Zeppeholic Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 I just bought a brand new Gibson Les Paul standard in Desert Burst, with a pickguard and i was wondering how often i should clean it. i have the vintage restoration kit and so far i've used it twice since i got the guitar yesterday. i wipe it clean with the cloth before i put it in the case, and actually have the cloth between my hand and the neck when i lay it on and wipe prints off the top. i was just wondering how often i should put the pump finish cleaner on and the metal cleaner. after re-strimming it 5 times i'll apply the fretboard conditioner. oh, and i play at least 2 hours a day. thanks for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 I just bought a brand new Gibson Les Paul standard in Desert Burst, with a pickguard and i was wondering how often i should clean it. i have the vintage restoration kit and so far i've used it twice since i got the guitar yesterday. i wipe it clean with the cloth before i put it in the case, and actually have the cloth between my hand and the neck when i lay it on and wipe prints off the top. i was just wondering how often i should put the pump finish cleaner on and the metal cleaner. after re-strimming it 5 times i'll apply the fretboard conditioner. oh, and i play at least 2 hours a day. thanks for the help I am with you here I have had mine now 30 hours...there is a lot to learn...I bought the 60's tribute gold top. having fun with mine enjoy yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 I think what you are doing is borderline OCD. The only time I clean mine is when the back of the neck starts to feel grummy - dry cloth, or sometimes just wet it with water - and clean off any dust each time I take the strings off. That's about it. Depending on where you live, you only need to oil the fretboard every 9 - 12 months. Look up Fret Doctor. Some say, including me, that it's the best thing for your fretboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 If you keep cleaning your LP, it will look shiny and new forever. If you don't ever clean it, it will look dull due to the fingerprints and skin oils. It probably will take some years of not cleaning it before the finish starts to break down. Also, polishing once a month is probably enough to keep it plenty shiny. I live in Southern California. I have 30 year old guitars that I used to polish all the time but haven't polished one in years. They all still look great. The moral of this story is only polish them if you want them looking new forever. (I prefer natural relicing to take place so I don't polish anymore and they all still look fine.) PS - Most of my guitars have never seen fretboard cleaner/oiler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garvoon Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I have guitars and amps going back to the 60s and I, to this day, clean them regularly. Sweat from where my arm rests dulls the finishes on my 1976 LP Standard, my two SGs and my two Gibson basses. I use GHS polish after a gig or two, depending on how heavily used, and remove the dulled areas with the polish. I like to preserve my stuff. The attached thumbnail is my 1976 LP Standard ... I have the original tailpiece, but on this one, I put a TP-6 fine tuning tailpiece. Oddly, enough, it IS NOT a two piece body. It's one piece and there's a large "ski slope" (volute) behind the base of the headstock. It's a really NICE guitar ... bought it back in '81 for $325 ... what a steal, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 ...I like to preserve my stuff. ... Hello! I like Your thinking, and I can only recommend it to the rest of the people in this thread. :) Cheers... Bence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaicho8888 Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Hey, cleaning guitars could be cheap theraphy for OCD. Seriously, just wipe clean after each use. Or use naphta (Ronsonol lighter fuel) in a convenient squirt bottle to do a thorough cleaning. I use linseed oil (small bottle from art stores) to treat the fretboard once in awhile (6-12 months) or during string change. Don't soak the fret board with it; with paper towel, wipe on...wait few minutes and wipe clean. Makes it nice and fresh looking on the surface. I heard that too much soaking could loosen the frets; I don't know if it is true. I have guitars in a cases that I clean once every 10 years or so...still shinny after a little polish. Some started nitro checking after 30-40 years. The biggest condition you should watch out for is the quick temperature changes. If it is comfortable for your, then it's good. Never leave the guitar in the trunk summer time or cold subzero. Always allow the guitar to acclimate to the surroundings. For example if it's freezing outside; keep the guitar in the case and acclimate for an hour or so before opening. This is tough on gigs, so allow time before to acclimate. I've taken my LP from one freezing night, had to play almost immediately...well, the LP developed checking that night...almost aged many years. But it's a player's guitar... now with more character. Wah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moparguy Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I used SMOOTH NO GRIT paste automotive wax on my new lp, talk about putting a shine on it. Water and sweat will bead up and wipe off very easy. I didnt put it on the headstock or neck. Finger prints and smudes also wipe off really easy. Try it on a small area on the back of the guitar first and let it dry and wipe off and you can feel and see the differece right away. MAKE SURE IT IS NON ABRASIVE CAR WAX!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I used SMOOTH NO GRIT paste automotive wax on my new lp, talk about putting a shine on it. Water and sweat will bead up and wipe off very easy. I didnt put it on the headstock or neck. Finger prints and smudes also wipe off really easy. Try it on a small area on the back of the guitar first and let it dry and wipe off and you can feel and see the differece right away. MAKE SURE IT IS NON ABRASIVE CAR WAX!!! Meguire's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaicho8888 Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Carnauba wax... ...never cleaner/wax with silicone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emcee Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I really only polish when I change strings. If I'm using non-coated strings I try and wipe them down before I put the guitar away. My hands seem to get really sweaty and destroy strings quickly. I'm not particular about keeping the guitar insanely shiny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeppeholic Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 Thanks guys, I think I know what to do now. I've got one more question, if I scratch the nitrocellulose, how can I repair that so that it's smooth and unnoticeable?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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