I have a new 2003 stingray with an unfinished maple neck and fingerboard. Not realizing the implications of this I stupidly rubbed martin guitar polish all over it (neck and fingerboard) several times. It now has a disgusting yellow color (it was whiter looking originally) and a strange, almost damp feeling to it. What can I do to save the wood? Should I sand it down? Help me save my bass! Oh yeah, heres a pic. Its a shame that I might have ruined her image removed by me
Probably a few months ago, I dont really know, but I know it wasnt before Feb 2003 if thats any help...
If it were me, I would try some denatured alcohol on some small, less obvious area to see if it removes the polish, avoiding the neck decals. Might take a few rubs. Make sure the rag you use is ultra clean-keep flipping it to a clean area-you do not rub dirt/polish back into the wood. If it works and you want to move to larger area, get a bunch of clean rags ready and go for it. If not-stop and consult a reputable furniture refinisher to get thier advice-or you could do that first if you were not feeling adventuresome.
i'd get some professional help (pun intended). look for or call a really good repairguy/musicstore in your area. i wouldn't mess it up any further if i were u.
I am moving this to the Luthier's corner, and changing the thread title. If it doesn't get a good response there, ask for it to be moved to Setup.
What you are saying, lo, is that the maple neck'n'board was whitish, until you used Martin's guitar polish on it. And then it turned yellow; right away? after some time? How long? was the bass new at the time? Reasons for asking: If the stain came with the treatment, it is probably something with the polish, and could be fairly easily handled. If it came afte some time, it could of course be the polish that got stained. However, you must remember that all wood reacts to light! And the result is yellowish...which is not to be done anything abot!
I have no experience with Martin guitar polish, and don't know if it is polymerized or not, but my choice for removing it would be acetone. That is what I was recommended for cleaning the wood when refinishing my bass and also for prepping a fretless board for a hard coat.
Were it me, I'd try some 0000 steel wool on a small area to see if I could buff it off before putting ANY chemical on it. You DO realize that bare maple yellows with age anyway, right?
Acetone will remove the original finish as well, and is super flammable. Does the polish list its ingredients? (probably not). If it has silicone in it refinishing will be problematic. You might try naphtha and a soft cloth. It is commonly used to remove wax build up from furniture. Naphtha is flammable also and rags should be laid out flat or hung up outside to dry before disposing. After wiping w/ naphtha, wax will appear as a white haze which then must be buffed off.
