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Post subject: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:00 pm
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I've been researching this and I'm stumped. Opinions are not only all over the place, they're in direct conflict. I know it's the internet, but still . . .

I've read the horror stories about what vinyl and rubber can do to my nitro finish, but the opinions about cleaning (e.g., use X, it's fine; DON'T EVER USE X!!!! It will ruin the finish) have my head spinning.

What do you use to clean your nitro finish? What if it's a satin nitro finish?

Thanks in advance.


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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 8:49 pm
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Location: In the Land of "Stratocaster"
Murphy's Oil Soap... dilluted in warm water... apply with a soft cotton cloth (NOT dripping wet... ring it out so it's damp).
Will clean all the skank, skeeze and crap off the entire guitar. Buff afterwards with a soft, dry cotton cloth.
Rock On :wink:

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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 10:56 pm
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Asking about Guitar Care products is like asking which Motor Oil to use. It's all subjective and almost wholly anecdotal.

Nitro finishes are less durable and more subject to environmental conditions than Poly finishes... FACT !

Back in the Day, Nitro was the best there was, but it's gonna wear and age much more than Poly regardless of how you treat it... FACT !

IMHO all the hype about Nitro allowing the wood to breath, etc. is Hog-Wash simply because Fender doesn't finish the neck pocket or the PU routes, the guitar is gonna get plenty of whatever the environment offers no matter what.

Murphy's is great, but it builds up. And any abrasion from a cloth, be it Cotton Diapers or Microfibre will take a toll with time.

The point is, don't be obsessive about cleaning your guitar.

Wipe it down lightly after playing with a soft cloth. Actual cleaning with whatever solution shouldn't normally be required but maybe twice a year, but of course there are exceptions. These exceptions are mainly a HEAVILY used instrument. The Key is not to obsess about it.

It's not a piece of Art, but a functional instrument. It's not intended to be polished like a '35 Bugatti. If you do that, no matter what 'cleaner' you use, you will accelerate wear to the finish. It is intended to be played, not preserved. Wear will occur inevitably... ACCEPT IT !!

If you're so worried about it's aesthetics, buy a display case and keep it in there, then get yourself a used Squier to play. :lol: :lol:

But, on point, use distilled water and a microfibre cloth if you see/feel dirt - No Saturday Night Baths !! ONLY go to any other cleaner if that is insufficient.

My personal favorites are the Virtuoso brand of products. That said, I'd never claim these are Hands & Feet above any others. I just appreciate the fact that they contain no silicones.

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:20 pm
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Great post Lightnin MN! I think sometimes we get way too involved in details and forget the big picture, PLAY THE GUITAR! I bought a 2012 Strat Select that is the joy of my life, but I started falling into "over protection" mode. Then I woke up and told myself, this is stupid, you love this guitar and paid a lot of money for it, PLAY IT DUMB $@! :)

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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:48 pm
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Thanks Lightnin MN. There seems to be no shortage of bad advice out there. I just wanted to make sure that I don't do something stupid that ruins the finish when the time comes (definitely not yet) that it might need a cleaning. I also have a Seagull S6+ acoustic that really does need a cleaning now and figured the info I got here would apply for that as well. The Virtuoso products look very promising.


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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:48 pm
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FWIW:
Yes the Virtuoso products are decent. Do want to mention about the Murph-O...
I've Been using it for years on all my guitars... both Nitro and Poly's... never have I had a buildup issue of any kind using it.

Fully agree w/ that many get obsessed with the "over-cleaning" thing. Whatever you do... don't go overboard cleaning your guitars. It can cause problems... especially if you overtreat the fretboard using crazy things like linseed or lemon oil... mineral oil used sparingly works just fine... and you only need to go there about once a year... every 6-8 months if you play the guitar a lot.

Keep Ur Mojo Pumped

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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 9:58 am
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Assuming we're talking about body finishes and not maple neck finishes-

For a non-satin nitro I highly, HIGHLY recommend Preservation Polish from Stew Mac, applied via a microfiber cloth. Been using it for 5+ years and I smile every time I'm done applying it. Hands-down the best polish I've ever used and I'm a clean/neat freak with my guitars to the point of borderline ridicule from my buddies who play too.

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Cleaners_and_Lubricants/Preservation_Polish.html

For satin nitro finishes, I advise simply on a dabble of room temperature water applied via a microfiber cloth. If you must, add the smallest drip of non-abrasive liquid soap you can such as common dish soap. Be sure to wipe again immediately with more clean room temperature water. Obviously apply the water to the cloth first, then wipe. Don't pour water directly on your instrument! Same scenario if you need to clean the back of a satin nitro neck... just a dabble of water will do.

I have applied in both of the above scenarios on Fender and Gibson nitro finishes (satin and non-satin) with great success many, many times.


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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 11:52 am
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Sand it all off and refinish in polyurethane.

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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:58 pm
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Strange, nobody mentioned Zippo fluid... bet someone cleaned the first Strat with it the day it was introduced in the sixties.
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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 1:01 pm
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I just assumed everyone in the world uses Zippo and a piece of old t-shirt.

Maybe it's not expensive and "designer" enough for some folks.

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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 1:55 pm
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I've been using Trick Guitar Polish for four years on my 57vhr. It cleans off everything, shines like glass, doesn't smell weird and is inexpensive. Most guitar shops should have it.

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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:52 pm
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Use whatever Gibson USA suggest to clean and polish their guitars.
All Gibson branded instruments have a nitrocellulose finish, so whatever they suggest should be good enough for a nitro finished Fender too!

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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 5:28 pm
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Stratmangler2 wrote:
Use whatever Gibson USA suggest


Large bet on them recommending Gibson brand polish.

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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 6:49 pm
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Stratmangler2 wrote:
All Gibson branded instruments have a nitrocellulose finish

Not true. Mine sure doesn't.


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Post subject: Re: SAFE Nitrocellulose Care
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:55 pm
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Hi What about the fender Polish They sell any good?


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