How to properly care for your Double Bass

junk_funky · #1 08-24-2006, 12:24 AM

I've been scouring the internet, like this amazing site:
http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/basslink.html
and this forum looking for specific answers as far as proper care of the double bass. Everyone seems to have a different opinion.

Specifically, what types of cloth are acceptable for wipe down, and does anyone use any kind of polish? And for the fingerboard does the cloth/polish differ?

Everyone also differs in opinion on wether or not to wipe resin off of the strings.

My bass is all smudged up with finger "Jizz" and I don't want to damage it by using a chemical that I shouldn't, you know?

So my very loaded question to you all is how to properly care for a Double Bass, and any sorts of insights for this Noob (and for everyone else as well) would be much appreciated.

Cory Palmer · #2 08-24-2006, 01:23 AM

I recently started using shoe mitts to wipe off my bass. They don't leave any lint. I use a separate, more sturdy cloth to clean the rosin off of my strings. Sometimes I take a key to my strings if the rosin build up is really bad. For the dead skin build up on the fingerboard I use the shoe mitt and rub the fingerboard until the build up comes off. I've never used polish but I've heard that the Kolstein polish is good.

Paul Warburton · #3 08-24-2006, 04:21 AM

For me, one of my most ardent obcessions is a clean fingerboard! Use warm water on a rough towel type rag. You can even use the very lightest steel wool out there. For really baddly "jizzed" FB's, use rubbing alcohol. Lay your bass on the floor to do this, and put a drop cloth around the upper bouts of your bass and under the FB. Alcohol can totally ruin varnishes. Then rub the board down with a bit of lemon oil or some thing to put a bit of moisture back in that the alcohol dried out.

mje · #4 08-24-2006, 07:45 AM

I like the orange oil sold by Rocklers. This isn't orange scented mineral oil or pure d-limonene (which can remove finishes). It's a good, gentle cleaner that will clean the finish and the fingerboard without damaging them.

bejoyous · #5 08-24-2006, 08:35 AM

I use methyl hydrate to clean the strings, fingerboard and back of the neck. It's available at Home hardware in Canada.

For the body, wipe it with a clean cloth after each time I play/practice to prevent build up of rosin and fingerprints.

To polish the body I use Hidersol. The most recent polishing, to same wear and tear on my hands, I used a foam and terrycloth carpolishing attachment on a hand drill to put on and polish of the Hidersol. Wow, it looks like I had a French Polish put on.

drurb · #6 08-24-2006, 09:12 AM

There have been many threads here devoted to polishes. You might wish to scour them. One bottom line from those threads seems to be that one should be very prudent and careful about the use of any liquid polish on the body of the instrument. I do use it infrequently and sparingly.

**Jeremy Allen** · #7 08-24-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junk_funky

My bass is all smudged up with finger "Jizz" and I don't want to damage it by using a chemical that I shouldn't, you know?

Uh..."gunk," yes. Finger "cheese," "crud," even "smegma," cool. But "jizz?" Yuck. Are you sure you're playing the bass with the correct appendages?

Maybe Bollbach will chime in, but: he once cleaned my fingerboard with a rough cloth and some bowling ball wax (or was it bowling ALLEY wax? Jeff?) and told me to get some at the hardware store for myself. It worked extremely well, especially for someone like me who produces a great deal of finger...toejam?

Also: I always take the opportunity whenever the humidity is particularly high to scrub the fingerboard clean. If it's a sweltering day, or I'm playing in a small place with lots of sweating going on, I find that the gunk comes off very easily with a regular cloth (I use old t-shirts) and some elbow grease, with no other products or cleaning agents required.

brianh · #8 08-24-2006, 01:37 PM

Larry Hurst once told me to clean the back of the neck with a light alcohol called "Lectric Shave," which is basically a pre-shave. It works great and keeps the back of the neck smooth and not sticky from sweat.

Cory Palmer · #9 08-24-2006, 02:01 PM

I've heard of people putting "Lectric Shave" on their strings on humid days. I guess it keeps all the moisture off.

drurb · #10 08-24-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianh

Larry Hurst once told me to clean the back of the neck with a light alcohol called "Lectric Shave," which is basically a pre-shave. It works great and keeps the back of the neck smooth and not sticky from sweat.

You are talking about a bass-- right? Your description is close to what's on the Lectric Shave bottle!

junk_funky · #11 08-24-2006, 02:49 PM

This is killer fellas. I'm getting a much clearer idea, which is why I started this thread, all the other info was kindof scattered about.

And Ken Smith, you always submit very professional and thourough replies, very nice. I see you in practically every thread. Do you, like, work here or something? ; )

toman · #12 08-25-2006, 01:13 AM

I don't do anything special to my basses except a quick wipe after a gig or whatever, and the occasional good rubdown to get any stray goo off. My luthier usually does something to them when they're in for work, but I don't know what it is. They come back all shiny and smelling like his shop, which is mildly annoying for the next month or so. When my fingerboard gets funky, I take a little rubbing alcohol to it, then rub in a good quantity of olive oil. I let that sit a whuile and then buff it off nice and hard; leaves a nice finish. I think over time it penetrates into the wood and leaves a nice polished finish. My question is how do I get that wet dog smell out of my bag? Everytime I get out in the rain, the bag gets soaked, the bass inside gets wet, and then the bag reeks for a week. Living in Portland, this means my bag smells for like nine months out of the year...

**Jeremy Allen** · #13 08-25-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

Everytime I get out in the rain, the bag gets soaked, the bass inside gets wet, and then the bag reeks for a week.

Well, that's not right at all. What kind of bag is it? I have a standard Mooradian cover and, as soaked as it's gotten, the bass inside has never gotten wet. I would freak out if that happened.

toman · #14 08-25-2006, 07:34 PM

Well obviously if the bag is at all damp the bass comes right out, and gets wiped down. And it does take quite a downpour to get it soaked all the way through. For reference, this is the Reunion Blues bag. With any kind of reasonable use it wouldn't be an issue, but I don't have a car so I end up walking a few miles in the rain at times; I'm pretty sure that'll get most any bag soaked, unless it has Gore Tex or something. Actually, that's not a bad idea; waterproof and breathable...

D McCartney · #15 08-26-2006, 12:46 AM

http://www.grangersusa.com/products/...rproofing.html

(edit) for the outside of the bag.

larry · #16 08-26-2006, 07:28 AM

I would not feel comfortable putting anything with alcohol on my bass (except, of course from the occaisional drip from my beer hastily gulped between tunes...).

Alcohol really dries out whatever it's used on. I can't imagine a towel and a little warm water wouldn't clean it well enough. It's a bass, not furniture.