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What do you use to clean your dirty bass? Here's what I do...

G

gwreid

Apr 8, 2005
165
19
Utah
#1
I thought I'd pass this tip along, I've tried this on a number of guitars and basses and it works better than anything else I've tried. While it's worked great for me, use this product only if you're sure it will work for you too, I take no blame if you screw up your instrument's finish. Hey, I'm not an attorney but I work for a law firm and that disclaimer is, well, just because.

I use Maguires auto paint cleaner and their best polish. Only glossy finishes of course. The cleaner will remove a lot of scuffs and clouding and the polish is the best. I just used it on the Lakland I bought from KJung (Review to follow.) and, although it started good, it's now quite spectacular. Even cleaned up the "Slap wear" that Ken had mentioned in his ad.

Has anyone else used this product or other non-instrument cleaners/polishes?
 
#5
The cleaning I'm suggesting is to easily remove blemishes that potentially impact the price when you're selling or, in my recent case, spiffing up a used bass that you've just purchased. Amazing products my friends!!!
 
#7
zombywoof5050 said:
I just use a clean polishing cloth to wipe of any sweat or fingerprints after I play. As for any spots on the finish where I happen to touch the bass, that start to show wear, I don't worry about it. It's Mojo!
Click to expand...

Ditto...

when I'm doing a cleaning/set-up for a customer, I give them the option of a bunch of differant cleaners, I'll definatly try it on a bass sometime and see how it goes...
 
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#10
I just wipe my 6'er off every once and a while with a Swiffer to remove dust, and my fretless 4. They're non-gloss finishes, so no worries about fingerprints. I lemon oil my 6ers neck when I replace strings.
 
#11
Pledge Multi-Surface wipes..... they work great and I don't need to look for a cloth. they work on wood(finished or not), chrome, glass,plastic.(what all the parts on a bass are made of).does'nt leave any residue or anything that needs to be rubbed out. and you just throw it away when your done..I still wipe the bass down when I'm done playin it with a Rickenbacker ;) polish cloth.but for the major cleaning,the wipes are it
 
#12
Maybe a little "traditional", but I follow Dan Ehrlewhine's guidance for maintaining fine instruments for all my basses:

Soft cloth
Hot breath (which is pure distilled water)
Martin spray polish

And for the tough stuff:

Pure naptha in a rag wrapped around a cotton ball

Always remember: the hardest part about cleaning is getting the dirt on the bass to want to jump to the rag. That requires heat. If your rag is too cold, the dirt will jump back on the bass and you'll just be pushing it around.

Also, take care not to toss naptha-soaked rags in a heap. Douse with water b/c they can ignite.
 
#13
In the past I used furniture polish. Over the last twenty odd years, I have used Dr. Duck's Axwax and String Lube. I also use Kyser's Dr. Stringfellow for the strings and fretboard. I plan to pick up Ken Smith's wax soon to see how it works.
 
#17
On my basses that's painted,I guess I'm old-school.Lemon Pledge.On basses such as my Carvin Koa wood bass,I use lemon oil.I use lemon oil on all my ebony/rosewood fingerboards.Now on my '61 J-Bass,the finish is worn off significantly.I just wipe it down with an ever-so-slightly damp cloth.What do you people use on basses where the paint is worn off,to the bare wood??Any suggestions??
 

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