Maintaining vintage instrument

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Author Message Mano Username: Mano Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 5:01 pm:    Recently I bought this beauty and I'm very aware of what kind of guitar care product will I use as I read that many guitar polishes contains silicone witch can be bad for your instrument. This is my first vintage guitar and most expensive guitar I have, so I don't want to mess up something I have few questions, 1. What do you use for maintaining body varnish and fingerboard? Dunlop, Gibson, Planet Waves...etc. Guitar care products? 2. I read that lemon oil can damage inlays? 3. How often should I polish my instrument? Is frequent polishing good or bad? 4. Is Carnauba Wax any good? 5. I like GHS Fast Fret for strings maintaining, but read recently that contains silicone? Thanks for your replies, Cheers, Mano Jimih Username: Jimih Registered: 04-2006 Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 2:46 am:    I use Martin & Co guitarpolish for the body, and GHS Fast Fret on the fingerboard like you. I am also afraid to use soap for the fingerboard, as Im thinking the tree will dry out somewhat.And then again I dont place my guitars in direct sunlight to avoid sun-damage. And I dont borrow my 2700 Artist Custom to anyone ! Jimmi Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 5:54 pm:    What seems to be important for your inlays, is that you use an oil type that doesn't contain solvents! Here's a link to a long discussion on this subject on Harmony Central: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=31906590c757c4312312 8a8bcb0dcdac&threadid=723525&perpage=20&pagenumber=1 I use either the old rosewood oil my mum used for her bedroom furniture or PREMIUM FINGERBOARD OIL from ROCHE-THOMAS, my luthier/ mandolin specialist sold me, when he closed his small shop. The rent of small shop units is very high, and the units are too small for a combination of shop and workshop. He now has his workshop at home and he's the Benelux distributor of a wellkown brand of stringed instruments. There is no explicit guarantee that it's safe for inlays, but I fully trust the man who sold it to me. He now buys stuff like this from Stewart-MacDonald in the USA, where they have ColorTone Fretboard Oil, and they guarantee that it's safe for frets and inlays! http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Finishes_and_solvents/ColorTone_F retboard_Finishing_Oil.html By the way, for the body I use Martin Guitar Polish too (bought from the same luthier/ mandolin specialist). Good stuff! Greetz, Ginger Ale Munch Username: Munch Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 1:33 am:    Hi Mano, Your guitar has a poly finish which is virtually indestructable in comparison to a nitro finish. You are safe to use good quality car polishes like Meguiars on it. Carnuba wax is fine - just stay away from anything with silicone. Silicone will not damage your finish but it is very difficult to remove and can make any repairs to the finish difficult to carry out. Once you have achieved high lustre with the car polish, regular cleaning with Martin Guitar polish is all you need to do to maintain a showroom shine. I have traditionally used lemom oil on my fretboards with no ill effects. In saying this, I only oil them once or twice a year. Cheers, Mark

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