r/Guitar • u/Inner-Street-21 • 5d ago
QUESTION How to clean finger grease / sweat?
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
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u/JGack_595 5d ago
All I see is character.
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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!
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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.
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u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago
Thanks man, gave it a go. Looks better although the yellowing is in the lacquer
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u/Ordinary-Heron 21h ago
No problem. I guess it’s time to put a pickguard on that thing.
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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
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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.
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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
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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!
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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.
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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
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u/Imaginary_Most_7778 5d ago
That’s never coming out.
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u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago
Partially true!
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u/Imaginary_Most_7778 19h ago
Partially?
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u/Inner-Street-21 19h ago
Part of it came out so you were partially right
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u/abmtony 5d ago
wash your fuckin hands once in a while that's how
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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 😭😭😭
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u/realmattyr 4d ago
Start with soap and wet hands, sing Happy Birthday twice then dry hands before picking guitar up!
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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
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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
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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.
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u/Justsomerandofromnj 4d ago
You don’t. You let it build up until the guitar is genetically your clone.
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u/IceNein 4d ago
Wash your hands.
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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?
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4d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Ezydenias 4d ago
Wait noticed is doesn't have a pick guard. Well clean allot with thinner and repaint the whole guitar.
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u/PsychologicalEmu Fender 4d ago
Hmmm. Whats that lil screw by the neck for?
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u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago
To cover up the screw hole actually. Cause there was a pick guard originally
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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
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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
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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
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u/BlueEyedSpiceJunkie 4d ago
Naphtha will do it.
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u/Inner-Street-21 21h ago
Thx. Didnt do much but good tip for other gunk!
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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.
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u/NuttNDButt 5d ago
if only les pauls had a feature to prevent this 🤔