What do you recommend to use to clean a guitar?

killabean · #1 10-02-2008, 02:17 PM

I don't want to damage the guitar and was wondering how to clean it properly.

terrapin · #2 10-02-2008, 02:43 PM

First and Foremost you NEED to know what type of finish is on the guitar. Certain finishes react to certain cleaners/polishes. Both of my guitars are Nitrocellulose and are very durable. When mine get "dirty" (i.e., sweaty, fingerprinted...) I use a dilluted mixture of 50% dillution of Windex and distilled water. It works great for me...............

WaddyT · #3 10-02-2008, 02:52 PM

A slightly damp rag is safe on most all finishes, including French Polish.

killabean · #4 10-02-2008, 02:57 PM

It's Natural Finish

terrapin · #5 10-02-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killabean

It's Natural Finish

I don't know what that means???

killabean · #6 10-02-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrapin

I don't know what that means???

Well according to Yamaha's website my guitar has a high-gloss natural finish. so I don't know what chemical they use.

Sombras · #7 10-02-2008, 03:45 PM

Unless your guitar's somehow exquisitely soiled, the best all around method is a slightly damp terry or no-scratch microfiber cloth. In a pinch I'll use spit to wipe oil off the upper bout left by my forearm.

devellis · #8 10-02-2008, 03:48 PM

I agree that a slightly damp soft cloth (like an old tee shirt) is the way to start. It shouldn't be damp enough to leave moisture on the guitar affter it passes over it.

As a next step, I'd try a cloth with just a small amount of naphtha on it. Naphtha is lighter fluid, so don't do this near any strong heat source. Ventilation might be a good idea, too. Before doing this on a large area, I'd try it in a very small, inconspicuous place just to be sure that it doesn't harm the finish. I've used naphtha on a lot of finishes, including varnish and synthetics with no problems, but I wouldn't assume that it's 100% safe without testing it in a very small quantity. Assuming it doesn't react with the finish, it should dissolve more stubborn grunge that the water alone couldn't budge.

The next step isn't one I'd do routinely but under some circumstances, it might be warranted. If the finish is intact (no scratches through to the wood, for instance) but is dull and grimy, Meguier's Clear Plastic Cleaner (#17) and/or Clear Plastic Polish (#10) may be useful. These are extremely mild abrasives and also contain chemicals that potentially can interfere with refinishing or spot-repairing a guitar. So, think before you use these. But they can restore luster to a dull finish and remove grime embedded in the finish if used prudently. If you use it at all, don't use much and be sure to rub gently.

There may be guitar specific cleaners or polishes that are good, as well. I haven't found any that I'm that fond of, but I've only used a few.

guitar1580 · #9 10-02-2008, 04:47 PM

Stewart McDonald Preservation Polish works well to shine up once in a while. It has no silicone, and doesnt smear or smudge. Been using it on my Martins and it works well.
I'd never get near a guitar with Windex!! As mentioned above, water on a rag, or naptha for the heavy duty stuff.

JP

ewalling · #10 10-02-2008, 05:27 PM

What about these commercial guitar polishes? My brother bought me a Martin aerosol guitar polish some years back. I used to use it, but then I heard something about having to be careful with such things. I still don't know if I should use it. It certainly brought a lovely shine out on my old Hullah guitar.

Twelvefret · #11 10-02-2008, 05:47 PM

GHS Guitar Polish has become my favorite product.

http://elderly.com//accessories/items/GRP92.htm

chuck

patchmcg · #12 10-02-2008, 06:19 PM

They use Dunlop 65 at the Ovation factory, so that's what I use on mine. A little bit goes a LOOONNG way.

Jeff M · #13 10-02-2008, 06:45 PM

STOP THE INSANITY!!!!

From Frank Ford's "Frets.com" on cleaning your guitars;
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musi...leaning01.html
Frank owns one of the best guitar shops in the US, Gryphon Stringed Instruments.
He is a luthier, a repair expert, and moderator at the AG Magazines Luthiers Corner forum.
Head back to the sites main index page for tons of other useful information.

And from David Cumpiano, luthier, author of highly respected books and articles on luthery/repair...an article entitled "Don't Love Your Guitar to Death".
http://www.cumpiano.com/Home/Article...brd%20oil.html

Bottom line?
Use a soft cloth.
Polish works by abrading thin layers of finish off. It wears down the guitar finish.
You don't need a polish...unless you have superficial scratches in the finish you want to rub out.
Or unless you are in the habit of driving down a bug infested highway with your guitar hanging out the car window.
Even then..just a tiny bit applied lightly.

The vast majority of time, all you need is a soft clean cloth for a wipe or two.
If you need some moisture..a spritz of water. A little bit of sticky goop from something you were eating?
A bit of spit.
When cleaning/restoring Michaelango's Sistine Chapel paintings, the preservationists used what they described as an "enzymatic compound" to gently remove dirt and grime with Q-tips.
When asked what this compound was...they noted it was their spit.

archie_james_c · #14 10-02-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Niall

GHS Guitar Polish has become my favorite product.

http://elderly.com//accessories/items/GRP92.htm

chuck

I used that on my Epiphone and it actually smoothed out the flat "natural" finish on my masterbilt. So now I'm gonna have to polish it all

TokyoNeko · #15 10-02-2008, 08:21 PM

I use Dr. Duck's Ax Wax, mainly to clean the fretboard and the bridge each time the strings are changed. I also use it to rub on the guitar's body once in a while as well.

But for every day, it's just a piece of microfiber cloth after playing. No more, no less.