Yggdrasil Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 You also don't want to use any store brand polishes that may contain citric acid (real lemon oil). The acids in lemon oil break down the finish of nitro finished guitars. It may also aid in the corrosion of the frets and reduce string life. "Someone mentioned that using lemon oil on the fretboard might tarnish the frets...is there something else that can be used to oil the fretboard. I've been using lemon oil for years...but I know that Martin Guitar Co. does not recommend the use of lemon oil. " Well' date=' just to add another view on [i']fretboard[/i] oils, the fanatics at Alembic do recommend pure lemon oil on the fretboard (most, but not all, of theirs are unfinished ebony) Alembic fingerboard oil FAQ post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayla Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 I keep planning to polish down the guitars and oil the fretboards, but I never do. When it comes down to it, it doesn't seem to me that they really need it. I wipe 'em down at the end of each day I play 'em, and wipe down good the fretboards when I change the strings. I find that that's enough for me. I may polish 'em one day, but that day just never seems to come... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWilson Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 I use spilled beer and the back of my elbow. Ha!!! I've done that several times also, but not on purpose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 I keep planning to polish down the guitars and oil the fretboards' date=' but I never do. When it comes down to it, it doesn't seem to me that they really need it.[/quote'] Jayla, I bet you've got Bob Colosi endpins, bridge, etc. Not only do they improve the tone, they also remove the need for guitar cleaning ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayla Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Jayla' date=' I bet you've got Bob Colosi endpins, bridge, etc. Not only do they improve the tone, they also remove the need for guitar cleaning ;)[/quote'] Well, I don't have Colosi saddles, nuts, and pins on my guitars, but this may be a good reason to consider getting some... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 "guitar polish" ??????? I didn't know they made guitars in Poland???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsc Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Suprised nobody mentioned Virtuoso cleaner and polish. Made for nitro. Considerd to be top tier. I used it on a 50s gibby that had never been cleaned and it removed 5 cloth fulls of brownish crud and then polished it to a full gloss.. I like this stuff too. I will also 2nd the Micro fiber cloth. I hardly ever polish my guitars, since someone mentioned the cloth. (on this the greatest forum in the world) I clean & polish my guitars only once or twice a year. The Micro fiber cloth does a good job of keeping my guitars clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid2007 Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Suprised nobody mentioned Virtuoso cleaner and polish. Made for nitro. Considerd to be top tier. I used it on a 50s gibby that had never been cleaned and it removed 5 cloth fulls of brownish crud and then polished it to a full gloss.. I use virtuoso for the dirty vintage guitars. Amazing stuff, but for me too muck work the shiny new Bozeman Gibbys. I used 2 rags recently for the just the neck of a '75 D-18. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgman Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Can guitar polish be purchased via the Gibson website? 'Cause if it can, I've not been able to locate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Last night I did the once-a-year guitar cleaning routine.... Rub down with Adam's Swirl and Haze Remover, a non-abrasive automotive product that does a great job of polishing out fine scratches, forearm rash, stray pick marks, etc. It removes old polish layers as well......good surface prep. Check it out here: Adam's Swirl & Haze Remover Apply Gibson Fretboard Oil to the bridge and board heavily, work it in good and clean up excess with microfiber cloth. Do the body and neck with Virtuoso Cleaner, removing any traces of the swirl remover and board oil residue. Now he's ready for...... Virtuoso Polish, applied with a scrap of an old flannel shirt over the whole thing, neck and all. Ah! Set it down to dry and head out back for a smoke while it dries thoroughly. Buff it out with a clean microfiber cloth to a very deep, high gloss finish. Virtuoso does not powder up when buffed off.....it just vanishes. Stunning finish from this stuff, highly resistant to smudging and fingerprints and it lasts for a very long time. Just like guitars, every player has his/her favorite stuff to maintain their instrument.....there is no right or wrong approach........ .......unless you're considering taking a DA buffer to the top of your J45! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hall Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Gibson pump polish (orange and white bottle). It contains trace amounts of nitro (same finish as your guitar). Great stuff. Works well as after shave also. I stay happy with this approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 I like that Martin Guitar polish......works for removing "arm fog" too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsc Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Fried chicken grease, seems to work pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanstreak Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 I've always used this three pack. Lasted me about 8 years so far. I did buy the orange bottle Pump polish but I'm pretty sure it's the same as the hi-gloss finish stuff in the three pack. The three pack can be had here - http://www.elderly.com/accessories/names/gibson-luthier's-choice-triple-pack--LC975.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodehopper Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Someone mentioned that using lemon oil on the fretboard might tarnish the frets...is there something else that can be used to oil the fretboard. I've been using lemon oil for years...but I know that Martin Guitar Co. does not recommend the use of lemon oil. I really like this for my fretboard' date=' bridge.... http://www.gerlitzusa.com/prd_honey.html I believe they should have it at Guitar Center When I bought my Les Paul Studio the Rosewood fretboard had a talc like dust all over it...I think it was polishing compound from polishing the body. I used the Guitar Honey and a cotton ball to clean it all off and the fretboard looked great after wards. Otherwise for my acoustics I alternate between the Stew-Mac preservation polish and the orange label Gibby Pump Polish. The Stew-Mac is great for light duty cleaning and then I use the Gibby polish for the big cleanings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayville Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Fwiw, I use the Virtuoso Premium Polish on the finished surfaces and Fret Doctor on the fretboard and bridge. Terrific stuff: Virtuoso Polish Fret Doctor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonCarlos Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 guitarstrummer wrote:Gibson pump polish (orange and white bottle). It contains trace amounts of nitro (same finish as your guitar). Great stuff. Works well as after shave also. +1 Gibson Pump Polish(orange bottle) It works great and it removed the haze and residue swirls left by Virtuoso cleaner and polish, which IMHO I think that Virtuoso is best used to clean and revive an old or cruddy finish. Maybe I should have researched it's use first and was using it for the wrong thing of simply cleaning and polishing my new guitar. Lesson learned ....so now I microfiber cloth everything after playing and then when I want some polish use Gibson Pump Polish (no residue left behind and easy maintenance). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swicket Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Gibson pump polish works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.