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  #1  
Old 06-14-2009, 11:52 AM
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Question Bass Guitar Maintenance Kits..

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I usually wipe my bass guitar with a cloth every week or so.... what's a good way to practice good bass guitar maintenance? I also make sure my hands are clean before playing. (sorry if it sounds like a weird question)

Feel free to recommend me any bass guitar cleaning kits
  #2  
Old 06-14-2009, 12:26 PM
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Cleaning kits? Psh... a bottle of Dunlop 65 does everything for me, and a cloth to wipe down the strings. IMO, you don't need anything else for cleaning.

Now for maintenance such as setups and things of that sort, a set of diagonal clippers, string winder, and a bottle of lemon oil is all I need for instruments with rosewood or ebony fingerboards. Just the clippers and winder for maple boarded instruments.
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Old 06-14-2009, 12:33 PM
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+1 on the dunlop 65
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Old 06-14-2009, 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by tplyons View Post
Cleaning kits? Psh... a bottle of Dunlop 65 does everything for me, and a cloth to wipe down the strings. IMO, you don't need anything else for cleaning.

Now for maintenance such as setups and things of that sort, a set of diagonal clippers, string winder, and a bottle of lemon oil is all I need for instruments with rosewood or ebony fingerboards. Just the clippers and winder for maple boarded instruments.
I forgot to mention that I'm a bass guitar noob. I've played for some time but I don't know the terminology. Which part of the bass would I clean with the Dunlop 65?

this is the bass I have:
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbas...7/2/580772.jpg
  #5  
Old 06-14-2009, 01:19 PM
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while i'm at it, i'm also getting a new pickguard:
http://www.greasygroove.com/proddeta...76-PG-F-S-D-PB

thoughts? i never heard of greasygroove before, but it looks good
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Old 06-14-2009, 01:23 PM
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What kind of cloth is good for this? Microfiber? Cotton? I know there are a lot of clothes (especially cheap ones) that will leave all kinds of nasty little fuzzies, and I hate that.
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  #7  
Old 06-14-2009, 05:00 PM
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What kind of cloth is good for this? Microfiber? Cotton? I know there are a lot of clothes (especially cheap ones) that will leave all kinds of nasty little fuzzies, and I hate that.
I generally use old plain white cotton rags cut from tshirts... you can buy them at any hardware store. I use them for everything from cleaning guitars, waxing my car, polishing the chrome on my Harley... they're great.

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Originally Posted by Nightwolf55 View Post
I forgot to mention that I'm a bass guitar noob. I've played for some time but I don't know the terminology. Which part of the bass would I clean with the Dunlop 65?

this is the bass I have:
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbas...7/2/580772.jpg
Dunlop 65 is a line of guitar maintenance products including guitar polish (for the body), lemon oil (for the fingerboard, very sparsely when you restring) and string conditioner (for the strings)... You would only really need the guitar polish, which can be used on any finished parts of your bass... i.e. body, back of neck, and headstock.

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Originally Posted by Nightwolf55 View Post
while i'm at it, i'm also getting a new pickguard:
http://www.greasygroove.com/proddeta...76-PG-F-S-D-PB

thoughts? i never heard of greasygroove before, but it looks good
I haven't heard of Greasy Groove either, but that's a cool pickguard!
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Old 06-14-2009, 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by tplyons View Post
I generally use old plain white cotton rags cut from tshirts... you can buy them at any hardware store. I use them for everything from cleaning guitars, waxing my car, polishing the chrome on my Harley... they're great.

Dunlop 65 is a line of guitar maintenance products including guitar polish (for the body), lemon oil (for the fingerboard, very sparsely when you restring) and string conditioner (for the strings)... You would only really need the guitar polish, which can be used on any finished parts of your bass... i.e. body, back of neck, and headstock.

I haven't heard of Greasy Groove either, but that's a cool pickguard!
What does the conditioner do to the strings? btw, thanks for the info. On a side note, my strings don't sound bad, but i can't wait to install the new pickguard once it get it. Dare i place the same strings back on again?
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Old 06-14-2009, 05:17 PM
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looks like i'll either be getting this:
http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-System-...5021382&sr=8-1

or this:
http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Formula...5021382&sr=8-3
  #10  
Old 06-14-2009, 05:19 PM
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Wash your hands more.

Practice more.

Worry about cleaning the Bass Less.
  #11  
Old 06-14-2009, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Nightwolf55 View Post
What does the conditioner do to the strings? btw, thanks for the info. On a side note, my strings don't sound bad, but i can't wait to install the new pickguard once it get it. Dare i place the same strings back on again?
Yes, you could reinstall the same strings... but a new set of strings would be a good investment... depending on how old your strings are.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightwolf55 View Post
I wouldn't bother with anything more than just the polish/cleaner. Later down the road, you can buy the lemon oil at any hardware store.
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Old 06-14-2009, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by stflbn View Post
Wash your hands more.

Practice more.

Worry about cleaning the Bass Less.
I already wash my hands.

I plan on practicing more, but I'm asking because I only have 1 bass
  #13  
Old 06-15-2009, 08:54 AM
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In six + years of playing i've probably cleaned my basses a few times, and that's more just a wipe down if they got dust on them.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, it's not gonna just fall apart.
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  #14  
Old 06-19-2009, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Nightwolf55 View Post
I'm asking because I only have 1 bass
That is all the more reason to take better care of it. +1000 to Dunlop 65, spray it all over, then wipe it off with a SOFT cotton cloth.
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  #15  
Old 06-19-2009, 07:34 PM
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The guys at my local shop gave me some of Fender's Mist & Wipe which works pretty well also. I haven't used the Dunlop 65 but have heard great things about it so you probably can't go wrong with that. Might try it when this bottle runs out. Unless you have OCD one thing of spray cleaner should last you for a very long time...I've had the Fender cleaner for over a year and it is still more than 3/4 full.

+1 to using an old t-shirt. I always keep my old ones whenever I replace them and like tpylons I use them for everything.
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