| Author | Message | ||
| mpisanek
Member Username: mpisanek Post Number: 72 Registered: 1-2005 |
Since I have been playing both bass and guitar, I have been cleaning them with old T shirts and towels and the like. When they get really dirty, I even use a bit of water on the cloth just to dampen it a little. Recently, I have been reading about these new microfibre cloths for cleaning. They are supposed to be the mutts nuts! Has anyone used these type of cloth to clean their axe? It is said that with these cloths that the eventual scratching that occurs with cotton will stop. Can anyone verify this? Thanks, Michael. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1098 Registered: 9-2003 |
They work...Alembic also sells a real Chamois which also does the trick. Their spray cleaner is decent as well...non-oily, no residue. It, like their chamois, is pricey though. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 529 Registered: 10-2003 |
You typed "mutts nuts" and "scratching" in the same post. Two subjects that go together nicely. Well done! John | ||
| rogertvr
Advanced Member Username: rogertvr Post Number: 367 Registered: 1-2003 |
I use the Planet Waves Mirror Finish Paste and Mirror Finish Spray, along with the Planet Waves polishing cloth and microfibre cloth. I was wary at first, but they really do give an outstanding finish to my basses. I can recommend them if my experience is anything to go by. I started using them about 12 months ago. Rog | ||
| laytonco
Junior Username: laytonco Post Number: 24 Registered: 3-2005 |
I definitely recommend microfiber as it has the most effect(fibers)and will do the least amount of damage (small fibers). I know that sounds harsh, but even wind and water, over time, will cause damage to a finish. As far as the polishing goes, I found that Fender has teamed up with Turtle Wax and has a kit which includes a wax, and other cleaning fluids. The wax really looks, smells, acts, feels, like car wax and I bet that's all it is. And it works! You rub it on with the included sponge, let it dry, and wipe it off and buff it with the microfiber cloth. It does a really good job. I use it on my Tribute and SG. Now, I am going to order the Alembic products because they probably are a lot better and purely designed for our instruments! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 716 Registered: 7-2004 |
I bought a half dozen microfiber clothes from Ed Roman's about 6 months ago. (excuse me for a moment while I duck out of the way of the flying tomatoes). I like 'em. I really haven't noticed that they are much different from my old yellow guitar clothes - I never noticed the old ones scratching - but the microfiber seems to work very well. One downside (& a VERY slight one) is that, at least to my hands, the microfiber doesn't feel as nice as the yellow clothes. Bill, tgo | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 475 Registered: 9-2002 |
My real preference is old TShirts that have been washed a zillion times and Meguiar's Gold Class wax after the Planet Waves guitar polish. Of course, when you can find 'em, I love old cloth baby diapers the best. J o e y | ||
| tom_z
Intermediate Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 192 Registered: 7-2004 |
I'm with Joey. I use the microfiber, which I picked up at Ed Roman's also - of course his store is just down the street from where I work (haven't seen any tomatoes on his doorstep). The microfiber is nice for a quick wipe after playing. When I polish my guitars I use Alembic guitar polish and a very old, very soft baby-diaper. It is cotton, like a t-shirt, but much more dense and quite a bit thicker and softer. Nothing like it. Tom | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 208 Registered: 2-2005 |
Another vote for cotton baby diapers. I use those with the Alembic polish and have good results. Keith | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1107 Registered: 9-2003 |
I used to go with the OLD Martin Gutar Polish (non-greasy watery white liquid that smelled like rose water), and an old worn-out cotton tee (washed 8 million times). Unfortunately, that polish is NLA...it is now some crappy oily furniture polish re-bottled with the Martin name. Alembic's stuff is similar to the OLD Martin polish, but without the flowery smell and at about three-to four-times the price. | ||
| s_wood
Intermediate Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 158 Registered: 5-2002 |
You can find mcirofiber cleaning clothes here: http://www.googalies.com/guitars/index.htm Shouldn't Alembic sell these with their logog embossed? | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1111 Registered: 9-2003 |
Nope, Alembic offers their $20 chamois for that purpose...thank you very much, LOL! FWIW, I also have used Dunlop's stuff, and I use Gibson's polish as well. It smells nice, claims to have bits of "lacquer" in it (?), but it leaves a little greasy residue behind...ok on my blonde Heritage jazz box, but not so good on my LP Elegant. | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 814 Registered: 7-2003 |
