Comments on: Three Tips for Maintaining Your Guitar

By: pyroclastic flow

pyroclastic flow — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:14:49 +0000

Does anybody know what Willie Nelson uses to keep his guitar looking so good?
If anyone wants to buy sheila shine, I sell it buy the case. I work in sales @ a large chemical and janitorial distributor, and I have to agree with bomar. Most of the chemicals are the same but it is all packaged to be targeted at certain markets. Everyone should do what they think works best, which should increase their overall playing confidence, and that my friends matters more than all the polish and fret fast in the world. (ex. I’m sure we’ve all seen someone pickup a crappy instrument and make it sound like gold.) I saw eddie van halen play through jerry cantrell’s guitar and rig. All of a sudden wham- the guitar and rig sounded like eddie van halen’s. What I am saying is that too many musician’s equate an artist’s sound with the equipment first then the talent. I feel very strongly that it is quite the opposite. Be more concerned with pouring your soul out on a fretboard before some damn chemical.(Jimi’s guitar sounds like crap in the star spangled banner, yet his soul was beyond any tuning or string.)

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:10:09 +0000

I used a cleaner that a friend turned me on to for getting a brighter tone. After using the WD40 take a can of Sheila Shine and spray the same size spot on a clean part of the cloth then rub it on the strings where they hang above the pickups and rub down the pickups too. Sheila Shine is used in kitchens for degreasing exhaust hoods and other stainless appliances. It made my old T60 scream like a damned soul

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:21:32 +0000

For my acoustics, fretboard or unfinished necks, I have been using extra virgin olive oil for 18yrs. It works great and keeps the wood in good condition. I actually learned the trick from my pop who has used it on his clarinets for over 30yrs.

By: bomar

bomar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:48:15 +0000

AND: WD-40 increases the chance of riping/breaking.

How????

By: bomar

bomar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:38:28 +0000

one more thing. ever heard of marketing ploys? get some fast fret from….where ever you want, then get some WD-40. put them next to eachother and see if you can smell the differnce. I bet you can’t. If are going to knock one product you may as well knock them both. I do use WD-40 on my strings. I like the feel of the strings when I play them that way and it gets rid of a lot of the buzz. I do however not get it on the fretboard. strings only. and a light swipe on the back of the neck. my guitar is finished and not open wood there. It will not hurt the clear coat contrary to what everyone else is saying here. As far as smudges on the finish from playing the strings that way. I play the guitar, I don’t sit and stare at it. it is going to get smudged anyway.

By: bomar

bomar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:24:03 +0000

If Eric Johnson uses pencil lead on his guitar then I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I mean he’s not an accomplished guitar player or anything. He does however recommend it in many of his articles. another idea to tuning with the strings binding at the nut would be to always tune down first then tune up. doing that the string will not get bound up past the nut. as far as graphite not LOOKING professional, you can’t even see it. It is in the notch under the string. nobody knows but you.

By: Morley

Morley — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:19:45 +0000

I agree to not use WD-40 on your strings, but even though it’s bad for your instrument it’s not a grease or an oil. WD-40 displaces water then evaporates to get rid of it. Plus, any guitarist who knows anything about his instrument knows that rosewood and ebony fretboards are sealed with either tung oil, lemon oil or linseed oil and that this should be re-applied to the wood every few months. This keeps dirt from building up on the fretboard and prevents other liquids like sweat (or WD-40) from penetrating the wood. If you want to clean your strings, use a flannel or microfiber cloth after every use of the guitar. Simply pinch the string and run the cloth back and forth from bridge to nut. Believe me, you don’t need WD-40 to get the black dirt to come off.

By: dirtyminded

dirtyminded — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:37:37 +0000

The Main ingredient in WD40 is fish oil… I dont see how that can be so hazardous to your guitar, also many top players swear by it. And i think they would know.

By: Seth

Seth — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:20:17 +0000

I’ve always used Meguiar’s on my guitars. It really does do wonders for the finish. I do have a question for everyone though, regarding the finish on my faded SG special. It’s faded, so it’s not a laquer finish. I believe it’s just stain. Does anyone know what kind of oil I should use to protect the body and neck? Also, can I use this same oil on the fretboard? Thanks!

By: Bri

Bri — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:58:53 +0000

That WD stands for Water Displacement. What do you think that stuff does to your body when it gets into your system?