Step 4 – Cleaning the Body and Neck
There is a variety of body finishing that each require a different cleaning product. Some are veneer finishes, some satin and some high gloss. If body formula is wanted then make sure it matches what type of body the guitar getting cleaned has.
For a satin finish (not shiny) don’t use a polish, rather just use a damp cloth or recommended oil. If a polish is used it will eventually leave shiny spots.
Clear, shiny finishes (traditionally just called ‘finished’) use just a damp cloth, which will work perfect. A polish can be used, just make sure it is recommended for a finished acoustic guitar. Oil will leave the finish looking very… oily.
Veneer finishes, similar to that of the acoustic gloss finish, most of the time you can get away with using just a slightly damp cloth. Sometimes however, there are places where your arm rests on the guitar, or where a strap has worn a greasy spot into the guitar, making it look dull as opposed to the shiny look of a new guitar. In this case, the best bet is to use a cleaning product, which will come with its own application instructions.
For all types of cleaners used I recommend following a few simple rules.
• First, read the product label instructions for proper applications and don’t skip over the warnings! This will tell you what to avoid and how to apply the product for maximum results.
• Second, always put the product on a spot of cloth rather than squeezing a blob of product onto the guitar. This eliminates the risk of globing a lot onto the guitar and having it seep into holes, which would be really bad.
• Third, if the cloth becomes dirty from the grime that is being removed from the guitar, use another section of cloth or another cloth entirely. This is especially critical on the body because we don’t want to leave any scratches on our beautiful finish.