I've just purchased a high end Takamine black guitar and,as I expected, it shows fingerprints and smudges really clearly. What's the best way to clean these off when you've finished playing - it's a great instrument and I want to keep it looking nice.
seriously now i got a black one because I like the look of them as I am a singer too... the sounds great particularly in DADGAD but it just shows every little sign of wear
I wouldn't use any kind of polish if I were you. A bit of old T-shirt (clean!!) LIGHTLY dampened with warm water is all that should be needed, then buff with a dry piece of aforementioned garment.
I use one of those yellow polishing cloths that music shops sell. My '87 Strat looks like the day I bought it, even after countless weddings, shows, Bar Mitzvahs, etc.
A lot of luthiers these days use as a final polish Maguire's #7 show car polish. Not kidding. What they use as the finest end polishing. I would try a little on the back of the neck in a hidden spot to see if it is OK for you.
Damp cloth, first step, or try Martin guitar polish if you feel safer.
Sorry, my prejudices came out there. Just have assembled so much polished black furniture for people with more money than sense, I'm getting twisted......
Keith had it right; there's nothing special needed. Just dampen a clean, all cotton, cloth and wipe off the smudges. It's also not bad idea to wipe down your strings with a dry cloth before putting it away.
All cotton baby diapers work well for this. They're inexpensive and don't have too many additives, at least if you get them new. jeff
black guitars only look pristine once, when they come out of the maker's wrap. After that it's downhill all the way.
T-cut followed by cellulose glaze will remove or cover some scarring but to me black finishes are a usually bad idea on big flat surfaces like guitar tops
I agree that a polished black instrument only looks good new; whereas a woody one just looks venerable and weathered.
If you're a paid performer, get your guitar technician to keep it pristine - only play it on stage, always leave it in the case, practice at home on another one. You're spreading the wealth by employing a technician.
PS I understand there's several of Damien Hursts' technicians have just been made redundant - not a lot of difference making one of his 'art-works' and keeping a guitar looking nice, I'ld say. They expect about £19k per annum I believe.
Planet waves have a micro fibre cloth, i bought one, they cost like €9 but it works really well. what i do is just breath on the guitar, it adds some moisture to the guitar and then wipe away. The quality of the cloth doesn't scratch the guitar as much as standard cloths.
i've got mysterious black marks on the white cloth for cleaning my white guitar but was wondering how i would clean the white marksoff the black one for the white one?
Cleaning a black guitar
Cleaning a black guitar
I've just purchased a high end Takamine black guitar and,as I expected, it shows fingerprints and smudges really clearly. What's the best way to clean these off when you've finished playing - it's a great instrument and I want to keep it looking nice.
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by camwebby
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
Buy a woody one instead. Stop poncing about with these black things. Leave them for pop artists and arrivistas.
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
... right... now any sensible answers?
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by camwebby
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
seriously now i got a black one because I like the look of them as I am a singer too... the sounds great particularly in DADGAD but it just shows every little sign of wear
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by camwebby
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
I use Gibson pump polish on my Martin HD-28, just make sure to use non-abrasive cloths for both applying the polish and wiping it dry.
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
I wouldn't use any kind of polish if I were you. A bit of old T-shirt (clean!!) LIGHTLY dampened with warm water is all that should be needed, then buff with a dry piece of aforementioned garment.
Keith
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by ocarolan
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
I use one of those yellow polishing cloths that music shops sell. My '87 Strat looks like the day I bought it, even after countless weddings, shows, Bar Mitzvahs, etc.
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
Keith's right, no polish is needed. You want to get the gunk off your guitar, not put more on.
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by DaveL35
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
A lot of luthiers these days use as a final polish Maguire's #7 show car polish. Not kidding. What they use as the finest end polishing. I would try a little on the back of the neck in a hidden spot to see if it is OK for you.
Damp cloth, first step, or try Martin guitar polish if you feel safer.
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by irisnevins
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
Sorry, my prejudices came out there. Just have assembled so much polished black furniture for people with more money than sense, I'm getting twisted......
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
Keith had it right; there's nothing special needed. Just dampen a clean, all cotton, cloth and wipe off the smudges. It's also not bad idea to wipe down your strings with a dry cloth before putting it away.
jeff
All cotton baby diapers work well for this. They're inexpensive and don't have too many additives, at least if you get them new.
# Posted on November 23rd 2008 by jeff_willner
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
Cleaning a black guitar?
This thread isn't meant to be racist is it?
"I use one of those yellow polishing cloths that music shops sell"
Don't use those, you'll end up with a guitar a sickly purply colour.
# Posted on November 23rd 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
...ora purplely colour two.
# Posted on November 23rd 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
black guitars only look pristine once, when they come out of the maker's wrap. After that it's downhill all the way.
T-cut followed by cellulose glaze will remove or cover some scarring but to me black finishes are a usually bad idea on big flat surfaces like guitar tops
# Posted on November 23rd 2008 by millionyears_bc
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
no, my guitar is not discolored at all from using the felt cloths; as I said, it looks like the day I bought it, and it's a candy apple red finish.
# Posted on November 23rd 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
I agree that a polished black instrument only looks good new; whereas a woody one just looks venerable and weathered.
If you're a paid performer, get your guitar technician to keep it pristine - only play it on stage, always leave it in the case, practice at home on another one. You're spreading the wealth by employing a technician.
PS I understand there's several of Damien Hursts' technicians have just been made redundant - not a lot of difference making one of his 'art-works' and keeping a guitar looking nice, I'ld say. They expect about £19k per annum I believe.
# Posted on November 24th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
Planet waves have a micro fibre cloth, i bought one, they cost like €9 but it works really well. what i do is just breath on the guitar, it adds some moisture to the guitar and then wipe away. The quality of the cloth doesn't scratch the guitar as much as standard cloths.
# Posted on November 26th 2008 by paulallen
Re: Cleaning a black guitar
i've got mysterious black marks on the white cloth for cleaning my white guitar but was wondering how i would clean the white marksoff the black one for the white one?
# Posted on December 31st 2008 by hungry grass