Author Topic: Guitar care... (Read 5145 times)

AngusYoung01 · « **on:** December 28, 2007, 10:29:52 PM »

Right, what with this new Charvel, I have no idea how to look after its finish. It as a maple neck, so no lemon oil, obviously.

Jim Dunlop do this pack of Guitar Polish, cloth and Cream of Carnauba wax, wuld this be good? What is the Cream of Carnauba like, I have never used it? Will it be ok of the maple neck?

Cheers guys :D

JJretroTONEGOD · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2007, 10:48:29 PM »

Quote from: AngusYoung01

It as a maple neck, so no lemon oil,

I don't understand, why no lemon oil? Is the fretboard itself maple?

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2007, 10:51:43 PM »

Sorry yeh, neck and fretboard. I have a habit of just saying neck as its all the same wood. It has a "specially formulated oil" so it feels satin like, and I want to retain that.... will carnauba wax do it?

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2007, 11:10:08 PM »

No one used it?

Philly Q · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2007, 11:14:24 PM »

Might be worth a PM to Wez, I know he's done lots of oil/wax finishes.

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2007, 11:19:44 PM »

I was hoping he (or another of the great luthiers of this board) would stumble across here.

I'm not looking to finish the neck, but for a good substance to clean it with, without loosing that gorgeous satin quality :D

Philly Q · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2007, 11:44:07 PM »

I believe with oil/wax finishes it's not so much a matter of cleaning them, as maintaining them.

The finish tends to get quite dirty from sweat etc, which can be cleaned with lemon oil (the real thing, not scented mineral oil) and wire wool or something, but the cleaning process will remove some of the finish. So you then need to reapply something like gunstock oil, tung oil or danish oil, then wax it to build the finish back up...

... I think. I'm no expert on this stuff. :?

WezV · « **Reply #7 on:** December 29, 2007, 10:09:24 AM »

Quote from: AngusYoung01

"specially formulated oil"

I dont know what this is so it might be worth checking with charvel first - or on a charvel forum.

I do a lot of oil and wax finishes like Philly says and i reckon you should be ok to give it an occasional rub down with briwax (not used carnuba but its worth giving it a go) and 0000 steel wool to keep the surface sealed - or maybe 000 for a more satin feel - Make sure all wax residue is buffed off before putting strings on. It may get a bit shinier over time as a patina develops but that will feel better than any satin finish can

Oiled necks really do feel great but they do not stay looking great forever. maybe their "specially formulated oil" is better but i would guess its just like any other in the long run. the wood will get darker no matter how much maintenance you do... but if you treat it right it wont matter how it looks because it will play so nice

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2007, 08:03:36 PM »

Thanks guys, Wez, I'll try the Carnauba wax usin the method you suggest, and since Charvel are shite to get info from I'll just go ahead and follow your advice. Thanks guys :D

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2007, 10:57:26 PM »

http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/ViewProduct.aspx?productId=1089

what about this stuff for the neck?

WezV · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2007, 11:10:51 PM »

cant be bad - but it seems like a lot of money for a tub of wax - fairly sure its fairly standard stuff in a warwick badged tub!!!

edit: that may just be my cynical nature... i havnt tried the product

Henk · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2007, 10:27:35 AM »

I used to oil my necks and strings for ultra fast sqreek free playing years ago, just applied a small amount of fretboard oil all over the neck too. Probably sounds really messy, well IT WAS. You can just rub the oil off again after your done, OR when it got really messy i used the GHS cleaner to get rid of the crud again. I would not use wax on allready finished wood, maybe carnauba wax wont affect the finish, but the car wax cr@p does dull up nitro finishes.

WezV · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2007, 11:34:30 AM »

Quote from: Henk

I would not use wax on allready finished wood,

this isnt a lacquered maple neck we are talking about

its a "specially formulated oil" finish, not sure what that means but oiled necks do need a little extra maintenence

shobet · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2007, 11:52:37 AM »

Why don't you ask over at the Jackson/Charvel board. Do a search before you ask as I bet someone has already asked the question as it's quite an active board.

Henk · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2007, 12:17:13 PM »

Quote from: WezV

Quote from: Henk
I would not use wax on allready finished wood,

this isnt a lacquered maple neck we are talking about

its a "specially formulated oil" finish, not sure what that means but oiled necks do need a little extra maintenence

Ah ok soz.....

Anyway like to add to this thread that elixer coated strings dont sqeek also, i have those on my SG so those fast DC riffs are no prob anymore.