I've had good experiences with Dunlop's - no residue to speak of, particularly on nitro finishes that tend to get sticky. Alembic's polish is pretty good. I used the last of mine a while back. I winced at the price, but per volume, a big bottle like that is not exhorbitant. Microfiber is nice, though I'm working through a pack of flannel detailing cloths I got a the auto parts store when I was refinishing something. Same texture as the yellow "guitar cloths", but thicker and much larger. There are lots of sources for microfiber polishing cloths that are marketed for different uses. My personal favorite, and one I'm sure I'll try is the optical quality microfiber they hawk on scientific equipment sites. How could it be bad? | ||
| smokin_dave
Advanced Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 235 Registered: 10-2002 |
Although I check in nearly everyday to read new post's on the club,I nearly never chime in but I will now.I use the Alembic polish and the chamois as well as a cloth that was included in my rogue case when I received her in 2003.The only thing I don't like about the chamois is the residue it leaves behind.I don't know if all of the chamois behaves in this matter and it blows right off but the stuff gets all over everything.Anybody else using the Alembic chamois experience this? | ||
| terryc
Intermediate Member Username: terryc Post Number: 169 Registered: 11-2004 |
Don't want to teach my granny to suck eggs but don't ever use aerosol furniture polish..I knew one guy who used it on his guitar fingerboard and wondered why when he was gigging his fingers seemed to stick to the boards and the strings went dead..can you believe that?? | ||
| longhorncat
Intermediate Member Username: longhorncat Post Number: 163 Registered: 8-2005 |
Hey guys - you can get a package of 25 microfiber towels at Sams for $12.50 I keep one in each bass case. I also keep one in the glove box of all my cars. Don't wash them, just toss when they get dirty.  | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2507 Registered: 7-2004 |
Or you can get 5 for $10 from Ed Roman! lol Bill, tgo | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 719 Registered: 12-2004 |
I heard that Ed Roman's are ghostbuilt by Bruce Becvar. | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1597 Registered: 4-2004 |
did ed roman do that shooting i read about? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2509 Registered: 7-2004 |
No, but he invented gun powder! Bill, tgo | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 723 Registered: 12-2004 |
Samuel Colt's original six-gun was ghostbuilt. And I can sell you a better version. | ||
| rockbassist
Intermediate Member Username: rockbassist Post Number: 110 Registered: 8-2005 |
I recently did a major cleaning on my Alembic. I removed the strings, the tail piece, nut, tuning pegs and took the bridge apart. I used pure lemon oil on the fretboard, a guitar polish on the body, neck and headstock and used a multi use metal cleaner on the brass parts. I used a dremel tool to clean and polish the hardware including the Alembic logos. The logos showed signs of polishing so I used a soft electric toothbrush to get the polish out of the small crevices in the logos. I put everything back together, put new strings on it, adjusted the height, set the intonation and put a new battery in it. The bass sounds better than ever. It's amazing how much tone and sustain you lose due to a little dirt. This will now become part of my annual routine. I have owned this bass longer than any other's and I can't ever imagine getting rid of it. | ||
| bkbass
Intermediate Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 155 Registered: 11-2003 |
Many,many moons ago(30yrs) I had used an Ernie Ball product that sort of smelled like bananas,came out white and dryed to a flat finish. One simply wiped it away with minimum effort and it left a very shiney finish. It was in a pump spray bottle.Being older and hopefully wiser is/was this product any good? I'm sure some company is still making it.Selling it as the next holy grail, Hey look at this new thing, Anybody have any experiences,leads,comments? I'd be interested to try it again on my non Alembics. | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 783 Registered: 12-2004 |
Barry, The "banana smell" almost certainly means that it had carnauba wax in it. You can probably repeat your earlier experience by using a different carnauba based wax. | ||
| paulman
Advanced Member Username: paulman Post Number: 258 Registered: 2-2005 |
Ajax and a Brillo Pad, that's all I ever used on the Further. | ||
| georgie_boy
Advanced Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 303 Registered: 8-2005 |
Ajax and a Brillo pad!! Do you still have a fretboard? Shit-if it works-it works! Goodonya George | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1453 Registered: 10-2002 |
You get ajax and brillo pads in the states? We're obviously not that different after all ;-) Graeme | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5642 Registered: 5-2002 |
I'm guessing that he's being a bit facetious. |
