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Original Post By:
mLKauai
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Date: 3/5/2010 1:19:50 PM |
I was sitting near a window this morning fiddling with my King tenor, in the light realizing how fine an instrument i had (which is not the point here), and noticing the usual annoying dust buildup under the strings by the bridge and the head stock. In the light I could see a little crud build up on the light koa headstock as well, under the strings wher they lay flat on the wood.
I remember William telling me that he recommends Meguiars products and found a "Fender Guitar Care Kit by Meguiars ".
For a total clean, even a buff out for marks etc.
I'm off to either a music store or a car parts store.
I figure the best time to do a complete cleaning is when changing strings, to get under those spots.
Happy early spring cleaning! |
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Posted By:
Grandpa Jim
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Date: 3/5/2010 2:35:36 PM |
Based on some advice here some time ago, I used Meguiar's swirl remover on some old ukuleles. The results were far better than I ever expected. It's a great product.
Jim
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Posted By:
DougD
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Date: 3/6/2010 9:35:02 AM
(Updated: 3/6/2010 9:48:54 AM)
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mL - You might be interested to know that some Meguiars products (the ones sold at places like WalMart) contain silicone, which is not good for instruments because of possible problems if future repairs are ever needed. The professional (Mirror Glaze) products sold by auto finishing suppliers (and some instrument repair suppliers) do not. Check the label, or the Meguiar's website http://www.meguiars.com/ before you buy.
Edit: Now I'm not so sure. I think that information used to be on the Meguiars site, but I don't see it now, and the musical instrument suppliers I was thinking of don't seem to sell Mirror Glaze anymore either. William King would know what to recommend - maybe he will.
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Posted By:
mLKauai
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Date: 3/6/2010 2:46:45 PM |
Not sure about silicone in the "guitar care" line which is found on a Fender site...
http://www.fender.com.au/spa/meguiars/
If William recommends Meguiars, and Fender has a kit, I'm on it.
"This three-step system, created by Meguiar's chemists, works on both acoustic and electric guitar finishes — new or vintage, nitro or poly."
They also have a few other items like fretboard conditioner, chrome and brass polish, even an amp and case restorer... all Meguiars.
BTW I have a couple of custom Kings, one has Waverly's on a slot head, and the metal parts have sadly rusted at the surface; the cost of island living. That seems a good case for Pegheds.
Would a polish have protected that?
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Posted By:
Craig
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Date: 3/6/2010 3:50:57 PM |
Hey Mike,
I use this: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Abrasives,_polishes,_buffers/Preservation_Polish.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=391 with great results. Also this for the fretboard: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fingerboard_cleaner,_stain_and_oil/ColorTone_Fretboard_Finishing_Oil.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=8676
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Posted By:
mLKauai
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Date: 3/6/2010 3:55:41 PM |
| so I will check if there is silicone in Fender's.
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Posted By:
looney tunes
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Date: 3/6/2010 11:16:47 PM |
I have a number of LoPrinzi Ukuleles, he and Donna use Meguire's Cleaner Wax, I use and find it to the best polish/wax I have found--at the local auto supply store. I agree that the time to clean the frets is when the strings are off.
I have not used any of the other items mentioned on this thread. Loon
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Posted By:
mLKauai
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Date: 3/7/2010 1:53:23 AM |
Meguiars doesnt use silicone in their polishes, I called them. They do use it in their waxes.
One of my Kings is about 5 or more years old now, well used, and can benefit from a thorough going over.
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Posted By:
Ronnie Aloha
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Date: 3/7/2010 9:59:10 AM |
| I use the kit and it's awesome. Restored a Kamaka. No silicone in any of the three bottles. Used something else on the feetboard since it had crud built up along with 0000 wool.
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Posted By:
ChefJeff
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Date: 3/7/2010 1:18:05 PM |
| I AM NOT saying this is recommended by luthiers and will defer to any who chime in here but this stuff works well for me: http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/RenWax.html . A little goes a long way. I've had the 65 ml. jar for a couple of years and have hardly made a dent in it.
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Posted By:
Craig
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Date: 3/7/2010 2:07:24 PM |
| I'm curious to know what William recommends.
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Posted By:
mLKauai
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Date: 3/7/2010 4:08:30 PM |
William uses Meguiars buffing compounds for the body and Howard's feed and wax for fretboard. I'll get some samples from him soon.
btw the gold plating on my Waverly tuners has corroded and he is looking into StewMac warranty on that issue.
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Posted By:
duane
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Date: 3/7/2010 5:02:12 PM |
| Good luck on the warranty thing on the tuners. Some times plating (Chrome, nickel or gold) wears fast depending on the chemical reaction between the players skin and the metal. I had one guy come into my shop once where all the plating was off the tuners and strings. The guy said the chemicals in his skin was a problem with everything metal he touched. I also had one other guy play one of my guitars for 15 minutes in my shop. After he left, I played the guitar and all the strings were totally dead sounding. They were new strings. Hopefully that is not the case for you.
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Posted By:
mLKauai
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Date: 3/7/2010 7:06:30 PM |
no; not me; I don't even handle the tuner housings; just the knobs.
Funny that the mini guitar tuners i have had over the years never show any problem.
I did think that Waverlys would be lifelong permanent type of thing... wrong.
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Posted By:
William King
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Date: 3/8/2010 6:06:50 PM
(Updated: 3/8/2010 6:10:54 PM)
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hi, I'm not an expert finisher and don't pretend to be one on the internet, but:
I used to use Meguiars professional products and think they're amongst the best off all the car care products generally available locally.
I've been using 3M products to rub out lacquer finishes for the last few years. I use their Imperial Microfinishing Compound (3M# 06011) and their Finisse-It II Finishing Compound (3M# 05928). These can be found at pro auto paint suppliers or on the internet.
When i use a wax, i like the Carnuba Plus wax by Production Car Care Products.
Regarding the Waverly's - i *am* in touch with StewMac. I suspect a porous gold plating allowed the fine salty sea air of Kauai's coast region to corrode the underlying metal and cause the gold to come off. This is the only case i've seen of this kind of problem with Waverlys and i'm hoping they'll be helpful ...
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Posted By:
mLKauai
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Date: 3/9/2010 1:37:13 PM |
I got a note back from a tech at Meguiars.
"Thank you for contacting Meguiar's. Which kit are you referring to (as we have made more than one for Fender)? Fender Vinyl Cleaner & Protectant will have silicone in it as it cleans and protects vinyl. Fender Mist & Wipe Finish Enhancer will have a little bit. Beyond that, the other Fender products won't. If you have any further questions or concerns don't hesitate to contact us back and we'll do everything we can to assist. Thank you for your support of Meguiar's, and we look forward to helping with your detailing needs in the future."
So I replied to ask about NOT using the Mist/wipe since it had some silicone... will keep you all posted.
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Posted By:
mLKauai
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Date: 3/9/2010 4:30:44 PM |
Not that everyone seems that concerned, but here's the follow up: let me know what you think.
"I wouldn't be concerned with the minimal amount of silicon in that product. Silicone can be an issue for someone if they are going to repair/refinish the guitar. However, anyone who is going to refinish the guitar would strip off the product prior to working on it anyway, if they know what they are doing. If the surface is prepared properly first there won't be a problem.
Beyond that, I play guitar and use a similar mist and wipe (that also contains silicone) on my guitars which include Gretsch Anniversary G6118 w/Bigsby, 1966 Fender Mustang, USA Reverend Rocco, etc. So, I wouldn't be overly concerned in the scheme of things."
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