You really only find satin finishes on wood guitars. It helps to forestall paying a huge amount of money for the repairs. Peel it off your guitar carefully, then clean off the remaining residue with Goo Gone or a similar product. You should avoid most household cleaning products that contain silicone, heavy waxes, lacquer thinner, and bleach. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. TOOLS, PARTS AND SUPPLIERS. Different Types of Guitar Bodies and How to Clean Them How To Clean a Guitar Body. Keep in mind, though, anytime you buff or polish your guitar with … Any polish or cleaner will turn a satin guitar finish spotty and uneven. Just a little amount on a clean lint free cloth an wipe the dirt of the guitar. Clean your strings. Contact Us. Using a cloth that has been laundered many times will work best because it should be mostly free of lint. The good news for you is this finish is extremely tough. References. Video lessons week by week, Chord by Chord. ", http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19960-guitar-shop-101-safe-ways-to-clean-your-guitars-finish?page=2, http://www.gibson.com/news-lifestyle/features/en-us/guitar-cleaning-0104-2011.aspx, https://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/10_SymptomsofaDryGuitar.pdf, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. These plans are based around a Les Paul-style guitar. By using our site, you agree to our. These polishes will also work well on older gloss-finish models. You can route the entire thing after you cut it out if you want, but at … Fretboards are by far the areas on guitars that require the most consistent cleaning. This article was co-authored by Nicolas Adams. It’s a great thing to use for cleaning up excess glue or for removing binding from a … Create something truly unique with our line of high quality DIY Guitar Kits. You can use any brand of guitar or even car polish on these areas of the guitar. Guitar Guru: What’s the Difference Between Long-Scale and Short-Scale Guitars? Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. To learn how to polish your pickups on your electric guitar, keep reading! Then attack the buildup in a circular motion with your toothbrush. but always just took it to to guitar store for cleaning. Your guitar should meet one condition before you start this project: It should need to be restrung. You then must make sure your guitar body is clean… Guitar Kits ... Semi and Hollow Body Guitar Kits. Before I restring the guitar there are just a couple little things that I personally like to do. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You should clean your guitar regularly or, at the least, every time it gets dirty. This means unscrewing the bridge, removing the strings, the neck if possible, and anything else on your guitar body. Then, wipe with the damp cloth. Cleaning Guitar Finishes, Fretboards & Frets Cleaning The Finish. How can I get a very sticky sticker off of my guitar, a Tacoma Thunderchief CB10C? On the other side, if you plan on using a stain, you’re going to need to wet the body of your guitar to make adding the stain to your body easier, while also helping to avoid blemishes. You won’t find these in any other cleaning guide but I think it’s important! With the body of the guitar formed, you need to route out spaces for the hardware. Next time you're staring down a big mess, try one mixing up one of these expert-approved DIY homemade cleaners made from ingredients like vinegar, lemon, baking soda, and alcohol. % of people told us that this article helped them. This should cause the wood grain to rise and the guitar body to feel rough. Keeping the fingernails on your fretting hand trimmed will help you play easier and prevent divots from forming in the wood between the strings. His best seller, Guitar Setup, Maintenance & Repair, is a hands-on guide with a forward by Bob Taylor.John also authored PG’s Guitar Shop 101 column, hosted several PG DIY videos, and is an authorized warranty technician trainer for Taylor Guitars. Spray the cleaner on evenly, making sure not to get any in the soundhole where it could stain the label. Polishes are usually made to be used on a variety of wood. Once you have cleaned your pickups, screw them back onto your guitar and wipe dry with a clean cloth. It's important that you remove your strings on your guitar, because as you are cleaning the rest of the guitar you don't