Cleaning???

ondaone · #1 02-13-2009, 08:45 AM

Hi guys

What do you guy recomend for cleaning and polishing.

Do you have any little tips for everyday care,

I have heard of useing baby wipes to clean strings and fretboard any body else heard of that or do it.

thanks
jimi

Bassamatic · #2 02-13-2009, 09:14 AM

Lemon Pledge for everyday cleaning of body, metal, pickguard, etc. A little on the cloth, then wipe and buff. I use a great polymer auto polish on the body once in a while - it is so strong it protects the finish from scratching. (www.zainostore.com) It turns out that the guy that makes the polish also uses it on his vintage guitar collection!

I think that anything that you put on the strings will deaden the sound. Perhaps an alcohol wipe to clean them?

Bass Barrister · #3 02-13-2009, 09:36 AM

Fretboard??? Pickguard??? What language is this ??

This is the Double Bass Forum.

ondaone · #4 02-13-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Barrister

Fretboard??? Pickguard??? What language is this ??

This is the Double Bass Forum.

That's kinda what I was thinking, I was mostly curious about Upright Care and feeding, I can take pretty good care of my electric already , thanks though.

cya
jimi

zeytoun · #5 02-13-2009, 11:27 AM

Yeah, Pledge is bad advice, even for bass guitars.

Alcohol on a rag for the strings and FB. Just keep it from getting on the varnish of your DB.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #6 02-13-2009, 12:21 PM

A damp cloth followed up with a dry one is all you really need. I suppose alcohol might be OK for occasional string cleaning, but I don't like alcohol that close to the varnish.

reedo35 · #7 02-13-2009, 12:40 PM

one word- Kolsteins

http://kolstein.cybrhost.com/mm5/mer...ry_Code=polish

thewhale · #8 02-13-2009, 02:24 PM

I've always liked Shar's instrument polish. Also, I keep a microfiber cloth with my bass to wipe rosin off the body after playing and I keep an old t-shirt to wipe rosin off the strings every few days.

ctregan · #9 02-13-2009, 02:43 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns4mnmNBk1Y

I was wondering how this would work, has anyone tried one on a bass?

ondaone · #10 02-13-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctregan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns4mnmNBk1Y

I was wondering how this would work, has anyone tried one on a bass?

it made in Germany and you know the Germans make good stuff

I acctully have some, i'll try them out and let you know, they work pretty good around the house, I say WOW everytime

thanks guys
jimi

Jake deVilliers · #11 02-14-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clink

A damp cloth followed up with a dry one is all you really need. I suppose alcohol might be OK for occasional string cleaning, but I don't like alcohol that close to the varnish.

+1 Methyl Hydrate makes a great string cleaner - use it sparingly on the cloth, then grab the string with it.

jacochops · #12 02-16-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondaone

it made in Germany and you know the Germans make good stuff

I acctully have some, i'll try them out and let you know, they work pretty good around the house, I say WOW everytime

thanks guys
jimi

ShamWOW!! That cat makes me bust up everytime I see the ad. I had a quote from him on my Facebook update. Priceless...like the Snuggie!

billyfalconer · #13 02-16-2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gio S

Lemon Pledge

That's got wax in it.

sapo2 · #14 03-26-2009, 10:11 PM

Please never use Lemon Pledge on ebony.
"Aerosol furniture polishes contain waxes, petroleum distillates, emulsifiers (detergents), and lots and lots of water. A very light spray on maple to clean it is fine, but aerosol polishes should not be used on unvarnished fretbaords. We do not want to apply products containing water to the natural finish of a neck and fretboard. "

fergus currie · #15 03-31-2009, 05:47 AM

Every few months I wipe my bass down with wallnut oil on a rag and leave it for about an hour, then wipe it off thouroughly with a dry cloth (cotton). This has the advantage of covering scratches etc. I keep a brazil nut cut in half in my case for when I get an unwanted scratch on the road. This also seems to imporve the sound of the bass. I clean the strings and fingerboard with meths 90% (medical, not for lamps) on a cotton cloth I wrap a small part of the string tightly in the cloth and drag it up and down the string fairly briskly. This as the effect of melting any rosin residue which makes it more easy to disolve in the meths.
Finally, hoover the peg box and inside the bass occasionally to get rid of dust balls but be carefull not to scratch the f holes!
Don't use antique funiture pollish but there is a micropowder on the market which can produce a nice shine. Unfortunately I don't know what it's called.
FC