sanitizing a guitar

Saffron Shrimp · #1 11-12-2006, 03:25 AM

I purchased a used guitar and I feel the need to sanitize it, its a s series with a black pearl finish, would it be ok to clean the whole guitar with rubbing alcohol? I tested a little under the backplate and it was fine but I was just wondering if anyone does this?

crevis · #2 11-12-2006, 03:29 AM

are you a germaphobe?

It should be ok as long as you dont rub it on bare wood.

ibanezcollector · #3 11-12-2006, 11:11 AM

alcohol wont hurt anything.. just dont rub it on bare wood like the fretboard it will dry it out in a second..

I felt the need to sanatize a couple of my guitars I got from GC lol.. Some were pretty funky.

Racerx2k · #4 11-12-2006, 12:03 PM

Maybe it was meant to play funk?

ibanez2005 · #5 11-12-2006, 12:14 PM

Spit and polish should be enough.

ryanb · #6 11-12-2006, 05:43 PM

You can also use naptha or one of the various guitar cleaning products. If you use it in bare wood though (like the fretboard), put some bore oil back on it afterward to put some oil back into the wood.

davester1234 · #7 11-12-2006, 08:49 PM

do the hendrix....pour some gasoline on it, spark it up, and watch the germs go up in flames!

I kid....

**elcid** · #8 11-12-2006, 09:14 PM

Just wear gloves while you play

Texter · #9 11-13-2006, 07:57 AM

Use an old toothbrush for the fretboard. You can use any handy glass-/windowcleaners for your guitar as well.

GTR-MAN · #10 11-13-2006, 09:58 AM

I did that to an old fender mustang my wife has and it(rubbing alcohol) melted the finish, so I had to wet sand and polish the finish so it didn't look all cruddy. I'll never use rubbing alcohol on a guitar again.

supermau · #11 11-13-2006, 10:30 AM

I just use any standard "Guitar Polish" and recently tried bore oil on the fretboard of my old (rosewood) Strat after giving it a good cleaning with a toothbrush. My fretboard is like new again, maybe better than new.

JJEMMER777 · #12 11-13-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibanez2005

Spit and polish should be enough.

Though not very sanitary

Hmm...this is a strange one. I've never heard of someone feeling the need to ~sanitize~ their guitar

Do you live in a plastic bubble??

Batchimp RG · #13 11-13-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saffron Shrimp

I purchased a used guitar and I feel the need to sanitize it

If I felt that my guitar was a bacteria-fest I would nuke it good and proper. I'd start with normal household antiseptic like Dettol (in the UK).

ryanb · #14 11-13-2006, 09:47 PM

I don't blame him for wanting to "sanitize" his guitar. Some of the stuff on the used market is just disgusting, and God knows where it came from.

Alcohol could be a problem for some older, alcohol-based finishes. If you have a modern poly finish, you could hit it with almost anything without hurting it. You don't want whatever is a solvent for the type of finish you have.

Always proceed with caution. Start with the lightest cleaners (hot breath) and proceed to the heavier ones as necessary. You should also always test it somewhere that doesn't show first, just to be sure.