Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Good Polish


Mutley

Recommended Posts

I think most players don't bother with anything and my friend who ran the old guitar shop locally always maintained that a lot of these specialist polishes were not any better than pledge! Personally I just use whatever is cheapest and keep my basses looking pretty good. I'm sure someone will be able to dazzle with science about how this is very naïve of me but I'm sure any long term damage to a bass from cheap polish really isn't going to do any damage in my lifetime. A decent guitar polishing cloth off of EBay and a cheap polish does me fine. I think I have some Gibson polish at the moment, purely because it was on offer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My understanding is that a polish containing silica or abrasive substances should be avoided. Here is an advert for one I have not yet tried:

https://gilboys.co.uk/blogs/waxing-lyrical/the-best-polish-for-musical-instrument-care

At the moment I'm using this product for my polyurethane finished guitars. Seems OK.

https://en.audiofanzine.com/misc-guitar-accessory/dunlop/formula-no-65-guitar-polish-cleaner/user_reviews/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, ezbass said:

I remember reading somewhere to avoid anything with silicone in it. I have a small bottle ‘guitar polish’ that came with some Fender case candy over 10 years ago. I still have it somewhere, lasts for ages.

Correct. Most domestic polishes will have silicones of some sort in them. Even in very small quantities, these are very difficult to remove if you ever want/need to do paint touch ups or a re-coat. They're just a real pain, causing the new paint to have "fish-eyes" in it and ruining the surface. Most professional auto polishes are silicone-free and most guitar-specific polishes are just re-branded auto polishes in dedicated (small size and very expensive) packaging. Meguiers auto polishes are used by Fender, for example.

Just stay clear of using Armor-All on or near any auto or guitar paintwork/lacquer. It has a high silicone content as do most auto interior dashboard sprays.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just use the same wax as I use on my cars.  Currently G3 Super Paste wax.  

I have also used the likes of Pledge and various car ‘quick detailers’.  However,  these contain silicon, so after reading this thread I think I will be claying my basses and cleaning them with a diluted water-based all-purpose cleaner, before re-applying the wax.

Gives me something to do in lockdown............

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Miserable sod alert! 

Most specialist guitar polishes are a way of squeezing a teeny bit of standard polish used in the automotive or furniture trades into little containers and charging double the price. Still it gives advertising people an outlet to save them getting constipated with their shite. 

🙂

  • Like 3
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dunlop polish warning: my 74 Gibson SG had a nasty reaction to this. The finish went cloudy and rather sticky. Took a lot of work using a variety of other stuff to sort it. Luckily I had stopped applying it before  I covered the whole thing. The final thing that got the gloss on the affected area was.... toothpaste!. Minty fresh aroma too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...