VOODOO JUICE
Do the polishes and potions we’re presented with actually work? What’s your experience?
People can get in a bit of a lather about guitar cleaners and polishes, but like everything else today there’s plenty of choice. Numerous big guitar brands have their own polishes or care kits, which are a good place to start as the type of finish on your guitar may affect your choice, not least that ‘poly’, ‘urethane’ and ‘nitro’ finishes are simply general terms that don’t actually tell us precisely what’s in the paint.
In general terms, polyester and polyurethane – the most common types of finish – don’t really need polishing at all. A slightly damp cloth should remove any light dirt and then a rub with a soft dry clean cloth will have it looking as new. My father always used old cotton sheets for all sorts of cloth duty in his workshop. Today, of course, everyone from Fender to D’Addario seems to offer proper guitar cloths. Be a little careful with generic ‘microfibre’ cloths, though: they’re not all the same and can even add small scratches to softer finishes, although by design they do pick up
“You’ll probably end up with a few potions in your collection that you can apply on different finishes”
dust and dirt whereas an ‘old technology’ cotton cloth doesn’t.
Music Nomad’s range of products will be well known to many, particularly its The Guitar One – “complete maintenance in one bottle that cleans, polished waxes and protects in one easy step”, says the website. “The Guitar One is infused with white Brazilian carnauba wax that delivers an acoustically transparent durable shield with a high-gloss shine that protects your instrument’s finish. Safe on all lacquer finishes including nitrocellulose. Not recommended for matte finishes.” Most review guitars get a quick buff with this before they’re sent in for photography or returned. For this writer, it is the one. And over the past couple of years, Music Nomad’s range of polishes and instrument maintenance accessories has mushroomed.
Nitro finishes can be problematic as I’m sure many of you might have found, especially if you own older guitars. Often these finishes – even on an old guitar – can feel ‘sticky’, particularly in hot and humid summer months. Music Nomad has an answer with the Pro Strength Guitar Polish: “Our premium silicone-free polish to restore and review dull, hazy and scuffed surfaces. Works great on all guitar models such as Gibson, Fender and Martin Guitars. It is safe on all gloss finishes such as nitrocellulose and polyurethane. Our special polish formulation even removes oxidation and restores a brilliant shine to your guitar hardware (frets, pickups),” we’re informed, although care is suggested with gold-plated hardware.
The Pro Strength Guitar Polish is a thicker, smooth paste-like potion, but it does what it says. A particularly troublesome Guild S-90 from the mid-70s has what appears to be a nitro-based finish that still feels sticky on its worn neck and is very hazy in appearance. Now, we’re getting into specialist territory here, but after thorough cleaning (damp cloth and elbow grease) and then a couple of applications of this Pro Strength Guitar Polish, it’s beginning to look and feel like it should.
You’ll probably end up with quite a few different potions in your collection that you can apply on different finishes and those that just need a light clean or something a little more vigorous. As ever, if you’re in any doubt, try cleaning and polishing an outof-the-way area, such as by the base strap button or the treble-side body waist. Always apply the polish to the cloth first and work on small areas at a time.
For more marked finishes with light scratches or pick marks, for example, your best bet is what we used to call ‘burnishing cream’ with a light abrasive – it’s now more commonly known as ‘scratch remover’.
If it’s a hard poly finish then the good ol’ standby T-Cut fits the bill, but, again, our advice is to go very careful and try an out-of-the-way spot first. For example, if any colour rubs off onto your cloth, stop immediately! I’ve used Manson’s Finish Restorer for years, and I’d also recommend Eternashine’s #1 Guitar Scratch Remover Polish and the slightly more abrasive #2 (www.poshguitars.com).
Music Nomad’s Premium Guitar Care System (approximately £45) should cover most bases with The Guitar One, Pro Strength Guitar Polish, F-One fingerboard oil plus a ‘super soft’ microfibre Guitar Detailing Towel and a Microfibre Suede Cloth designed to be used with the F-One oil. It might well be all you need. www.musicnomadcare.com