How to properly clean vintage guitar

[brianfarm6767]

I know this is not about a Telecaster specifically, but I feel the topic is basic for any guitar. I recently was given a 1967 Fender Mustang Bass by my grandfather. It is in good shape with common signs of use that really show that it was used but not abused. My question is what is the proper way to go about cleaning it so that I do not diminish any value but keep it nice when I show it off. I am not a huge bass player so I will not be playing it much so it basically just about the cosmetics that I want to clean up. The frets show some grim and need to be cleaned and oiled. The body can probably just be polished to get a little shine back. This is my first vintage guitar and just dont want to hurt the value that it has and want to keep the used feel since it is almost 50 years old I dont want it to look brand new.

 

[brianfarm6767]

here is another picture

 

[Stubee]

I used to buy/sell a lot of old nice acoustics & some were seriously dirty. Here's my take:

1) Get a couple of old cotton T-shirts & tear them into rag size, or use cotton diapers or really worn cotton towels.
2) Slightly dampen one of 'em with warm water & keep a few dry rags handy.
3) Rub a bit of the guitar (like the lower bout) vigorously with the damp rag then dry with a dry one.
4) Repeat as needed. If really a mess, you'll need several damp rags.

Try this before polishes etc. because water is a good starting 'solvent' & will remove a ton of old gunk that polish may just smear around. I speak from experience.

Then polish when clean.

 

[rebelwoclue]

You must be very careful if using water though- too much and it could get into the wood and expand and then do things that are not good- just a warning...

 

[Mike Simpson]

Pretty much anything you do to it except new strings will make it worth less... Put new strings on it and play it. Don't try to polish the age off of it.

 

[brianfarm6767]

The body is not really the main issue. I can just clean that lightly with water like posted earlier. The main thing to me that takes away from the guitar is the amount of grime on the frets. I know shiney frets would look out of place on this guitar but i just feel like i need to do something.

 

[JayFreddy]

Polishing the frets isn't going to hurt the value of a vintage instrument, unless you polish them incorrectly.

I've had great luck with NevRdull wadding polish. Learned about it right here on TDPRI.

http://www.NevRdull.com/

You can find it at most automotive stores for around $5 per can. I got my first can 3 years ago, and I still haven't used even 10% of the can, and I have polished many many frets...

Looks like you already lemon oiled the neck, that's good.

If that's just a stray reflection, I'd suggest giving the neck a good soaking in lemon oil first, to make sure fret board is well saturated and not thirsty... Then use the Nev-R-Dull one fret at a time until the frets are shiny.

You might need a little elbow grease, but the Nev-R-Dull is surprisingly mild, and it does a good job. No sand paper, files, or corrosive polishes required.

EDIT: Even though the NevRdull is mild, you still want to try and avoid contact with any finished surfaces... Just grab a grape-sized ball of the wadding and rub it directly onto the frets.

(image removed)

 

[Mike Simpson]

Nevr-dull works great on motorcycle pipes too !

 

[brianfarm6767]

No I have not oiled or cleaned anything yet. I have the dunlop fret board cleaner kit, I may take that and try to get the grime off the board and use the nevr-dull on the frets.

 

[jguitarman]

I would suggest that you look into Dan Erlewines books. I learned from him for example that you should use raw linseed oil on the fretboard. Most of your lemon oils and such have an accelerator that speeds up the drying time. You could apply that to the fretboard and wipe the dirt away from the fret edges. I treat my rosewood necks about once a year depending on their use.
As for polish for the body, if you must, use the polish that Martin Guitars makes. Their guitars are made with nitrocelluose laquer as is your bass and their polish will not damage the finish. Dan even suggests breathing a moist breath on the body and then wiping it down. Pretty strange sounding but it's harmless and it works.

 

[guitarzan13]

No I have not oiled or cleaned anything yet. I have the dunlop fret board cleaner kit, I may take that and try to get the grime off the board and use the nevr-dull on the frets.

Grab an old toothbrush to clean the fret gunk. I put a generous amount of oil on the neck let it soak for a min or two then start scrubbing away!

 

[jguitarman]

I forgot to mention that your bass is really cool. You might think about learning bass. Around here at least there always seems to be a shortage of bass players.

 

[rwsand]

Personally, I would leave it as is. I know most people want great looking instruments but I like 'em as they come to me, warts and all.

 

[thinling]

That looks really nice! I would clean the body and metal parts by huffing breath on it and polishing with a T-shirt, and then just use a broken toothpick or similar soft object to get any built-up crud off the sides of the frets.

I would use proper lemon oil from a hardware store on the rosewood neck in case it's thirsty, and make sure to replace the strings with Flatwounds! Bet it sounds good, looks great.

 

[brianfarm6767]

Thanks for all the help, I am gona set down this weekend and try a few of the tips and see where I get.

 

[Mike Simpson]

First... do no harm.

Put strings on it and play it for 6 months.
Do not be obsessed with making it look like it is not old, you may regret it.
Real Patina and age shoud not be scrubbed off.
Fix only what is broken.

 

[telex76]

Spit and a worn out pair of underwear is all I'd use.

 

[corliss1]

Has no one said Virtuoso polish yet?

http://www.virtuosopolish.com/

It's cheap, the best in the business, safe on all finishes including nitro. There's a cleaner and a polish. Can't screw up with it.

 

[Old Bill]

I used to buy/sell a lot of old nice acoustics & some were seriously dirty. Here's my take:

1) Get a couple of old cotton T-shirts & tear them into rag size, or use cotton diapers or really worn cotton towels.
2) Slightly dampen one of 'em with warm water & keep a few dry rags handy.
3) Rub a bit of the guitar (like the lower bout) vigorously with the damp rag then dry with a dry one.
4) Repeat as needed. If really a mess, you'll need several damp rags.

Try this before polishes etc. because water is a good starting 'solvent' & will remove a ton of old gunk that polish may just smear around. I speak from experience.

Then polish when clean.

You might want to add a few drops of washing up liquid to the first couple of washes.I find it helps.

 

[Shorecaster]

Spit and a worn out clean pair of underwear is all I'd use.

FIFY, (I hope)