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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 13
Location: England | HI,
I got my first Ovation a S771 Balladeer back in July 2007 and have to say it's a fantastic guitar. It's the first proper guitar I've owned so I'm trying to take care of it.
It has a mahagony neck and I'm not sure what to put on it to keep it in good condition. I'v got some Kyser Lem Oil but that says it's fret board conditioner? Any recomendations for the neck?
Secondly can anyone recommend a good polish fo the the top?
I'm in the UK so the trade names on Ovations website for polishes don't mean anything here.
Many thanks
Matt |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Welcome Matt... [Took you four months to post something?]
I just wanted to say that. As far as cleaning the back side of the neck, I would just tell you to use a clean cotton cloth to wipe the whole guitar down before you put is away. I use Lemon Oil (Old English) on the fretboard when I change the strings. But be warned, some folks say Not to use lemon oil on your guitar. There are many wiser, professional, Luthier-types who can maybe give you better advice.
Wait 'til there are twenty answers to your post, and average-out the answers... :cool: |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Dunlop makes a good polish that I would think you should be able to get over there. You can get it in kits with various other things like string cleaner and fretboard polish. Planet Waves makes similar stuff. I suspect you could use furniture polish just as well. Lemon oil may have alcohol or something that dries out the fretboard. Mineral oil works good for that. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Neck:
For cleaning, use naptha and a cloth.
For maintenance: On the back of the neck polish with butcher's (old fashioned floor) Wax. Fingerboard, mineral oil as needed. Use the lemon oil up, and then forget about it. Most lemon oils have other junk in them that'll hurt your fretboard. Think about this: you can eat the mineral oil, the lemon oils general have stuff in them that'll kill you.
Body;
Don't polish, use Dunlop 65 for cleaning. If you want to do a twice in an ownership polishing, use Meguire's X;once, when you buy it, and once when you sell it. Remember polishes work by cutting into the finish. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | Favorite top polish is Dunlop 65 polish.
I just discovered Gerlitz fretboard conditioner and I think its good stuff. But so are lots of products. It pretty much comes down to what you like best. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Cleansing geetar : say Ohmmmm....3 x for Tops and necks..2 x for strings..every 100 songs.. :)
Vic |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I clean the guitar when I change strings.
I change strings when I start to sound crappy...
Somehow changing the strings doesn't really change that...
But I feel better, and the guitar gets cleaned!
[I change strings alot, too...] |
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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 13
Location: England | Hi,
Thanks for all your help.
I found this for the fretboard "Big Bends Fretboard Juice" says it's 100% white mineral oil. Sounds just right to me!
And for the top "Big Bends Gloss Sauce Polish", I'm not sure if this will be ok for the neck though??
Many thanks |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | "Big Bends Gloss Sauce Polish",
Sounds like you could eat it :D |
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Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | Or at least put it on your pie :D
Welcome Matt...I just use a cloth for my fretboard and give it a wipe whenever I change strings. Once a year or thereabouts I use a toothbrush (lightly) to scrape the crud away. Dunno if that's a good thing but it works for me. |
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Neck care & maintenance
