cleaning the bass

[drTStingray]

would that be french polish? Just czeching!

 

[IvanHardy]

I used Pledge on the stealth I used to own. It worked great.

i'll look into that

 

[IvanHardy]

Bongo necks, I use the same thing I use on the body. Either a wonder wipe if I have them or a bottle of EB guitar polish and a torn up t-shirt.

thanks so you would suggest i do the same for my stealth bass? and what about for my maple bass?

 

[IvanHardy]

Cleaning is for pussys...research shows that dirty basses sound 74% better than clean ones. I wouldn't make that up...

that sounds so strange to me.

 

[gjj]

In Summary - Russian with the Polish will cause your Finnish to Czech? Is that correct?

 

[supadave]

that sounds so strange to me.

Okay I might have made it up.

 

[Holdsg]

In Summary - Russian with the Polish will cause your Finnish to Czech? Is that correct?

That's just making me Hungary.

 

[J Romano]

Keep this thread up and we will all be in Dutch!

 

[Grga]

Yep, that is a good Oman.

 

[DTG]

This is turning into a real turkey

 

[Calvin Nix]

As far as cleaning my bass.....

I use a polish occasionally for all the wood parts that are glossed with a cloth diaper (minimally abrasive, durable, washable). Some sort of light penetrating oil with good film strength for cleaning the metal parts. Machine oil for basic lubrication of the gear head from time to time - although typically uneccessary, I like to keep some laying around just in case. Leather chamois are also good for wiping smuges down.

As far as bare wood like the fret board and unfinnished necks - for a rosewood fingerboard, if it needs cleaning I use a little mild soap and water and then recondition it with 100% rosewood oil since that is the woods natural oil. I think a light mineral oil may be OK but I would use all oils sparingly and only as needed. People often use Lemon oil which from my own experience is usually lemon scented mineral oil. I'm not sure about using true lemon oil since it has rather moderate solvent potential, maybe others could speak more intelligently about the effectiveness and long term results they have had with it. As far as a finished maple fretboard I think the upkeep and cleaning process is much more like that of the body.

For an unfinnished neck made of hard Maple or one of the exotic hardwoods like Jatoba or Bubinga, I use a water based solvent that is recommended for unfinished necks or just plain water with a drop or two of light detergent. Sometimes the water can raise the grain of hardwoods so I may use a polishing cloth or 0000 steel wool after the neck has thoroughly dried to return it to its smooth state. I usually wash my hands before I play and try to clean the parts of the bass that I touched during play as soon as I am done. It only takes a second to wipe it down and helps to prevent any buildup.

 

[IvanHardy]

As far as cleaning my bass.....

I use a polish occasionally for all the wood parts that are glossed with a cloth diaper (minimally abrasive, durable, washable). Some sort of light penetrating oil with good film strength for cleaning the metal parts. Machine oil for basic lubrication of the gear head from time to time - although typically uneccessary, I like to keep some laying around just in case. Leather chamois are also good for wiping smuges down.

As far as bare wood like the fret board and unfinnished necks - for a rosewood fingerboard, if it needs cleaning I use a little mild soap and water and then recondition it with 100% rosewood oil since that is the woods natural oil. I think a light mineral oil may be OK but I would use all oils sparingly and only as needed. People often use Lemon oil which from my own experience is usually lemon scented mineral oil. I'm not sure about using true lemon oil since it has rather moderate solvent potential, maybe others could speak more intelligently about the effectiveness and long term results they have had with it. As far as a finished maple fretboard I think the upkeep and cleaning process is much more like that of the body.

For an unfinnished neck made of hard Maple or one of the exotic hardwoods like Jatoba or Bubinga, I use a water based solvent that is recommended for unfinished necks or just plain water with a drop or two of light detergent. Sometimes the water can raise the grain of hardwoods so I may use a polishing cloth or 0000 steel wool after the neck has thoroughly dried to return it to its smooth state. I usually wash my hands before I play and try to clean the parts of the bass that I touched during play as soon as I am done. It only takes a second to wipe it down and helps to prevent any buildup.

thanks for the tips.

 

[Bloodfist]

I use a pressure washer, because I sweat so much.

 

[IvanHardy]

I use a pressure washer, because I sweat so much.

i don't really sweat like that so i normally start cleaning the bass when it feels dirty when i play or when i change strings.

 

[Stephen]

People, please, it's not Rocket Surgery™!

The painted and metal surfaces can be cleaned easily like any other plastic or metal surface: a damp piece of cloth with a drop of mild soap (as for dishes) will do the job just fine. "Piece of cloth" translates nicely into some old T-shirts or boxers, just about anything made from cotton will do - if you don't own a vehicle with chrome plated parts now you have a use for those worn out undies.

The fretboard and (unfinished) neck will be happy when treated according to the videos EBMM have posted on YouTube; the finished Bongo neck can be cleaned the same way as the body, see above. Besides that, I would advise not to use any polish on a stealth finish, since the whole point here is that it doesn't shine.

Cheers

 

[cyoungnashville]

The dirt *IS* the funk.

`

this

 

[IvanHardy]

People, please, it's not Rocket Surgery™!

The painted and metal surfaces can be cleaned easily like any other plastic or metal surface: a damp piece of cloth with a drop of mild soap (as for dishes) will do the job just fine. "Piece of cloth" translates nicely into some old T-shirts or boxers, just about anything made from cotton will do - if you don't own a vehicle with chrome plated parts now you have a use for those worn out undies.

The fretboard and (unfinished) neck will be happy when treated according to the videos EBMM have posted on YouTube; the finished Bongo neck can be cleaned the same way as the body, see above. Besides that, I would advise not to use any polish on a stealth finish, since the whole point here is that it doesn't shine.

Cheers

so you're saying i should just leave it as is?

 

[pudgychef]

People, please, it's not Rocket Surgery™!

The painted and metal surfaces can be cleaned easily like any other plastic or metal surface: a damp piece of cloth with a drop of mild soap (as for dishes) will do the job just fine. "Piece of cloth" translates nicely into some old T-shirts or boxers, just about anything made from cotton will do - if you don't own a vehicle with chrome plated parts now you have a use for those worn out undies.

The fretboard and (unfinished) neck will be happy when treated according to the videos EBMM have posted on YouTube; the finished Bongo neck can be cleaned the same way as the body, see above. Besides that, I would advise not to use any polish on a stealth finish, since the whole point here is that it doesn't shine.

Cheers

so you're saying i should just leave it as is?

I believe the poster means the Stealth body can be cleaned as described is this portion:
The painted and metal surfaces can be cleaned easily like any other plastic or metal surface: a damp piece of cloth with a drop of mild soap (as for dishes) will do the job just fine. "Piece of cloth" translates nicely into some old T-shirts or boxers, just about anything made from cotton will do - if you don't own a vehicle with chrome plated parts now you have a use for those worn out undies.

Then I read the reference to not using polish as further reason to clean it as above since a polish may add shine to an intentionally matte finish... just my take on it mind you....

 

[IvanHardy]

thanks a lot. i guess i'll stop using polish on the body and i've been doing it for quite some time too . i'll be more careful from now on i wouldn't want anything bad happening to my baby.