jerrylo913 Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 i just bought a ebony les paul custom and i only played it a few times and already where my right arm rest on the face of the guitar theres perspiration from sweat ...and it seems no matter how hard i try to wipe it off with a clean cloth that mark wont go away. would using a polish like the gibson hi gloss polish or a good quality carnuba wax take care of that?
DoubleSixx Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 I've had similar problems with my Ebony Studio. I've used the Vintage Reissue Restoration Kit. The kit helps but some times you really have to use some elbow grease. The Black finish easily hazes up, hopefully some has a better solution.
RichCI Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 It takes some work to get that goop off from your arm (I think it's deodorant) but I've had good results with Fender's polishing kit. It has a few products in it - one for deeper cleaner, one for polishing and one for more regular use. http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0990508000
Aaresz Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 Virtuoso polish and cleaner. +1 I have found that not only does it take it away, it also helps to prevent it in the future.
Les Paul Fanatic Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 If you're sweating on it, the salt from your sweat is eating through the lacquer and into the finish, which becomes a problem when trying to keep your guitars in good condition. So the first big thing to do is when you're done playing, take a polishing cloth, and wipe the body of your guitar down and then polish your guitar, which should be done on a fairly regular basis.
jerrylo913 Posted August 12, 2008 Author Posted August 12, 2008 Virtuoso polish and cleaner. so i should get both the polish and cleaner?
Bluemoon Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 I would, though only user the clener periodically. Use the cleaner first and then use the polish. After that, just use the polish. About once a year use the cleaner again. You MUST use a really clean cloth otherwise you will end up with swirl marks all over your guitar. That's going to happen over time with nitro because it is so soft. But you should be able to limit those swirles with a really clean cotton cloth or microfiber cloth. Black is going to be tough to maintain. At some point you are going to realize that you are fighting a losing battle to keep it looking like new. The cleaner will take out some of the swirls.
Bluemoon Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 My local luthier suggested meguiars's Show Car Glaze #7. It's a high-end car polish. He said don't go below the 7 because those contain an abrasive. I've never used it. My guy said it is all they use on gibsons and vintage guitars. Anyone else used it?
jerrylo913 Posted August 12, 2008 Author Posted August 12, 2008 My local luthier suggested meguiars's Show Car Glaze #7. It's a high-end car polish. He said don't go below the 7 because those contain an abrasive. I've never used it. My guy said it is all they use on gibsons and vintage guitars. Anyone else used it? i see that all over other forums so im curious myself
RichCI Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 Yes. Meguiar's makes the Fender polish. http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0990508000
Bluemoon Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 Yeah, but are you paying more for Fender to put its name on the polish. It is the same stuff as Maguiar's swirl remover #9 and #7 glaze polish.
RichCI Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 Hard to say but, if so, not by much. The kit sells for $20 which includes three products (swirl remover, polish and general cleaning mist) and a sponge. Just the 16oz bottle of Meguiar's #9 sells for $11. http://www.amazingtone.com/servlet/the-60/Fender-Guitar-Instrument-Care/Detail http://www.cleanacar.com/meg149.html?productid=meg149&channelid=FROOG
Firebrand Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 It takes some work to get that goop off from your arm (I think it's deodorant) but I've had good results with Fender's polishing kit. It has a few products in it - one for deeper cleaner' date=' one for polishing and one for more regular use. http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0990508000[/quote'] This is the MaGuire stuff that Fender sells, they are well known in the auto fraternity. I have had this set for a couple of years, it's a three part system so it takes a few minutes, though you don't have to go thru all three steps if your guitar doesn't need it. My red Firebrand really benefited from this, it brought a shine back to the surface I hadn't seen in years. Kevin
RichCI Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 It works very well on the body's finish, not so well on plastic parts like the pickguard. Keep in mind that I've used it on only my LP so far which is a '91 model that has had a lot of use. The stuff isn't going to take out deeper marks like what you might get on the back from Levi's rivets on your jeans, but it definitely takes care of regular swirling.
retrosurfer1959 Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 I use Gerlitz #1 guitar wax and then smudge off on all my black guitars it's a great hard wax (carnauba) with no silicon you out it on like a car wax and buff it off dries real hard and without any mark and the after playing smudge off work perfectly Great stuff
jerrylo913 Posted August 17, 2008 Author Posted August 17, 2008 which swirl remover should i get? i read that producs with silicone shouldn't be used as for polish i just ordered some Gerlitz #1. Gibson itself recomended either Gibson High gloss polish or a good carnauba wax.
tonebias Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 You guys got me curious about the Virtuoso cleaner and polish so I ordered some and got it on Friday. I tried it on all my guitars. The cleaner works pretty good at getting the grime off (Probably even better than Naptha, although I still use the naptha on the fretboards). The polish must contain some carnuba wax because it sure smells like candy. Anyway, after polishing my guitars I had a hard time playing while the guitar was resting on my leg as all of them just slip right off! That's OK though, I'll just wear a strap. The end result was awesome!
NeoConMan Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 Black guitars suck, especially with a Gibson. Nitro cellulose finish will drive you INSANE!!! Swirls are a fact of life, get used to it. I had two Les Paul Standards in Ebony, they looked great until you picked them up to play them... Once you got close enough to see the swirls, it was a heartbreaker. Okay, after all that negativity a good wax like Retro mentioned is probably your best bet. Don't tell anybody, but I used Windex window cleaner to strip all the grease and smudges off my black ones. Worked great, if you're good at glass you can do it on your guitar. Once all the sh!t is stripped from the finish, you can go back with the wax. Disclaimer; I never tried any of the other products mentioned in this thread beyond Gibson pump polish.
jmjohnson Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 Ernie Balls guitar polish has been working OK for me.
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