want any cleaning products to come into contact with your strings. How To Clean a Guitar Body. Route the body. If you want a complete guitar cleaning kit that is minimal fuss, then the Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes Combo Instrument Care Kit is perfect. After all that cleaning, your fingerboard may be a bit dry. May 15, 2017 - Instead of baking soda, this solid deodorant recipe relies on kaolin clay and magnesium to keep you smelling fresh. A soft cloth is the best thing to use to polish and clean guitars. For those really dirty spots on your fretboard, you can use a piece of extra fine #000 or #0000 steel wool to scrub them out. It’s unavoidable for the body of your guitar to build-up some marks and grease over time, no matter how careful you are. Sign up free! https://sixstringacoustic.com/how-to-clean-an-acoustic-guitar-step-by-step-guide 11. Plunge Router and Router Bits. Dismantle the female part of the plug and clean thoroughly with an electronic component cleaner (E.g., C-R6, WD - 40 etc.). If your finish is French polish, heavily cracked, or flaking off, don’t put anything on it until you get a professional opinion. For stubborn build-up, Formula 409 will help cut through the grime and is safe for most finishes. Later on, during the 19th century, this recipe was fashioned into an au de toilette, used to refresh the body. There's no sense in wasting still-good strings, right? Hand sawing a piece of flamed maple . And as we all know, those body sweats contain salts which can weaken the frets or make the fretboard to decompose or crack. Create something truly unique with our line of high quality DIY Guitar Kits. To make this homemade cleaner, measure equal amounts of Dawn dish soap and white vinegar. Cleaning away grime Dust and dirt are part of […] 12. So, strictly use a lightly dampened or dry cloth to clean a maple. You can also remove dust and dirt from the bridge with a damp cloth. This can be messy, so keep some rags handy to wipe away the dirty liquid (see photo). We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. This is a great product if you want to restore the shine on a neglected guitar that needs more than a light cleaning. You have 1 fretboard conditioner wipe (you don't need to do this very often), 2 instrument polish wipes and 3 string cleaner wipes. Its unique formula cleans finger oils, dirt and other marks from your guitar, bringing your instrument back to its original clean satin look. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. That’s just about where I want it, so I won’t carve any weight relief. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Nicolas specializes in Rumba Flamenco and Gypsy jazz and playing the guitar, Bouzouki, Balalaika, and piano. Cleaner Wax. Rub the adhesive using a light circular motion. For regular cleaning, try the Taylor Guitar Polish available on our website or at your local Taylor dealer. https://maxliving.com/healthy-articles/natural-body-cleanse The question of whether using steel wool for cleaning fretboard is a good idea or … Exposing a guitar to humidity can help restore its original look. Then, wipe away dirt or grime on the fretboard with a slightly damp cloth. When it comes to designing a solid body guitar the sky is the limit. The process is like waxing your car: wax on, let dry to a haze, and wax off with a clean cloth. Cleaning your guitar is a simple process, involving only a few things that you probably have lying around your home and using a bit of elbow grease. As of Monday, June 15 2020, we will be re-launching the local pick up option for orders. Clean your bridge as you would the fretboard. 2. Wudtone Body Finishing Kit - Azure Lagoon $46.50 Shop Now. Step 1 - Clean and Prepare. Little humidity can dry the wood out on your guitar, causing the fretboard to shrink and flex. Many manufacturers of musical instrument accessories offer special polishing cloths made specifically for use on guitars. Taylor guitars built after 1995 have our UV-cured, polyester-based finish. Some made in the USA in our custom shop. See more DIY Guitar Maintenance articles. How to Clean a Guitar Body. Lemon oil will also take away the sheen. Step 3: Final Clean Once you have repaired any blemishes in the form of chips or dents and have sanded the guitar and have a nice even surface for finishing you should perform a final clean to remove any oils, grit or dust on both the