vikjohn Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 I bought my Gibson in 1966 when I was 16, Yes, I have had it a LONG time. It needs a good cleaning and more. I don't want the scars taken out ... life stories. The finish is pretty much gone on the neck. What can I use to get it back in shape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 on a guitar that old I wouldn't use anything on the finish but a damp cloth. The 20+ year old finish on my J-185 reacted badly to Virtuoso cleaner in an effort to clear some forearm haze.......old nitro can apparently be finicky. I have used plain old Gibson spray polish on it with no ill effects but it doesn't clear haze. Perhaps the fingerboard needs a bit of oil, perhaps not. Just be very cautious with that old finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Man Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Naphtha is the preferred cleaner for old nitro finishes, that and mild soapy warm water/cloth. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieDog Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 (edited) Just a note about any water getting near an old guitar…. If there is any checking at all, even just surface scratches, minute amounts of water can get into the cracks and trapped. It will start interacting with/lifting the finish, or make more haze. Think permanent water rings on your new mother-in-law’s antique side-table. (I may speak from experience, “Where were you raised, in a barn?! Dontcha know to use a coaster?!”). Used correctly, naptha will evaporate before it can do damage to broken surfaces. Edited February 3 by PrairieDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 I've used "Murphy's Wood Soap" a vegetable oil based cleaner you dilute w/ water ON MY FINGERBOARDS. Scrub a bit and rinse and dry off fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 On 2/2/2024 at 5:22 PM, vikjohn said: I bought my Gibson in 1966 when I was 16, Yes, I have had it a LONG time. It needs a good cleaning and more. I don't want the scars taken out ... life stories. The finish is pretty much gone on the neck. What can I use to get it back in shape? Hi - why not show us some pics of that old buddy. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 (edited) Lawdy, in 1966 I was still counting myself lucky to scrape together what I needed to buy a used Harmony Sovereign. I pretty much also just go with a cotton cloth slightly dampened with distilled water for general sprucing up. On the neck as you described though you consider using Rennaissance Wax. It dries to an extremely thin but tough as nails coating and does a great job of protecting any remaining finish from oils and other nasty stuff. While this is what you would use if cleaning the desk Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence at, it was not developed with musical instruments in mind. So, a small test area would be advisable. On the fingerboard and such I go with a bore oil which can be found a any music shop. Edited February 3 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 3 hours ago, zombywoof said: While this is what you would use if cleaning the desk Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence at, it was not developed with musical instruments in mind. Yes, it's good strong and reliable stuff ! If I'm not too far off it was developed in relation to Long John Silver's wooden leg. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Wait. We're supposed to clean em? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scriv58 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I fog the area I want to clean with my breath then wipe it off with my shirt-tail because I always know where those two items are- no joke! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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