Cleaning Neck

[Tunes]

The neck of my Guild is very dirty - likely from years of accumulated grubbies with little cleaning if any. It's very sticky and grimy actually.

I have tried a little regular furniture polish, but that does not seem to do it, even with fairly hard rubbing. Looking for some recommendations on how to get the neck clean so I can slide up and down effortlessly (or something that looks like it anyway). Wondering how drastic I need to get this clean without killing the finish or damaging the neck from pressing too hard. "Real" guitar cleaner? Murphy's Wood Oil Soap? More elbow grease? :?: :?: :?:

Your thoughts :idea: please.

 

[West R Lee]

Most of these guys will tell you DO NOT use furniture polish on your Guild. I used Pledge for many years on my D25 and she doesn't seem to have suffered any finish problems due to that, but just to be on the safe side, I've never used it on any of my other guitars, nor will I.

I do know that one contention is that they say it makes it very difficult to refinish or touch up should you ever need it. As far as getting that tacky feel off the neck, sorry no help, but I'm sure one of these guys knows a way.

West

 

[danerectal]

If it's lacquer (most, if not all Guilds), zippo fluid (or naptha) is the way to go. It's a solvent that supposedly won't stick around or react to nitro finishes.

 

[chazmo]

If it's lacquer (most, if not all Guilds), zippo fluid (or naptha) is the way to go. It's a solvent that supposedly won't stick around or react to nitro finishes.

This is probably the right answer, but first I would try some Murphy's soap if you've got it.

I do suspect the finish has softened a bit from use/sweat.

I've heard of some folks taking 0000 steel wool to the neck, but I imagine that would end up with a satiny finish. I would only go at it with an abrasive if all other methods fail.

I'm wondering if a gum eraser would be a good tool for this. Probably not; just thinking out loud.

 

[killdeer43]

I've used a product called 'Goof off' with success for buildups like this on varnished/finished wood. Pour a small amount on a soft, clean cloth (all my old T-shirts end up at my shop for things like this) and clean the neck along the grain. Keep the cloth moving and you should feel any resistance slowly give way to a smoother feel.
If you use the old 'spit shine' technique and wrap the cloth around your index, middle, and ring fingers, you can control the cleaning better.

Smooth and slow,
Joe

 

[MarkRobertD225]

If it's lacquer (most, if not all Guilds), zippo fluid (or naptha) is the way to go. It's a solvent that supposedly won't stick around or react to nitro finishes.

That's the ticket to get rid of the gunk and keep the finish fine!