guitar and your work … During the time that I am cleaning the finish on the body of my guitar I also take the time to clean the neck and headstock of the guitar. Catch up on… Some finishes are more impervious than others, but regular cleaning is a good habit to get into. Using apple cider vinegar instead of a commercial body wash is one way to restore the pH balance for healthy glowing skin. DIY Guitar Kits Sort by Featured Best Selling Alphabetically, A-Z Alphabetically, Z-A Price, low to high Price, high to low Date, new to old Date, old to new Sort by All B-TM B-TMST Bass Kits C-2x2 G-HB G-OS G-Other G-SC G-ST G-TL Guitar Kits Kits Left Hand Kits New PU-12HB PU-1HB PU-1P90 PU-3HB PU-7HB PU-HB PU-HB2 PU-HH PU-P90 PU-ST PU-TL RW STO TU-3 TU-6 TU-612 TU-66 … Pledge your support and get bonus lessons! What do I need to clean an acoustic guitar? Nicolas Adams. Unsurprisingly, the condition of your strings will have a huge effect on the … John LeVan has written five guitar repair books published by Mel Bay. Luthier extraordinaire Garrett Lee joins us again for his third installment of Guitar Care 101. Just make sure your polish can be used with koa (it must be written on the bottle). Wiping the Body Remove the strings if you want to deep clean the guitar. The good news for you is this finish is extremely tough. These home made cleaner and cleaning recipes include homemade laundry detergent, floor cleaner, glass cleaner, fabric softener, carpet cleaning, jewelry cleaner, and even a homemade drain cleaner. Since the Tacoma Thunderchief CB10C has a body made of wood, make sure the product you use says specifically on their packaging that their solvent won't damage wood finish, and you should be fine. If you want a complete guitar cleaning kit that is minimal fuss, then the Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes Combo Instrument Care Kit is perfect. Some commercial guitar cleaners work great as well, however it is important to make sure you’re using a cleaner, and not a polish, which might leave a smeary residue behind. Regular Cleaning. Cleaning under the strings, especially the head stock... is there a trick to make it easier? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 145,869 times. This really helped sort my confusion. Repeat this step three or four more times. 1 plastic cleaner. A: Most store-bought guitar and automotive polishes will work fine on the glossy areas of our UV-finished guitars built after 1995. Re-assemble making sure that the fastening nut is properly secure. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This is of course up to you depending on how clean you like to keep your guitar. Like your instrument’s finish, the fingerboard is easier to clean if you do it regularly. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. BYOGuitar.com 13 Columbia Dr. #14 Amherst, NH 03031 . After playing, wipe your instrument clean (using a damp, soft cloth) of any body oils, sweat, or other nasty stuff it may have come in contact with. Don't use liquid cleaners. The bridge is located on the body of the guitar, … You may also simply use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down the surfaces and follow quickly with a clean… Yes but don't soak them. When the strings are off is a great time for a deep clean and fingerboard conditioning. Transcription. Rub it in with a paper towel until the board looks good but is not saturated. https://www.dummies.com/art-center/music/guitar/how-to-clean-your-guitar Lemon oil or mineral oil will do the trick. The body of your electric guitar is the center piece and something you want looking perfect. It will also make a huge difference in the way it looks. Be careful using steel wool around the guitar’s top, because it can easily put light scratches in the finish. After mixing gently, spray the surfaces you wish to clean. Also, you can use oils while cleaning your guitar to prevent the wood from drying. You should also avoid polishing vintage guitars. (I use a Skill … Keep in mind, though, anytime you buff or polish your guitar with an abrasive compound you are removing small amounts of finish, so use sparingly. If you have sensitive skin - or even if you don't - I hope you love it as much as I do! Do not use a soaking wet cloth, as this will damage the instrument's sound and may rot the wood, which could lead to the wood getting softer and eventually breaking. Been playing for 6 