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Crusty old basses
- Thread starter ThuzzleFump
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Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
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- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
That's part of why I prefer to look for good sales and purchase new. I don't even like that my cables, and sometimes my gig bag, touch the ground at gigs.
I was visiting a luthier friend, and hanging out in his workshop as he worked. A customer of his came in. Young chap, with a relatively inexpensive guitar that needed a fret job. The fingerboard was really quite cruddy...
As my friend rocked a metal rule across the frets and explained the extent of the repairs needed, the young man's eyes opened wide and he asked, "Is there any way you can keep the 'grunge' on the neck?"
My friend looked at me over his glasses, and then at the young man.
"No." He said. "You'll have to start again."
I had to walk away.
It's not "Mojo"!
As my friend rocked a metal rule across the frets and explained the extent of the repairs needed, the young man's eyes opened wide and he asked, "Is there any way you can keep the 'grunge' on the neck?"
My friend looked at me over his glasses, and then at the young man.
"No." He said. "You'll have to start again."
I had to walk away.
It's not "Mojo"!
I have a microfiber cloth that I use to clean my instruments. I simply wipe 'em down after playing.
Periodically (bi-weekly or so) I'll use the same cloth to really go after funky stuff I may have missed, especially on the fingerboard.
I have never used chemicals of any kind on my instruments, merely the soft cloth and effort. My necks are straight, my frets are clean, and my gear seems happy. As am I.
Periodically (bi-weekly or so) I'll use the same cloth to really go after funky stuff I may have missed, especially on the fingerboard.
I have never used chemicals of any kind on my instruments, merely the soft cloth and effort. My necks are straight, my frets are clean, and my gear seems happy. As am I.
Its not hard to keep a guitar clean, some people are just lazy.
Let it go if its not your axe. Im the clean freak in my band. Ive done a few detail jobs for the guitarists, and they are usually blown away by how good their gear looks after i put strings on it. They dont take the extra 5 mins to buff the crud off. Soooo much easier to clean em up with the wires out of the way!
FYI juststrings.com runs promos for free polishing cloths every 3 months or so with purchase of a set.
Let it go if its not your axe. Im the clean freak in my band. Ive done a few detail jobs for the guitarists, and they are usually blown away by how good their gear looks after i put strings on it. They dont take the extra 5 mins to buff the crud off. Soooo much easier to clean em up with the wires out of the way!
FYI juststrings.com runs promos for free polishing cloths every 3 months or so with purchase of a set.
Then I'd say don't play them?
Not worth worrying over.
Or wear rubber gloves?
But seriously, I don't think I'd consider such an instrument. But then, I don't like used instruments, anyway. I almost always buy new and, when I don't, I do a good thorough cleaning before I play them.
Lighter fluid, Windex, pressure washers, cleaners that cost more than my wife's face creme, exfoliates, sheesh, was the bass recovered from an old septic tank?
Unless it involves getting goo from old stickers off, I've never needed more than a soft cloth and warm water to simply clean a bass, no matter how dirty.
Of course that does not include oxidized parts; we are just talking grunge here, but I think folks spend waaaaaaay too much time and money overthinking how to clean a chunk of wood with some varnish, stain, polyurethane or nitrocellulose on it.
Unless it involves getting goo from old stickers off, I've never needed more than a soft cloth and warm water to simply clean a bass, no matter how dirty.
Of course that does not include oxidized parts; we are just talking grunge here, but I think folks spend waaaaaaay too much time and money overthinking how to clean a chunk of wood with some varnish, stain, polyurethane or nitrocellulose on it.
Mr.Ace
Bass players rule!
- Sep 8, 2015
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- Endorsed by Fusion ( maker of killer gig bags)
I can't even cope with my own prints on solid color basses.
Part of the reason I returned a GSR, though it didn't/hasn't bothered me with my TMB, maybe because it's better sounding and I learned to prioritize.
Part of the reason I returned a GSR, though it didn't/hasn't bothered me with my TMB, maybe because it's better sounding and I learned to prioritize.
I pretty much use the same stuff that that crotchety old Canadian, Dave Reaume, does; lighter fluid, Simple Green, linseed oil, Nevr Dull, and a good polish with no silicone in it. But, I've used all that stuff (except Simple Green) most of my life - on old used/surplus military firearms. Used a lot of Murphy's Oil Soap before Simple Green was invented, and for some things, it's still hard to beat. But, I've rarely had to go into Biohazard Mode on an instrument, and usually the one time is the last time. After that, a simple wipedown, and a little something on the fret board (what, depends on the fret board), is all that's required. And, an occasional rub down on nickel hardware & frets with a piece of Nevr Dull... It's a whole lot easier to keep my basses and guitars clean and shiny, than it is to get a grungy one that way...Mojo? For me, that's simple honest wear and tear. Grunge and filth is not mojo - it's just grunge and filth...
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Bassplayers who "really go AFTER the funky stuff"...Tsss...I'll use the same cloth to really go after funky stuff
Now I understand Jamerson.
