Proper Care for Satin Finish (Stiletto)

Scotia · #1 03-09-2011, 12:13 AM

My bass years ago was a Peavey Foundation. It was your typical "gloss" finish... including the neck. It was easy to care for. I simply wiped it down with a special soft cloth whenever I used it and before I put it away. I never gave much thought to polishes or waxes or fretboard care. I was 14 and that didn't really occur to me, I guess.

Now I find myself with a satin finish body and neck on my newly acquired Schecter Stiletto... and really having no clue as to how to properly care for it. I did a forum search but maybe my search fu is weak this evening.

I'm happy to read other threads if someone could please point me in the right direction... basically, I'd like to know how to properly care for this finish. Bonus if you have a satin Stiletto, too.

Also, how much maintenance should the fretboard get? Mine looks a little worn... not sure if this is good or bad (I bought it used). How do I tell when it needs care and then what do I do to properly maintain?

Thanks for your patience. I figure I'll never learn if I don't ask.

BuffaloBass · #2 03-09-2011, 07:29 AM

Is it a painted body? I use a K Smith product for painted surfaces, and its Da Bomb!

chokeslam512 · #3 03-09-2011, 07:34 AM

I'm pretty sure I have the exact same bass that you are describing and I haven't done anything to it in the 7 years that I've had it. The spot where my right wrist lays on the body has become glossy though...

selowitch · #4 03-09-2011, 08:00 AM

I have a recent MIM Jazz Bass with a "tinted satin urethane" neck finish (per the specs) on an all-maple neck. It's non-glossy, obviously. I have never found out what best to clean it with. Maybe a small amount of naphtha (lighter fluid) and a clean rag?

AmadeusXeno · #5 03-09-2011, 08:02 AM

I have a Stilleto Elite 5 and when I was using it and taking care of it I used GHS guitar polish on the body and back of the neck, lemon oil on the fretboard. I would do this about once a week or right before a gig, which ever came first. The lemon oil on the rosewood will help bring back a fresh look to it. The polish on the body and neck will work great but a good wipe down with a soft cloth goes a long way too.

Scotia · #6 03-09-2011, 07:55 PM

So... am I understanding correctly that you actually polish a satin finish? I think I'm most concerned with the neck. I have the Vampyre Red version and the body will hopefully not get too "grimy"... but the neck I can imagine certainly would.

boogie8008 · #7 03-09-2011, 08:10 PM

you really don't want to use any polish on a satin finish, it will make it get oily. The best way to clean the neck is with light grit sandpaper and gunstock wax. Here is a link to a video that will explain how to best do this YouTube - Caring for your Music Man neck & Fretboard. Its an Ernie Ball video but this technique will work for any satin finish neck.

darkstorm · #8 03-09-2011, 08:55 PM

Satin finish guitars and basses Icve had got waxed with turtle car creme wax. Same as reg gloss finishes. Gives satin finsih a nice sheen and a bit of a darker hue. Works nice. Btw car waxes have been reccomended for nonnitro finish for decades by various mfgs.

walterw · #9 03-09-2011, 09:50 PM

that stiletto is not like a music man neck.

the MM is raw wood with an oil finish that needs specific care and replenishment.

the stiletto has a solid, hard layer of poly finish, just like if it were glossy. the "satin" part is just the poly not being buffed shiny.

clean it like you would any other guitar with a hard poly finish, i.e., guitar polish, or even a little water on a rag.

boogie8008 · #10 03-09-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

that stiletto is not like a music man neck.

the MM is raw wood with an oil finish that needs specific care and replenishment.

the stiletto has a solid, hard layer of poly finish, just like if it were glossy. the "satin" part is just the poly not being buffed shiny.

clean it like you would any other guitar with a hard poly finish, i.e., guitar polish, or even a little water on a rag.

woops, thanks for correcting me. Guess I should have asked if there was an actual finish involved and not assume it was a raw wood finish.

Scotia · #11 03-10-2011, 12:11 PM

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. Looks like I need to pick up some lemon oil and guitar polish.

dalahorse · #12 03-11-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chokeslam512

I'm pretty sure I have the exact same bass that you are describing and I haven't done anything to it in the 7 years that I've had it. The spot where my right wrist lays on the body has become glossy though...

I have the same exact bass in the red finish, too. It's finish developed a couple of small glossy spots where my thumb would rest on the pickups before I switched to a no-anchor technique.

In the year that I've had the bass, I've used the Dunlop 65 cleaner on it twice. Once when I first got it (it was on display at the store where I bought it), and again a couple months ago when I switched string brand. It worked great on the body and fingerboard and didn't add any gloss to the body's flat finish. I'm also planning to use lemon oil on the fingerboard next time I give it a good cleaning.

selowitch · #13 03-11-2011, 01:36 PM

With the "tinted satin urethane" finish on my MIM Fender, though, do I really need anything beyond wiping it with a clean, soft rag every so often?

GrisGris · #14 03-12-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chokeslam512

I'm pretty sure I have the exact same bass that you are describing and I haven't done anything to it in the 7 years that I've had it. The spot where my right wrist lays on the body has become glossy though...

I also have this bass and its funny you mentioning the glossy spot where the right forearm rubs as I have the same thing going on...gigged for only 2 years.

how would I get the whole finish to get that
gloss, like wood in a beamer... wet sand or will that **** up my finish.

AHDBassist · #15 03-15-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selowitch

With the "tinted satin urethane" finish on my MIM Fender, though, do I really need anything beyond wiping it with a clean, soft rag every so often?

I use finger ease on the back of my Fender necks

Russell L · #16 03-15-2011, 02:53 PM

Try Endust. It doesn't contain wax.

Also, all my satin-finished necks have become glossy from playing. I don't know of any way to prevent that. After all, your hand buffs it all the time.

And, don't overdo the lemon oil. Rosewood really doesn't need it much. Do it lightly and not too often.