years now, "I am now easily able to restring my guitar, very easy language to understand, thanks to whoever made this. By Brian Michael For built-up fingerboard grime, I like to use Formula 409 and an old toothbrush with the bristles cut down to make them stiffer. Clean finished wood surfaces—the body of your instrument, that is—with cleaning agents made specifically for guitars; available at most music stores (visit the “Care & Cleaning” section of Fender.com for plenty of stuff to do this with). Guitar Neck Rest Support Cradle + Guitar String Winder and Cutter Tool - Guitar Accessories Tool Kit for Repair, Maintenance and Cleaning 4.6 out of 5 stars 89 $18.45 Take caution when cleaning certain guitars, like vintage guitars, and make sure you are polishing your guitar with safe products. Luthier extraordinaire Garrett Lee joins us again for his third installment of Guitar Care 101. I have a koa wood guitar can i still clean my guitar with polish ir will it ruin the wood? If your finish is still hazy after cleaning, some light rubbing compound can be used to get the shine back. They can ruin the finish on your guitar. When you have a nice clean fingerboard, let it dry and clean off the toothbrush. No water, just a dry brushing. Acetone/Nail Polish Remover: Naptha is okay to use because it doesn’t react with guitar finish. Many manufacturers of musical instrument accessories offer special polishing cloths made specifically for use on guitars. Do not use anything other than what we just told you about to clean finished wood surfaces. If your guitar does show signs of drying out, you can purchase a guitar humidifier and place it in the body of the guitar. Sand it again using 320-grit sandpaper followed by 400-grit sandpaper. You can also remove rust spots using a white pencil eraser or a cotton ball with a small amount of lighter fluid. This week he walks us through the simple steps of cleaning and oiling your fretboard. 17 September 2019. "I had huge confusion about the household stuff I could use for cleaning my guitar. Apparently, there is a lot of advice on how to clean a guitar fretboard with household items. How to make homemade cleaner and homemade remedies for natural cleaning at home. However, the finish of your guitar’s body must be considered too. If your finish is still hazy after cleaning, some light rubbing compound can be used to get the shine back. Bass Guitar Kits. Step 4: Final Touches. If you do like to regularly clean your guitar – like giving it a quick wipe down after every time you play you only need to do this with a dry cloth – preferably a 100% cotton cloth. Being water based, it’s very easy to clean up without leaving any residue. Oils from your fingers can dry out the wood, and dead skin can accumulate against the frets, making little oval-shaped patterns. If your guitar has nylon strings, use a dry or slightly damp towel to wipe off any dirt or grime. Cleaning up the edges on the oscillating spindle sander . if(!window.AdButler){(function(){var s=document.createElement("script");s.async=!0;s.type="text/javascript";s.src='https://servedbyadbutler.com/app.js';var n=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];n.parentNode.insertBefore(s,n)}())} var AdButler=AdButler||{};AdButler.ads=AdButler.ads||[];var abkw=window.abkw||'';var plc208206=window.plc208206||0;document.write('<'+'div id="placement_208206_'+plc208206+'">');AdButler.ads.push({handler:function(opt){AdButler.register(168183,208206,[300,600],'placement_208206_'+opt.place,opt)},opt:{place:plc208206++,keywords:abkw,domain:'servedbyadbutler.com',click:'CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER'}})if(!window.AdButler){(function(){var s=document.createElement("script");s.async=!0;s.type="text/javascript";s.src='https://servedbyadbutler.com/app.js';var n=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];n.parentNode.insertBefore(s,n)}())} var AdButler=AdButler||{};AdButler.ads=AdButler.ads||[];var abkw=window.abkw||'';var plc208209=window.plc208209||0;document.write('<'+'div id="placement_208209_'+plc208209+'">');AdButler.ads.push({handler:function(opt){AdButler.register(168183,208209,[300,250],'placement_208209_'+opt.place,opt)},opt:{place:plc208209++,keywords:abkw,domain:'servedbyadbutler.com',click:'CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER'}}) if(!window.AdButler){(function(){var