To clean or not to clean......

[LowNloud1]

I noticed some of the basses for sale have dull tuners, pickguards and bodies. I wipe my basses down after using them to ward off the effects of sweat (salt) and body oils to the chrome and finishes. I also occasionally wax them.

It may be my mania but I like to see a bass look bright and shiny. I realize that it is a matter of taste and bass hygiene but I wonder how many don't think about cleaning their basses.

 

[JayVek-72]

Can we add a another choice? I clean my basses when I change the strings, so once a month..

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I don't have a set time-frame as to when I change strings...depends on how much use the bass gets. But that's usually when they get a cleaning. Body and neck will get a wipe if I happen to be sweating profusely...

 

[Nev375]

Can we add a another choice? I clean my basses when I change the strings, so once a month..

Same here, except that's once a year or more.
(Elixirs)

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I do a wipe down every time I play and I do a good clean and polish when I change stings.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I wax my axes when I change the strings. I also wax the maple fretboard on my Strat, but put conditioner on the other rosewood boards.

 

[SirMjac28]

I wipe my basses after every use and I was also use wipes to clean my strings.

 

[Immigrant]

I usually wipe when I'm finished. I don't think anyone notices.

 

[charlie monroe]

The black basses get wiped down often. They show off finger prints.

The others when strings get changed.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...when I change the strings, so once a month..

Same here, except that's once a year or more.
(Elixirs)

You guys change you strings a lot! I can go years between string changes.

I do wipe down the instruments every time I play them, but I don't obsess over them, just take care of them.

 

[Skokiaan]

Same here, except that's once a year or more.
(Elixirs)

I change my strings every three or four years, whether they need changing or not. I used to clean and wax my basses regularly, but stopped a long, long time ago.

 

[Nev375]

You guys change you strings a lot! I can go years between string changes.

I do wipe down the instruments every time I play them, but I don't obsess over them, just take care of them.

Flats?

I like that zingy fresh roundwound sound.

 

[JayVek-72]

You guys change you strings a lot! I can go years between string changes.

I do wipe down the instruments every time I play them, but I don't obsess over them, just take care of them.

YEARS?!? Wow!!! Round-wounds get dull sounding to me and I am playing everyday (either practice or playing at church). I am just not a fan of coated strings, so not sure if I could go longer without changing strings. I love the Zingy Fresh Round-Wound sound, like Nev375 said.

 

[gregmon79]

Dont really think about it too much. I have cleaned my basses off before. Just not something I do often. I have also used Bass Brites on my strings for a time, which seemed to have worked well for the most part. But they didnt dazzle me enough to buy another container of them.

 

[bushbass]

good cleaning when I change strings, wipe them down occasionally but not every time I play

 

[PortlandBass77]

lol I only clean right after I buy it (for used only), before I sell it, or if a lot of dust or something has accumulated on it....

 

[PortlandBass77]

YEARS?!? Wow!!! Round-wounds get dull sounding to me and I am playing everyday (either practice or playing at church). I am just not a fan of coated strings, so not sure if I could go longer without changing strings. I love the Zingy Fresh Round-Wound sound, like Nev375 said.

They would last years for me if the G string didn't break every once in a while..... I'd say on average once a year for me.

 

[HolmeBass]

I wipe down after every use. It only helps a little bit- my basses still get gunked up and some exposed metal parts, especially the bridges, corrode. My sweat must be the extra corrosive kind, it gets to work on the gig.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

First thing I do immediately after a gig is clean the strings with GHS FastFret, then thoroughly wipe down the instrument. Then I make haste to the nearest Waffle House for a fiesta omelette, and some straight-up hash browns.

Not judging others' routines... it's just how I roll.

 

[TMARK]

If I notice dirt, or after a gig where I'm sweaty, I wipe it down. I clean up the fretboard and around the pickups when I change strings, say six months to a year, maybe more often depending on the bass. The exception is my Warwick Thumb. It gets waxed when I notice it needs waxing. Every 6-12 weeks depending how often I play it.