Trying to clean body on '78 Fender Musicmaster bass advice

[crashdesk]

Hi,

 

APOLOGIES - Should have posted this is in Repairs & Technical but can't move it.

 

I took my old Musicmaster bass (once owned by Chris Glen from the Sensational Alex Harvey band) out of the wardrobe 😆 to clean up. Got the fretboard done but the body is shambles. I'd like to bring back that glossy finish. There are parts where i rub with a microfibre and it just sticks like a gluey layer and it just smears everywhere. What could it possibly be and how do I go about getting it off before possibly buffing and getting the spots/swirls out?

 

Many thanks

C

 

 

 

Edited January 30 by crashdesk

[Lozz196]

Given its age and previous ownership if it were me I’d keep it as is, some nice genuine road wear there. 
 

But if you really want to get rid then is it surface or ingrained, if surface (as in sweat & gunk over the years) some good quality guitar polish should do the trick. Ingrained, well I’ll let others answer that as beyond me.

[crashdesk]

Thanks @Lozz196 Yeah, it's just to remove that gluey substance and shine up. No stripping or deep removal. I think someone tried to convert it to left hand by drilling a hole in the lower part of the body 😆 I like the story it tells and it is unique in that regard.

[Reggaebass]

I use the Gibson pump polish occasionally on my vintage basses, it does leave a slightly shiny finish which buffs up well with the microfibre cloth, and not sticky, maybe worth a try 

[tauzero]

Try a mild solvent like meths, isopropyl alcohol, or white spirit. Steer clear of acetone/nail polish remover.

[peteb]

I think that you will need more than just guitar polish to get the cr*p off the body in the first place. There is some product that guitar techs use to clean bodies up. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it is (big help, I know), but it's nothing particularly unusual. Perhaps someone who works on guitars can advise. 

 

After that, then just use the standard polishes. 

 

EDIT: @tauzero mentioned isopropyl alcohol, which rings a bell. Whatever you use, it needs to be pretty mild. 

 

Edited January 30 by peteb

[Hellzero]

In 1978, it was a polyester finish, so a way cheaper car polish will be perfect and better suited.

 

@peteb It's surely something from the Meguiar's range like this compound that works perfectly well with nitro cellulosic, polyester or polyurethane finish : https://www.meguiars.co.uk/product/ultimate-compound-450ml/

 

It's the one I use for all instruments in need of a real cleaning/shining or to simply make them look better.

 

[PaulThePlug]

Isoprope, frome the chemist  rubbing alcohol, pref 99% but often 70% as had some mineral oil,.. or Lighter Fluid, Naptha. Screen Wipes, First AidcWipr - tge have a cleansing ebapourating alcohol

[Reggaebass]

It’s just me and I’m sure it’s ok, but I wouldn’t put meths or lighter fuel anywhere near my basses, really scares me 

[crashdesk]

Used a car polishing compound and it really helped. The more I worked on it the more I think that it was residue but the laquer/sealant itself had smeared wither by alcohol or some other chemical. Either way, I am going in the right direction and after remedying that I can apply a polish. Thank you everyone!

[Bolo]

Unscrew everything and bung it in the dishwasher.

If it dies, it dies.

[crashdesk]

2 minutes ago, Bolo said:

Unscrew everything and bung it in the dishwasher.

If it dies, it dies.

It is short scale so it may just fit.

[crashdesk]

So it's working out better than I imagined. The far is needs a second go but you can see it has cleared up the 'residue' nicely. The bottom part needs buffed, that is just the compound dry. You can see the cloth. That is probably just a very thin layer of coating, same way you would take very thin layers of paint/laquer on car to return it's shine.

[Reggaebass]

Looking considerably better