Another cleaning question ....

[slazman]

Anyone got a good recommendation for cleaning products ... seems a bit like doing a good job on a car - products that do a good job on swirls etc., followed by a polish/wax. There are quite a lot of products on the market so some feedback on experiences would be great.

[chrismuzz]

I actually use WD40 on my basses, used to use it on the fretboard too until i discovered lemon oil

[7string]

Sadowsky do a Restoration Polish which could do what you want.

If it's just a clean then lighter fluid is good to get rid of marks (be careful, well ventilated area, wash cloth after use), likewise saliva or moist breath.

For polish, anything from a guitar store is good, but avoid silicones if looking elsewhere. I use a a Gibson Hi-Gloss polish which is great (comes in a pack with string cleaner and fingerboard conditioner).

[Circle_of_Fifths]

I don't know about where you guys are, but all the custom tiny bottles of guitar special waxes ARE automotive waxes.

I worked for a summer in a wax company - no kidding - and we made guitar waxes and cleaners, but they were only smaller portions of the automotive waxes and cleaners.

You pay a lot more for Dunlop and Fender polishes, when the same product can be bought in larger tins and bottles.

OK - the best wax is carnauba. It's a very hard bean wax, and it's also one of the most exensive waxes too.

Carnuba is not carnauba - check the spelling! The former is a patented wax product that mostly has beeswax and/or paraffin wax in it and some cleaners and a nice fragrance.

So - and if you can find this brand: Mothers' California Gold or PRO-Wax - are two names of real wax withe the correct ingredients.

Turtle Wax, Simonize or any other product - but mostly liquid waxes contain little or no real carnauba bean wax in them. Most rely on the shine of paraffin and mineral spirits to impart a shine - or worse yet, silicon to do the same thing.

Silicon is a giant [b]NO[/b]. It will ultimately damage your bass, your car and it's not good for humans either. Beware.