Guitar Polish?

Guitar Polish?

I remember this topic came up about 2 years ago and I don't remember the
outcome so please bare with me:

What do you use to polish your guitars and do you do anything with the
fret boards?
I see some older guitars with maple fret boards with what to me looks
like crud on the frets. Is that warn out frets(well played or something
else?

Thanks

Re: Guitar Polish?

On Sat, 17 May 2008 17:00:45 -0400, Peter Pan <Peter@neverland,com > wrote:

> so please bare with me:


Bare? Ummm, no, at least not with a guy named Peter Pan.


>I see some older guitars with maple fret boards with what to me looks
>like crud on the frets.


If it's a reliced guitar that "crud" alone costs an extra $500 to install.

Re: Guitar Polish?


"Peter Pan" <Peter@neverland,com > wrote in message
news:D4CdnXiuvtgd2rLVnZ2dnUVZ_hudnZ2d@comcast,com ...
>I remember this topic came up about 2 years ago and I don't remember the
>outcome so please bare with me:
>
> What do you use to polish your guitars and do you do anything with the
> fret boards?
> I see some older guitars with maple fret boards with what to me looks like
> crud on the frets. Is that warn out frets(well played or something else?
>
> Thanks

Don't use anything that contains silicones, as they can make future finish
and glue repairs difficult. I just go over mine with a domestic wet wipe and
paper kitchen towel, but I have used Goddard's furniture polish on very worm
finishes. I oil ebony and r'wood fretboards very sparing and very rarely
with Dr Ducks, and use a toothbrush, with the bristles cut shorter for extra
stiffness, to clean out the muck around the frets. I would use wet wipes on
a maple board if I had one. I think the finish is sometimes (often?) applied
over the frets on maple boards, so what you see might just be excess finish
in the fret-fretboard joint.

Tony D

Re: Guitar Polish?

> "Peter Pan" <Peter@neverland,com > wrote in message

I wish I could help, but I can't answer anyone who actually took the time to
type in "Peter Pan" and "Peter" and "Neverland" in the same sentence.

Peace,
Polfus

Re: Guitar Polish?

Polfus wrote:
>> "Peter Pan" <Peter@neverland,com > wrote in message
>
> I wish I could help, but I can't answer anyone who actually took the
> time to type in "Peter Pan" and "Peter" and "Neverland" in the same
> sentence.
>
> Peace,
> Polfus
>
>
Well the email was a joke.. But that is my name... Pan is shortened from
Pancose

Re: Guitar Polish?

Just kidding...

"Peter Pan" <Peter@neverland,com > wrote

>> What do you use to polish your guitars and do you do anything with the
>> fret boards?

I use Martin Professional Guitar Polish only.

I don't like Gibson guitar polish, even for my Gibson....weird, but true.

Martin's is the *shit*...seriously.

>> I see some older guitars with maple fret boards with what to me looks
>> like crud on the frets. Is that warn out frets(well played or something
>> else?

On the frets, its a combination of the string's deposits, especially on
older strings that are tarnished...you can run it off onto the frets.

Frets are made of stainless steel, so it not the actual fret thats crud
encrusted..,it s crud *on* the fret thats doing it.

Peace,
Polfus

Re: Guitar Polish?

Very few guitars have SS frets.

"Polfus" <nostringscouldsecureyou@thestation> wrote in message
news:482f5c15$0$20163$4c368faf@roadrunner,com ...
> Just kidding...
>
> "Peter Pan" <Peter@neverland,com > wrote
>
>>> What do you use to polish your guitars and do you do anything with the
>>> fret boards?
>
> I use Martin Professional Guitar Polish only.
>
> I don't like Gibson guitar polish, even for my Gibson....weird, but true.
>
> Martin's is the *shit*...seriously.
>
>>> I see some older guitars with maple fret boards with what to me looks
>>> like crud on the frets. Is that warn out frets(well played or something
>>> else?
>
> On the frets, its a combination of the string's deposits, especially on
> older strings that are tarnished...you can run it off onto the frets.
>
> Frets are made of stainless steel, so it not the actual fret thats crud
> encrusted..,it s crud *on* the fret thats doing it.
>
> Peace,
> Polfus
>
>

Re: Guitar Polish?


"Polfus" <nostringscouldsecureyou@thestation> wrote in message
news:482f5c15$0$20163$4c368faf@roadrunner,com ...
> Just kidding...
>
> "Peter Pan" <Peter@neverland,com > wrote
>
>>> What do you use to polish your guitars and do you do anything with the
>>> fret boards?
>
> I use Martin Professional Guitar Polish only.

sounds liek a try, martin also recommend not using lemon oil.
>
> I don't like Gibson guitar polish, even for my Gibson....weird, but true.
>
> Martin's is the *shit*...seriously.
>
>>> I see some older guitars with maple fret boards with what to me looks
>>> like crud on the frets. Is that warn out frets(well played or something
>>> else?
>
> On the frets, its a combination of the string's deposits, especially on
> older strings that are tarnished...you can run it off onto the frets.
>
> Frets are made of stainless steel, so it not the actual fret thats crud
> encrusted..,it s crud *on* the fret thats doing it.
>
> Peace,
> Polfus
>
>

Re: Guitar Polish?


"Grinner" <grinner@nowhere,com > wrote

> "Polfus" <nostringscouldsecureyou@thestation> wrote in message

>> I use Martin Professional Guitar Polish only.
>
> sounds liek a try, martin also recommend not using lemon oil.

I never use the stuff.

Peace,
Polfus

Re: Guitar Polish?

And Martin is the only company I know of that makes this ballsy statement.

