| Author |
Topic: cleaning a very well-used dual professional |
Joey Burusco
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
|
Posted 15 May 2011 9:09 am |
|
good morning,
my fender double-neck has been on loan for nigh on a decade, and i just recently got it back...it was definitely put through its paces over those years by friend and forum member geoffrey dyer (which makes me happy), and i'd like to try to clean it up a bit...
initial questions:
1) how should i go about removing that 10-year-old masking tape and inevitable residue?
2) can i use paint thinner (which i have) or some household product to clean up the metal parts? (i can't find it now, but i know i've read somewhere on the net (if not here) that it's safe to use paint thinner, but i wanted to double-check with those more knowledgeable than i am...)
3) given what you all can see of the paint/finish, is there a household product that will safely clean the wood? (money is tight at the moment!) i don't think i can really hurt anything with heavily diluted soap and water, so i was gonna start there - is murphy's oil soap a terrible idea?
4)serial #1352 - any help here? SGF searches indicate to me that the phillips-head screws and trapedzoidal pickups indicate a post-1951 guitar - is that correct? when i clean it up, i'll check the pots and under the pans - i don't know what's under there...
if it's fender paint, i think it might be candy apple red, though i couldn't say for sure - there seems to be just the slightest purplish tint somewhere in there, and when the light is right, it's almost like an extremely fine (small) sparkle finish...did fender leave the undersides of these guitars unpainted, or did someone slap this on at a later date? (by the looks of that splotch in the final pic, i may have answered my own question, but confirmation would be helpful...)
i'll check back in with pics of the pots, pans, and what the paint looks like in the unexposed areas, if for no other reason than to help those who may have similar questions down the line...
thanks for reading, and any advice/warning is welcome and appreciated...
peace,
joey
p.s. the pickup mods were there when i bought it...and this is a dual professional, right?
  
  
  
   |
|
|
 |
Bob Tuttle
From:
Republic, MO 65738
|
Posted 15 May 2011 9:19 am
|
|
| WD-40 is the best cleaner of "sticky stuff" that I've found. Just spray it on a rag and wipe. It might take two or three applications to get it all off. Or you can spray it directly on the tape residue and them wipe it off. And, it won't damage the finish, where paint thinner might. And yes, it is a dual professional that has been refinished. |
|
|
|
John Allison
From:
Austin, Texas, USA
|
Posted 15 May 2011 11:02 am
|
|
Lighter fluid (naptha) is a good, mild solvent that will remove sticky residue. It's safe on nearly all finishes, including nitrocelulose lacquer and if your red finish is some sort of spray paint, it should be fine for that, too.
A word of warning, though: Some adhesives will actively attack the finish and soften it to the point that any thing will rub it off. If it's not too bad, you'll notice a slight swelling of the finish wherever you've cleaned the goo off, or in the case of most enamels or poly-type finishes, no effect on the finish at all.
For oily-sweat-grunge left from years of handling (more prevalent on fretted instruments) solvents don't work as well and you can use a mild soap and damp cloth, though not on areas where the finish is worn to bare wood.
_________________
John Allison
Allison Stringed Instruments
Austin, Texas
www.allisonguitars.com |
|
|
|
Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
|
Posted 15 May 2011 11:08 am
|
|
This guitar has had the "Willie Nelson" treatment.
...still, cannot figure the reason someone would do this.
It seems steel guitars are mistreated more than any other kind of instrument.
I have a violin that is 104 years old and looks to be almost new.
Play it in a dark room, until you can get it refinished. |
|
|
|
John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
|
Posted 15 May 2011 11:20 am
|
|
| A hair dryer might help get the tape off. Just kinda heat your way along the tape as you pull it up. I like lighter fluid, but would do a test in an inconspicuous spot first, as you don't know what kinda paint it is,,, most likely some kinda enamel. I use NEVRDULL or regular chrome polish on the metal. If white residue builds up in cracks and crevices', let it dry, and brush it out with a very soft toothbrush, or a shoe shine brush. To restore the painted finish, use Meguaire's Professional Swirl Remover 2.0. I've never used anything better to remove a long built up film on the surface. |
|
|
|
CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
|
Posted 15 May 2011 11:51 am
|
|
lighter fluid works well gettin' sticky residue, gunk & grime off
does'nt harm the finish or chrome -
try a few applications rather than 1 big one |
|
|
|
Dave Bader
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 15 May 2011 5:09 pm
|
|
That looks like the same color as mine. I wonder if it was repainted by the same person?
 |
|
|
|