s=document.createElement("script");s.async=!0;s.type="text/javascript";s.src='https://servedbyadbutler.com/app.js';var n=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];n.parentNode.insertBefore(s,n)}())} var AdButler=AdButler||{};AdButler.ads=AdButler.ads||[];var abkw=window.abkw||'';var plc208209=window.plc208209||0;document.write('<'+'div id="placement_208209_'+plc208209+'">');AdButler.ads.push({handler:function(opt){AdButler.register(168183,208209,[300,250],'placement_208209_'+opt.place,opt)},opt:{place:plc208209++,keywords:abkw,domain:'servedbyadbutler.com',click:'CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER'}}). To learn more about John’s repair and … 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,405. Heat the vinegar in a microwave until hot and mix with the liquid Dawn in a spray bottle. We also carry Guitar parts and finishing supplies. Music Nomad MN206 Cradle Cube String Instrument Neck Support Before you remove paint from your guitar, remove the hardware to get it out of the way. Instead, use a slightly damp cloth. For cleaning most finishes, I use blue shop towels, which are softer than paper towels, and Novus No. Video Review: There’s a Lot to Love About the Maple-Top Fender T-Bucket 400CE, Martin Guitar Unveils Its Titanium Core Acoustic Guitar Strings: Winter NAMM 2017, New Gear: Taylor’s 858E and 552CE 12-Fret, Watch Dean Guitars Debut a Couple New Guitars at Winter NAMM 2017, GEAR REVIEW: Recording King’s Harmonella Single 0 Offers a Modern Spin on a Vintage Vibe, Guitar Wall Mounts, Floor Stands, & More—How to Keep Your Instrument Safe at Home, Acoustic Guitar Review: Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey Is a Secret Tone Weapon, 5 Ways to Play C Augmented | Chord by Chord, How to Play E Diminished Voicings | Chord by Chord. Use Goo Gone on a soft cloth such as an old T-shirt. Tools Needed. Dampen with warm water or even use your breath (fogging) on the finish to soften dirt and remove. Music Nomad Guitar Detailer: This is a standard guitar polish made up of various solvents and mineral oils that are excellent at cleaning up filth and leaving behind a clean sheen. Just dampen a cloth and wring it out and be very gentle while cleaning. This contains everything you need to keep your guitar clean for at least 2 months. For guitars with steel strings, put 70 to 90% rubbing alcohol, pre-shaving gel, or a commercial cleaner … Paint the body. If this still isn't enough you can use a small amount of mild detergent with water. Finish by polishing your tuning keys with glass cleaner and a cloth. I expect the final guitar to weight between 7.5 and 8 lbs. ... BYOGuitar offers a wide range of "Build Your Own" Guitar kits. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Seward. Basically the idea is you use regular isopropyl rubbing alcohol, put it onto a cotton swab or some sort of cleaning cloth, and use it to clean your strings, rubbing it the length of your guitar strings, and getting all the dirt off, and all the grime off, helping your strings to last longer. But if you clean your guitar improperly, you could end up doing more damage than you would simply by playing it. What is the best and safest way to remove the gunk and polish the body? This contains everything you need to keep your guitar clean for at least 2 months. Feb 3, 2016 - Learn how to hammer your own tin can resonator plate in just minutes! Here’s the breakdown: Professor Green’s Instrument Polish is a natural, water-based liquid cleaner with no harsh chemicals. Expert Interview. Cleaning Your Fretboard. To learn how to polish your pickups on your electric guitar, keep reading! I’d classify it as “guitar soap” rather than a modern polish. The body is about 18" long and 13" at the widest point. As you clean your guitar you may notice some spots that don't come off just by wiping them with the cloth. Buffing a satin finish will cause it to look blotchy. Steel Wool. Dab vinegar onto a cotton ball. Jim Dunlop Body & Fingerboard Cleaning Kit (6503) 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,285. How to make your own fretboard cleaner and polisher: 1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/91\/Clean-a-Guitar-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-a-Guitar-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/91\/Clean-a-Guitar-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid474294-v4-728px-Clean-a-Guitar-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"