best way to clean a gloss finish after a gig?

[quadrogong]

It's something I've dealt with for years,
after the gig,the perspiration,etc..kind of leaves a cloudy film on the bass..

I usually use a towel with water,
..wet the affected areas,then dry it.
then I buff it out with a polishing cloth..

Both my Roscoe and Bongo have a pretty hard,gloss finish..
I'm not sure what they are finished with, exactly..
But in general,if I want to clean my bass after a long,hot gig..
and get the shine really tip-top..
am I doing ok?

or is there something better I can use?


I'm always scared to use over the counter "guitar polish"
I used the Gibson stuff on my Les paul when I was a kid, and it truly sucked,it was cloudy and..horrible.
I never bought any of those products since..
I'm playing for over 30 years and I still don't know the best way to shine a guitar.

What are professional guitar techs using on their instruments on the big tours?
is there a product that I can use safely,with no cloudiness or ill effects? or stick to the water/chamoise?

I play alot,and the bass gets sweaty.I like to keep my basses really perfect,I want them to last,and I like them to shine.
I really can use some good input on the subject..
thanks,kev

[pasta4lnch]

probably not the best but before I do a gig I put some rubbing alcohol on a rag and wipe the strings. usually I wipe the body down a bit too, gets most of the gunk off . . .

[quadrogong]

it seems like a silly question, in a way I was embarrassed to ask,
although it's pretty serious, I can't stand getting my nice basses wet, the back of the neck,strings.. if it's a good show, it gets pretty hot

..I'm sort of curious as to the correct way to clean & shine a gloss finish when it gets really wet onstage.

[mpm32]

During gig, I keep a towel around to wipe off the back of the neck, my head, and the body.

Before next gig, not directly after because I'm lazy - I use pledge. Works fine, then again, I'm of the school that my instruments are tools and not museum furniture. Which is funny because I'm using pledge on them, but then again they wouldn't use pledge on museum furniture. But I digress/ramble......

I use this on my furniture restorations, maybe I should try it on my basses;

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17424

[tplyons]

Dunlop Formula 65 Polish has always been what I use on my Fenders... never had an issue. Right after a gig, I just wipe down the bass with a towel to get the big chunks off... I'll clean the entire thing the next day.

[countrybass007]

i use Panama Jacque Polynesian Formula guitar polish on all my basses. Works great and makes them easy to wipe off at gigs. It comes from Homewood, Il., and our local dealer carries it.

[peterwsmith]

I just got a bottle of Ken Smith polish. Seems to work pretty well!

[Hoover]

Massengill.

[jsolberg]

Zymol car wax. Meguiars scratch-x for minor scratches and swirl marks.

[squirefan]

Lemon Pledge.
I had the same 1st time experience with guitar polish you did, (and about as many years ago). Been using pledge ever since and surprised at how many people I've jammed with also use it.
Also, when I clean guitars, I don't actually use water directly on them, but I wash my hands and use a small hand towel so it is just damp. Sometimes I have to wet and dry my hands 2 or 3 times to get it damp enough.

[202dy]

Lemon Pledge contains silicone. This is the number one offense for any guitar coming into a shop. Silicone interferes with touch ups and refinishing. It also transfers to everything in the shop on contact. It's next to impossible to get rid of. Once the instrument hits the bench the next guitar gets a dose of it. Downright viral. Same goes for Armor-All on a guitar case.

Pledge MSDS.

Not Recommended.

[jaywa]

I have a 78/79 P-Bass and have not found a single thing that works yet. The stuff in the Fender branded "guitar care kit" is garbage and some of the other polishes I've tried have actually made the problem worse than better.

Supposedly Fender guitars of that vintage came out of the factory with really crappy finishes so maybe there's nothing I can do. Definitely open to all suggestions, though.

[Chasarms]

I have used various polishes with decent results. I have some planet waves as well as some labeled Fender. I don't see much difference. They may even be the same product in two different bottles. I find that the biggest issue with it is spraying too much. One or two sprays on the cloth, not the guitar, is plenty.

The number one thing I would suggest is that you keep a microfiber cloth in your case. A shirt, towel, etc. is fully capable of swirling the finish.

[eddievanbassman]

A cloth??? really who cares

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

A cloth??? really who cares

The OP.

[VroomVroom]

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

A cloth??? really who cares

I do. But admittedly, I'm pretty OCD. I do a lot of automotive detailing, and many of the poly finishes (a la the OP's Roscoe) are nearly identical to the clearcoats you'll find on modern cars.

For during/after gig care, I'll use a dry microfiber towel. For general cleaning, I use Meguiar's detail spray with the same kind of towel. As mentioned above, Scratch-X is a fine product for finish correction - leveling swirls and other light scratches. Automotive wax is fine as well, but I prefer polymer sealants. They're more durable, generally more optically clear, and they leave the finish slick but free of oils.

[Jones_Stuff]

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

A cloth??? really who cares

Those who like to keep their gear in pristine condition, which is many of us.

[Pilgrim]

Virtuoso and a microfiber cloth if you want to be meticulous.

http://www.virtuosopolish.com/

[tom once dead]

planet waves lemon oil works pretty good.

[aquateen]

I use naptha to get rid of the gunk and grime, then I use dunlop 65.