there is no such thing. There are polishes designed for specific finishes, but there is no such thing as "Guitar Paint"

The guitar polishes we buy are merely rebranded polishes that are appropriate for the finishes used on guitars. With the corresponding upcharge applied.

There is a whole sector of marketing common products as "guitar" products because people don't know what they actually are.

"guitar polishes" are just rebranded automotive polishes in small bottles with a bigger price tag.
"Lemon Oil" "Fretboard Oil" 'Bore Oil" and a host of others are usually just scented mineral oil.

So it's OK to use automotive polishes as long as you use the most non-abrasive, and make sure it's compatible with the finish on your guitar. When I do the final touches when I paint a guitar I use a couple different stages of different automotive polishing compounds and finish with a swirl remover. For basic maintenance I just use a clean non abrasive cloth (I use a micro fibre cloth, like for cleaning eye glasses--never use fabric softener when cleaning it, as it can leave abrasive residue,) and my breath.

If you want a polish, and you don't want the hassle of making sure you get the right polish, then buying a bottle of 'Guitar Polish' is an easy way of getting the right product.
And even though you are probably paying a lot more per ounce of it, it's still not very expensive, and a small bottle will last you a very very long time.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Incredible! Never mind the guitar - look how it cleaned up that cloth! In the first picture it was so grimy you couldn't even tell it had a pattern!

I am convinced.


Ain't that the truth. In a music shop I saw some "hi-tech" earplugs for nearly £20 / $30. Soon after I saw the self-same product right down to identical packaging at the airport sold for inflight sleeping for £4 / $6.

And stuff sold at airports usually ain't the cheapest.

The price of being a musician...

Cheers - C

PS: nice to see you around, Twelvebar.

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Bore Oil isn't scented ... at least mine isn't. I guess mineral oil, from a hardware shop, would be the cheapest, but it probably doesn't come in small bottles.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

HI Dunlop 65 is the best stuff to use. I use it on both my EC Srat. & Les Paul. You never have to worry about it doing any harm. Barry'O"

I have been restoring guitars for many years, and have found that many products for automotive use work well on guitars that need to have a finish "brought back". I have had really good results working on pawn shop guitars that were bought specifically for experimenting with products from Mothers, Meguirs and , believe it or not, Turtle wax!! I know, I know, what a FOOL. But beleive me, I have gotten some really nice results from them. I owned an auto detailing service when I was younger, and know how to work a finish to a mirror shine.
If you are willing to work from abrasive to polish in steps, and put a lot of elbow grease into it, you can get nice results. It does take many steps of polishing and polishing to get the nice shine back, but the finished product will look good, and also feel nice to the touch. Not only do the guitars look good, but the surface has an incredible smoothness to it that just feels good to the hand and arm as you play it.
Just go slowly, and practice on junk guitars you can get for $50-60 bucks from your local pawnbroker.

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A bunch of guitars, a few amps, some pedals and some other stuff that makes noise.

Nothing foolish about Turtle Wax - their premium Polishing and Rubbing compounds come in quite handy often when cleaning up used guitars, adding sheen to a satin finish, removing fine scratches from a pick guard or a gloss surface - even nitro. No silicone, nano-diminishing-abrasive technology that is very easy to control - safer then 0000 steel wool for me.

Zymol Cleaner/wax is another very mild safe abrasive wax that comes in handy, especially when blended with Martin's Guitar Polish.

I always feel much better using products when I know what is in them, and what isn't in them...and many guitar product manufacturers don't share.

make it easy...

FENDER GUITAR POLISH.
Label states: contains White Mineral Oil and Pine Oil
4 fl oz at $5

I have a 30 year old can of this:

http://www.whatsinsidescjohnson.com/en- ... e-wax.aspx

It's half full and still soft. I use it on guitar bodies that have been polished with a mild abrasive. I also use it on CD/DVDs to fill in minor scratches. Works great. Only problem is that the stuff is a real PITA to buff after it has dried. Best to use it on bodies before any pickups and controls are added.

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Bill

What a bargain at $5 for 4 ozs!!! LOL!!!!

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

Whats wrong with a little ol' fashion water on a microfiber cloth, then use a dry microfiber cloth to dry and shine it up?

I wouldn't mess with auto-intended polishes. Fender makes a really nice spray on polish. I use it on my 15-y.o. black '57 AVRI. The high gloss it produces is really incredible and the finish on the guitar looks pretty much brand new. Just use the polish once in a while - then wipe down and buff on a regular basis.

I like the instrument care kit Fender and Meguiar's came up with. The swirl/haze remover, followed by the polishing compound, then followed up with mist and wipe brought an Epiphone rust bucket of mine back from the brink. Too bad that some of the gold hardware is beyond help.

Fender/Meguir's mist and wipe finish enhancer and microfiber cloth. It came in a nice oil-can with some picks.

I've used the Fender/Meguiar's polishing kit and love the results and only a little bit of product is needed for the whole guitar, the kit I have has lasted about 9 years so far.

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Live Well Play Hard
2010 American Special Strat<~~My Baby
2001 Squire Strat
2001 DG11
2004 Pro Junior
Digitech RP255
Digitech Hot rod
Digitech Digiverb
Ibanez TS9

This is what I use- I laugh when I hear people say this type of product is bad for urethane or nitro finishes, this is what it's designed for.. it's very similar to mist & wipe- except it's a WHOLE lot cheaper!! As you can see Ive used on my deluxe- no swirls or marks. Just my gleaming face looking back at me!! :

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