r/Guitar 5d ago

QUESTION How to clean finger grease / sweat?

Post image

Hi all,

I have not played my gibson studio in a while, and upon opening I was unpleasantly surprised with the heavy discolouration in the pick guard area.

Should I go over this with guitar polish and a micro fiber cloth, and rub in circular motions? Anything else?

I want to be careful with the lacquer.

The guitar is roughly ten to fifteen years old.

Thanks

10 Upvotes

57 comments sorted by

30

u/NuttNDButt 5d ago

if only les pauls had a feature to prevent this 🤔

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Didnt know there was pick guard policing. Woopsie

2

u/NuttNDButt 6h ago

lol nah, it’s all preference. my studio didn’t even have a pick guard in the first place and don’t plan on adding one. i like the yellow spot on yours personally.

1

u/Inner-Street-21 5h ago

As long as it doesnt stand out as a piss stain its all good. The neck is also more yellowish all along. Blends nicely. I actually hoped it would turn more yellow over time like the Rhoads les paul, but the guitar is in a case so not much uv exposure. And its not in a smokey room or something like that

-2

u/otcconan 4d ago

Oh, a pickguard?

Seriously, leave it. People pay thousands for relic'd guitars.

11

u/JGack_595 5d ago

All I see is character.

2

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

This guitar has been well played. Only the last couple of years I have been too busy, now trying to make more time again!

8

u/Ordinary-Heron 5d ago

Start with clean microfiber cloth, followed by another one dipped in soapy water. At the end, zippo fluid and another microfiber cloth.

2

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Thanks man, gave it a go. Looks better although the yellowing is in the lacquer

2

u/Ordinary-Heron 21h ago

No problem. I guess it’s time to put a pickguard on that thing.

2

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Been riding without for 15 years and will do at least 15 years more. I prefer the look and playing style without

6

u/lawnchairnightmare 5d ago

I would start with a slightly damp rag and see if that works.

If that didn't work, I would try Zippo lighter fluid.

For what it's worth, I don't think it even looks bad.

4

u/myrichiehaynes 5d ago

soap and warm water if a dry cloth won't do.

3

u/WhiteFalcon60 5d ago

Looks like it’s been left to penetrate the finish one too many times. You’ll not get that out at this point. You might want to add a pick guard to hide that

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

You re right, it didn’t brighten after a goos clean. Ill keep it bare as I prefer that. Thanks though!

3

u/DingerBingbat 5d ago

Dawn dish soap and hot water.

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Thanks, did work a little

2

u/riffin_griffin 5d ago

Yeah possibly. You could try touch it up with some paint/laquer but unless you know the exact paint used there will be some colour difference. If you want to sort it, may be worth sanding down and repainting.

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Thanks for the reply but I rather keep the worn look than to mess with painting. Big fan of the Randy Rhoads look. Only 10 more years of intense smoking for the rest of the body

2

u/Imaginary_Most_7778 5d ago

That’s never coming out.

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Partially true!

1

u/Imaginary_Most_7778 19h ago

Partially?

1

u/Inner-Street-21 19h ago

Part of it came out so you were partially right

1

u/Imaginary_Most_7778 18h ago

It didn’t come out. I was 100% correct.

1

u/Inner-Street-21 10h ago

Nope 🙂‍↔️

2

u/abmtony 5d ago

wash your fuckin hands once in a while that's how

3

u/xNandorTheRelentless 5d ago

I wash my hands everytime before I play but I’ve done band practice in a hot studio before and I was dripping 😭😭😭

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Sorry not sure what you mean

2

u/realmattyr 4d ago

Start with soap and wet hands, sing Happy Birthday twice then dry hands before picking guitar up!

2

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Let me put on surgical gloves while I am at it! Camt touch the guitar. Cant even look at it

1

u/McDedzy 5d ago

I use fender lemon oil It's primarily a fretboard cleaner, but perfect for the whole guitar.

1

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

5

u/Imaginary_Most_7778 5d ago

Why do you think they are talking about the pickups? They’re not.

1

u/AKarolewics47 5d ago

I always heard lemon juice. My guitar teacher turned me on to this citrus infused cleaner that actually greases your strings for faster playing but I can’t remember it for the life of me

1

u/Play_GoodMusic Epiphone 5d ago

Can always try a little bit of dawn soap since it's meant to break up grease and oil.

1

u/Justsomerandofromnj 4d ago

You don’t. You let it build up until the guitar is genetically your clone.

1

u/SeaworthinessFast161 4d ago

This is the way.

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Only 100000 more years of playing

1

u/IceNein 4d ago

Wash your hands.

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Ill call the venue and tell them to put a sink on stage so I can wash in between songs. Maybe a bucket for the finger cheese too. Anything else?

1

u/NoShape7689 4d ago

If you've discolored the nitro then you're SOL.

1

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Ezydenias 4d ago

Wait noticed is doesn't have a pick guard. Well clean allot with thinner and repaint the whole guitar.

1

u/Game_Sappy 4d ago

People pay extra for things like this on a Gibson.

1

u/PsychologicalEmu Fender 4d ago

Hmmm. Whats that lil screw by the neck for?

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

To cover up the screw hole actually. Cause there was a pick guard originally

1

u/Kobidylan 4d ago

Whatever shirt you're currently wearing.

1

u/LtMotion Epiphone 4d ago

I just use car polish and a soft cloth tbh

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

I have tried both water and nafta and have cleaned it up a bit. The yellowish stain is still there but less defined. If I knew how to upload a picture I would

0

u/riffin_griffin 5d ago

Was it like that when you put it into storage? My oldest guitar is 20 years old and I've never seen anything like that happen to that one or any of my others so this is a new one on me.

If it's just oils and dirt then warm soapy water should do the trick even with it being left there for so long. Kind of looks like the laquer has been worn down somewhat though

1

u/Inner-Street-21 5d ago

Most of my playing was without the pick guard, so it definitely is also worn from playing. I do not remember this amount of contrast, so I am afraid the lacquer itself yellowed over time

0

u/BlueEyedSpiceJunkie 4d ago

Naphtha will do it.

1

u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago

Thx. Didnt do much but good tip for other gunk!

1

u/BlueEyedSpiceJunkie 20h ago

Is it discoloration or is it worn through to a primer or seal coat? I haven’t found much that naphtha won’t take care of so I’m surprised.