Finish on Ibanez BTB556

[Paulhauser]

I have a 1,5 years old Ibanez BTB 556. It has a "natural flat" finish. http://www.ibanez.co.jp/eb_page.php?...285&COLOR=CL01
I have checked around and found no informations on how to maintain the finish, should I use some sort of oil or wax?
I' m planning to sell the bass soon and I dont want to ruin it.
Also as it has no laque or any sort of protective finish, it is quite easy to put small scratches on the surface and I hope I can "make up" some of the minor scratches. (the problem is not them being deep but even if they are just very minor ones, they are very visible

Any help?

[62bass]

From the picture it's pretty hard to tell what the finish is and they don't tell you. If it's an "in the wood" oil finish, you could clean the bass up using paint thinner or naptha. Once clean, use some furniture paste wax to give it a bit newer look. You can find furniture waxes that have a bit of coloured pigment added to them that won't dry white in any crevices and show up. I've used shoe polish with good results-light brown or oxblood on some finishes. It works well. If you buff it out well, and don't put on too thick a coat at once, it won't rub off on your clothes and stain them. If you don't like the wax, it can be removed with naptha or paint thinner, which dissolves wax. To remove it, wet it down completely and wipe it up with a clean cotton cloth. You may have to do this a few times. Paint thinner (Varsol or some other brand) dries slower than naptha and is easier to work with. Work in a ventilated area.

This same procedure can be used if it's a hard surface finish buffed flat.

[Paulhauser]

Thanks a lot. Now at least I have a starting point.

I will do some experimenting as see what happens.

[Vypor]

I have a BTB, but mines tranparent black. Im sure its close to the same though.

What I use to keep mine polished up and looking nice is called Dr. Ducks Axwax, about 7 bucks a bottle

Really simple..

Just take off your strings, get a lint free cloth, put a couple drops on then spread the wax out all over the body, but dont start rubbing it in, just rub it enough to cover the finish up with the wax. set it on a stand or hang it up for about 3-5 minutes, and then pick it back up and start buffing it. the stuff never dries so it can take alot of buffing, I reccomend having 2 differnt cloths, or some Shop towels from wal mart(blue paper towels with no edges to scratch your finish)

With the BTB's 5 knobs, getting it buffed out around that area can be frustrating so just take your time.

Works well on finishing that rosewood fretboard as well, if you ever get those white lines that look kinda like cracks but really arent.

(dont sell your btb!)

Hope that helped!

[i_got_a_mohawk]

If yours is trans black its been laquered. The natural finish ones arent

[Vypor]

yeah but the Axwax is safe to use on any type of finish so it really makes no difference.