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guitar cleaning
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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by scary_jeff on Mon Jan 26th at 12:31pm 2004

I know there are a fair few guitarists round here so since I'm a relative n00b I thought I would ask you guys. Anyway I've had my guitar for two years and I've never cleaned the fretboard once, so as you can imagine there is plenty of grime on it (and it doesn't sound that amazing any more either). I'm changing the strings again next weekend and was wondering what would be a good way to clean the fretboard while the strings are all off? I don't want to put anything on it that will damage it or make the frets go rusty or anything nasty like that. I don't have any idea of the actual type of wood the fretboard is, but if it makes any difference it is the dark variety. I was thinking of maybe using some washing up liquid on a sponge, but please tell me if this will cause my guitar to burst into flames or whatever



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by matt on Mon Jan 26th at 12:36pm 2004

I learnt the recorder when I was in primary school. Don't know anything about guitars though...

But like you said, someone here probably does.

[addsig]



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Leperous on Mon Jan 26th at 12:42pm 2004

Thanks for that I'd also like to hear about what you do; my fretboard has kind of gone white (up near the body, in the 20th-fret-region)



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Adam Hawkins on Mon Jan 26th at 1:03pm 2004

Baby wipes?

Or some kind of alcohol-based fluid?

[addsig]



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by diablo on Mon Jan 26th at 1:05pm 2004

Just use a wet cloth, most cleaning liquids will damage the wood. Use soap as a last resort.





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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Monqui on Mon Jan 26th at 3:28pm 2004

I'll ask "Guy down the hall #2"- he's a guitar freak. Or just wait for Doc to cruise by- I know he's a guitarist (or at least I think he is...). [addsig]



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Dr Brasso on Mon Jan 26th at 4:20pm 2004

well its about damn time you cleaned that instrument Jeff....shame on you...

ive always used Martin's Guitar polish, available at any guitar shop, about 4 bucks a bottle...but, you need to make sure all the grime is gone in the cracks between the frets..i use polish, a very fine soft cloth, and a toothpick along the edges....and do not rub against the grain, it scuffs the wood, and do not let the polish dry, or it leaves a film.....its a buffing polish, so youll have to rub the s**t out of it, literally.........it gives undue wear if ya dont....

DO NOT USE WATER AND SOAP...or other cleaners....any alchohol or spirit based products, all dry out the wood, no matter if its rosewood (which is what it sounds like you have) or maple....eventually leaving large cracks from shrinkage....a good guitar is a fine musical instrument, treat it well, and itll treat you well, (mines even gotten me laid)

Doc B...





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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by fishy on Mon Jan 26th at 7:25pm 2004

water + wood = warpage

not really something i ever fancied doing with any guitars. i always just scrape the gunk off with a small penknife when i'm changing strings.





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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Crono on Mon Jan 26th at 9:18pm 2004

Brasso: Is there anything you can't do? lol

I've had some nice experiences with guitars, the first I had (POS) I cleaned only once with a little wet rag . . . it was a maple neck, but a pos squire. Now there are sections of the neck that look a bit . . . green. Short story shorter, water of anykind rots wood. Unless it's a sealent don't put it on.

Since I have no money I ususally use those dry swiffer whipes to get the grime out. But just to mention, getting 2 years of grime out isn't going to be easy. [addsig]



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by scary_jeff on Mon Jan 26th at 10:06pm 2004

Some kind of special fluid sounds good, I'll have to ask the guy in the shop... they are normally pretty helpful. Thanks for the advice



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Tracer Bullet on Mon Jan 26th at 10:42pm 2004

I don't know anything about guitars, but I do know somthing about solvents disolution... ect. If you don't want to buy some special guitar cleaning stuff (which is probably the best option) I'd recomend somthing like vegitable oil, or even mineral spirits (paint thinner). these should act as nice non-polar solvents, disolving the skin oils, but not penetrating the wood deeply the way water does... [addsig]



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by scary_jeff on Mon Jan 26th at 10:58pm 2004

The best thing about the Snarkpit is that no matter what you ask about there's always at least one person who is the master and can tell you the answer



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Crono on Tue Jan 27th at 12:26am 2004

This has nothing to do with cleaning guitars, but, what "axes" or acoustics do you guys play?