Oh, god. Here we go again. We've been down this path before :)

-Larry

"Grinner" <grinner@nowhere,com > wrote in message
news:482ff44c$0$17507$afc38c87@news.optusnet,com .au...

> sounds liek a try, martin also recommend not using lemon oil.

Re: Guitar Polish?


"Larry" <none@none,com > wrote in message
news:2ggYj.87594$y05.50746@newsfe22.lga...
> And Martin is the only company I know of that makes this ballsy statement.
>
> Oh, god. Here we go again. We've been down this path before :)
>
> -Larry
>
> "Grinner" <grinner@nowhere,com > wrote in message
> news:482ff44c$0$17507$afc38c87@news.optusnet,com .au...
>
>> sounds liek a try, martin also recommend not using lemon oil.
>

i use lemon oil when i think it needs it.

Re: Guitar Polish?

Peter Pan wrote:
> I remember this topic came up about 2 years ago and I don't remember the
> outcome so please bare with me:
>
> What do you use to polish your guitars

For an actual "polish," I use a car product by Blue Magic intended to be used to
take the haze off of convertible top windows, plastic gauge bezels, etc. But I
use it SPARINGLY and RARELY. Only to buff out scratches. Stewmac dot com also
sells fine polishing compounds.

WTH (heck), here's my detailed detail:

Remove the strings.

Dust everything with a static type disposable dry cloth (NOT the oily type!).

Clean everything with a microfiber cloth dampened in a WEAK "Murphy's Oil Soap"
solution (wring out until almost dry).

Second microfiber cloth with clear water (wrung almost dry) to "rinse" off any soap.

Dry terry cloth towel (although your guitar shouldn't be wet at all, must maybe
damp in a spot or two).

Mask off pickups with blue painters tape. Clean rosewood fretboards with a drop
or two of Dr. Stringfellow's LemOil. This stuff cleans and penetrates the wood
at the same time. You can use a cloth or 0000 steel wool with the grain. Don't
use steel wool on maple boards that have a matte or glossy finish. Polish frets
with 0000 steel wool, being careful to put too much pressure against the grain
(if you're picky, tape it off, even using thin metal masks).

The above mentioned polish, sparingly on a diaper type cloth, by shaking bottle,
removing cap, and just a second of contact with the polish. Only use this on
plastic pickguards and any spots of the guitar that NEED polishing. Polish has
an abrasive, even if super fine "non-abrasive." What you're after is a bit of
polish that disappears to a mirror like finish in no time at all. If you see
any amount on the guitar after a few seconds, you're using too much.

Damp clear water cloth and dry terry towel again.

Then I use a THIN coat of a carnauba wax (NOT car wax, I use a brand for antique
furniture). Again, less is more. Buff with a super soft diaper type cloth.

Then I finish with Dunlop Formula 65 with another microfiber cloth. This stuff
is best thought of as a windex for guitar. No polish compound, more of a
cleaner that leaves a maintained guitar looking GREAT!

How well does this work? My methods have varied over the years, but here's the
back of my 37 year old Strat that I've owned and maintained since it was a year
old (the flash brings out the lacquer crazing and chips):
http :// tinyurl,com /5n9wap






> and do you do anything with the
> fret boards?

See above.

> I see some older guitars with maple fret boards with what to me looks
> like crud on the frets. Is that warn out frets(well played or something
> else?

Discoloration on the maple is missing finish. "Crud" around the frets IS crud
around the frets. Skin oils attract dirt. For that reason, it's always a good
idea to clean your hands BEFORE playing, and clean guitar with Dunlop 65 after
playing.

>
> Thanks

Re: Guitar Polish?

On 17 May 2008, Peter Pan <Peter@neverland,com > wrote in alt.guitar:

> What do you use to polish your guitars and do you do anything with
> the fret boards?

Usually Martin Guitar Polish. It's pretty watery and mild, so I don't
think it could damage the finish.

Every few months I get at the crud that's accumulated by the frets with
a Q-tip or toothbrush and some naptha. Every couple of years I might
put some lemon oil on the rosewood fingerboards.

Re: Guitar Polish?

On Sat, 17 May 2008 17:00:45 -0400, Peter Pan wrote:

> I remember this topic came up about 2 years ago and I don't remember the
> outcome so please bare with me:
>
> What do you use to polish your guitars and do you do anything with the
> fret boards?
> I see some older guitars with maple fret boards with what to me looks
> like crud on the frets. Is that warn out frets(well played or something
> else?
>
> Thanks

I use Tasmanian Filth Buster on bodies and maple fretboards and a buffing
wheel on rosewood fretboards.

Re: Guitar Polish?

"Meat Plow" <meat@petitmorte,net > wrote in message
news:1skj2j.6qr.19.1@news.alt,net ...
> On Sat, 17 May 2008 17:00:45 -0400, Peter Pan wrote:
>
>> I remember this topic came up about 2 years ago and I don't remember the
>> outcome so please bare with me:
>>
>> What do you use to polish your guitars and do you do anything with the
>> fret boards?
>> I see some older guitars with maple fret boards with what to me looks
>> like crud on the frets. Is that warn out frets(well played or something
>> else?
>>
>> Thanks
>
> I use Tasmanian Filth Buster on bodies and maple fretboards and a buffing
> wheel on rosewood fretboards.

I have to comment on this as I specifically didn't mention it elsewhere.
Using buffing wheels, in particular with cut compounds, on freboards does
carry a hazard.

Many frets wind up being glued down, and glues break down rapidly with heat.
Buffing wheels with compounds can produce a lot of heat very quickly, and so
it's entirely possible to loosen frets with this method.

HTH
-pk