Quote:
Originally Posted by Micolao  first I'm looking for suggestions to clean the body without sanding it... |
Get some naptha or mineral spirits, such as Varsol, (a paint thinner) and wash it thoroughly with a soft cotton cloth. Make sure you have adequate ventilation. The paint thinner will dissolve wax and oil and grease build up. You might have to go over it a couple times. When you've wiped it as clean as you can use a cotton cloth with some lukewarm water and a few drops of dish soap to wash off any other crud. Don't soak it in water, just wring out the cloth so it's damp. Then rinse off any soap residue with a cloth dampened with clean water. This will get the bass about as clean as you need. Naptha and Varsol are safe on any finishes. The soap and water won't hurt the wood if you wipe it dry after.
Then you're almost ready to refinish but you'll need to sand first. That's another subject. But a thorough clean up will work wonders for appearance. Maybe some wax after is all you need if the finish is in good enough condition.
Edit to add--don't use alcohol to clean the bass if it's lacquer. Most lacquers dissolve in alcohol. The naptha, Varsol and water will be safe.