I've got a POS Squire strat (1st guitar) then I wised up and got a Ibanez AW100 natural . . . ohh man it sounds so nice. (It sounds better then most Gibsons in my opinion, Gibsons sound a little too low at times, mine has a nice ring to it especially in the C and D area of notes). My electric is like in a case in my closet I don't touch it anymore lol.

Brasso, if you say you've got like 5 Martins I will hurt you lol (jk). [addsig]



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Leperous on Tue Jan 27th at 9:41am 2004

Hmm, I have a Fender Strat- it's not terribly good, but I find that other guitars just look awful, especially Gibsons and their weird roundness! But electrics suck except for solo purposes so have a really nice sounding Alvarez acoustic...



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Kapten Ljusdal on Tue Jan 27th at 10:20am 2004

I tried to learn from the old fart in the house, but it didn't work out as good as I wanted to... [addsig]



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Crono on Tue Jan 27th at 10:22am 2004

I like how Les Pauls look and play, I don't like how heavy they are, I'd actually prefer an Epiphone Les Paul rather then a Gibson, I don't want my instrament, which is going to get abused by being played, to be a liability, so I don't want gold pick guards and such. . . But Strats looks worse . . . goddammit I hate my electric. The only thing Fender makes that is good are Amps, and I've heard their basses are good too, but I don't play bass so. However if you've heard how low their acoustic guitars are, it doesn't seem very unlikely lol. For a time I really liked how Ovations sounded, but then I listened to them again lol.

Is it just me or does the dreadnought design kick ass?

By the way, I need to get some new strings and I'm a little partial to Earnie Balls (since having the electric and all) however, I was wondering if you guys had some preference for acoustics? I don't like Nylon strings, but any other suggestions would rock.

[EDIT] Learning how to play is not a one time deal lol, you're always learning. the guitar master blabity glook (can't remember his name, he lives in Spain, he trained Estaban) maybe he doesn't have anything else to learn, but anyone but him is still learning lol. I mostly learned what I know by learning songs from tab sites and noticed paterns in rythem and chord configuration, then I started playing with friends on mine who will always tell you whether you're good or you should practice more because you suck . . . there's an abundance of sites online where you can learn all sorts of crap, give it a go. I also think it's better if you learn on your own, because then you learn it the way that's best for you instead of someone else influencing you with their preferences. If you do what you want, people adding in later will just add to your ability, not detract from it. Too many people try learning the hardest crap when they start so they give up immediatly, like barr cords . . . if you tried learning those without any cauleses, you'd really hurt your hand (I know several people who push themselves too hard and end up cutting their fingers up.) So, just try it out on your own, you're your best teacher the first couple years of playing, after that you can have people give you tips . . . but you should really figure it out your self first, or at least give it a shot. anyway . . . this edit is becoming blathering so off for now [/EDIT] [addsig]



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by scary_jeff on Tue Jan 27th at 10:51am 2004

My friend has a PRS



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Adam Hawkins on Tue Jan 27th at 11:26am 2004

I never got callouses when I tried to learn - but I couldn't press the strings down cos my fingers are double-jointed and bend further than they should backwards. Hence, every time I tried to press down on the strings, my finger would bend backwards instead of the string giving way...

Stupid bendy fingers!

[addsig]



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Thylacine on Tue Jan 27th at 5:06pm 2004

I always use wooden furniture cleaner. We have a product here called "Mr. Sheen", it works wonders for me everytime.



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 Re: guitar cleaning
Posted by Dr Brasso on Tue Jan 27th at 8:01pm 2004

i would imagine that furniture cleaner is similar to a guitar polish.....if it works for you with no residual effects...more power to ya....to me, its worth the 4 bucks a bottle for a good cleaner, especially made for fine instruments..../*my 2 cents...

Doc B...

ps....i taught myself how to play many many years ago....and if you can avoid doing it that way, i'd say, go for it....a good teacher would have saved me alot of hate and discontent inthe learning process....point a to b in short order....on the converse, i wouldnt be as c**ky about my playing as i am today...

W00T!!!! LETS ROCK!!!!

[addsig]




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