anything that will sit in the little valleys. I'll also use a cloth with some texture so that I'm not pushing stuff from the top into the valleys.

[douglasfan1]

You may want to try Music Nomad guitar detailer, work for both gloss and matte finish.

https://www.musicnomadcare.com/Produ...Detailer-4-oz/

[FingahPickah]

I have been using this exclusively for years on my four satin finish instruments.

https://www.taylorguitars.com/taylor...r-cleaner-4-oz

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by BigTim

Hey guys, I am just curious what some of you use for just average wipe down for a clear satin water based finish with out clogging up the finish any.


I was thinking mild soap and water would work well but I want to see what some of you guys might use.

Hi BigTim…
Are you just trying to clean it up a bit, or do you have obvious stains?

My order of cleaning spots is spit (been used by techs and amateurs for decades), water, Naptha (lighter fluid). Spit is an amazing solvent…and not harmful to guitar finishes.

Unless it is varnish (which is rare on modern manufactured guitars), these are neutral and will not affect finish.

Also, do not buff it out assertively or you will polish down the 'satin' into shiny spots.

[gmel555]

Originally Posted by jaymarsch

Both Taylor and Martin have products specifically formulated for cleaning satin finished guitars....Jayne

My advice as well. Only use cleaners specifically made for satin finishes from a reputable mfg. Avoid polishes and certainly anything with wax or other "shine" agents as they can/will produce a sheen on satin that's difficult to reverse. When in doubt just use a damp cloth.

[pmelsa]

When I inquired about the ingredients of the Taylor cleaner for satin guitars, I was told that I could also use 4 drops of a mild dish soap in 16oz of water. YMMV

[jseth]

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

I’d just contact Taylor to be sure. Great customer service. Taylor makes a satin finish polish that may or may not work for your guitar’s particular finish. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...3&gclsrc=3p.ds

This should ALWAYS be your first step with questions about your guitar... contact the maker and find out what they recommend!

Seems so obvious to me; I don't understand why it is not the default setting for so many people... especially in this day and age, with the ease of email and free telephone calls.

Just call 'em up and be certain you're doing the right thing...