I have a 2006/07 American Deluxe Strat HSS, Olympic Pearl/Rosewood.

In 2007, this guitar was mint, but since then it has been doing nothing but hanging on a wall in a small, smoked filled room. Needless to say, it's a real mess. It's so bad it's not even white any more, it's yellow, yuck. No doubt there is tar in every crook and cranny.

I would greatly appreciate any advice on cleaning this thing.

I'm thinking it needs to be completely dismantled and cleaned. I just kind of hate to remove the neck on a mint guitar like this.

I lost my job and need to sell this thing, so any comments, advice, things to pay special attention to, things to be careful of, etc. will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mild soap and water. For the stubborn bits, naptha (lighter fluid).

_________________
You dig?

[quote="webby"]I have a 2006/07 American Deluxe Strat HSS, Olympic Pearl/Rosewood.

In 2007, this guitar was mint, but since then it has been doing nothing but hanging on a wall in a small, smoked filled room. Needless to say, it's a real mess. It's so bad it's not even white any more, it's yellow, yuck. No doubt there is tar in every crook and cranny.

I would greatly appreciate any advice on cleaning this thing.

I'm thinking it needs to be completely dismantled and cleaned. I just kind of hate to remove the neck on a mint guitar like this.

I lost my job and need to sell this thing, so any comments, advice, things to pay special attention to, things to be careful of, etc. will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks[/quote

Hey Mate before you go pulling it apart, you may save yourself unecessary work by leaving it alone.

Provided it doesn't smell like cigarette, I reckon you might get a quick sale with it looking aged....Just a thought.

My first initial reaction was ohh that might look good...

Can you post a pic or two...Cheers.

That was my reaction first, and then I remembered what it was like cleaning out my grandmothers house. She was a chain smoker, I thought the interior walls of her house were a yellow colour.... turns out they were originally cream...

I imagine the guitar also has a sticky tactile feel, and smells like a used ashtray. Theres plenty of good guitar cleaning kits available, but you might have to use a bit of elbow grease to get through the tar layer.

Check this one out, I got given it for my bday from the mrs. Worked pretty well, but not sure how it would go on your strat.

http://www.fender.com.au/spa/meguiars/

_________________
My Rig: Guitar into Pedals then into Amps and out into Speakers.

My son has been gigging with a '93 white Strat of mine in smoky bars for a few years,it needed a pickup replacement,so I worked on it.
It stunk at first,but the guitar had turned yellow with some nice wear along the edges...relic'ed....I used some Dunlop 65 polish on it and it looks great.

I think people are getting a bit carried away with the cigarette smoke. Up until a few years ago you could smoke anywhere and in any venue. I for one am still a smoker and will be the first to admit they are the worse thing for you and will be happy when the companies are totally out of business. But all these for sale guitars kept in a smoke free house is just a bit extreme. To be honest my Clapton Strat is probably the guitar I have played the least and has been kept in my youngest sons bedroom closet with a few other guitars and I do not smoke upstairs as he has Asthma. But giving the guitars there yearly check up last month I noticed it has gone from Olympic White to Cream and I know cigarette smoke had nothing to do with the change. To be honest it is much more attractive like that and feel that it just turns that color with age.

I think the white Strat that is mine has yellowed more with age than smoke...it looks better than ever.