Cleaning your axe

[mpisanek]

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]

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]

You typed mutts nuts and scratching in the same post.  Two subjects that go together nicely.  Well done!
 
John

[rogertvr]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Another vote for cotton baby diapers. I use those with the Alembic polish and have good results.  
 
Keith

[kmh364]

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]

You can find mcirofiber cleaning clothes here:
 
http://www.googalies.com/guitars/index.htm
 
Shouldn't Alembic sell these with their logog embossed?

[kmh364]

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]

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]

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]

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??