Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Any one know the best way to polish a 4001c64s?
The "s" denotes satin or matte finish.

The guitar polish I have specifically says do NOT use on matte finishes.
And the Scratch X (I'm still holding several tubes of the original) + Zymol + cloth diaper would not apply.

My guitar tech says WINDEX - but I'm not convinced.

Calling Dr. Wil-- Dr. Wil-- Dr. W.

Calling Dr. W.

I use Windex on all my guitars, including my 4001C64S with a rare FG finish. Works perfectly. My guitar tech/friend says most of those polishes leave residue that can accumulate over time. My 2 cents.

Martin Acoustic Guitar polish might be a good option

Prowl wrote:Martin Acoustic Guitar polish might be a good option

Nope. Don't use ANY kind of "guitar polish" or wax on a satin guitar.

You don't really want to "polish" your satin bass--"polish" indicates bringing a surface to a shine.

You probably mean that you want to find something that maintains the matte finish while helping it to shed fingerprints.

Best thing I've found is called "Brillianize". It's a plastic preserver for plexiglas--so it's great to clean and preserve pickguards, too.

http://www.delviesplastics.com/mm5/merc ... gwod_WWAOg

This is a mail order company which sells an 8 oz. bottle for only $3.50. You may also be able to find it locally.

THE BEST!

thanks for clearing that up Paul. we use Martin polish on our acoustic guitars at my shp, but it never really makes anything shiny or even polishes. it does remove hand grime well though

I’ve been using “Renaissance wax” (not on matt finish tough). Don’t know if it’s better or worse, but thought that if suitable for antique furniture then it’ll be ok my basses. Anyone else have experience with this stuff?
http://www.picreator.co.uk/articles/3_r ... ce_wax.htm
You’ll find it on ebay. 200ml lasts a long time.

So what about the Windex???? Surely you wouldnt want to use anything with ammonia right?

FWIW, I've used Dr. Ducks for 18 years with no issues.

Wiker wrote:I’ve been using “Renaissance wax” (not on matt finish tough). Don’t know if it’s better or worse, but thought that if suitable for antique furniture then it’ll be ok my basses. Anyone else have experience with this stuff?
http://www.picreator.co.uk/articles/3_r ... ce_wax.htm
You’ll find it on ebay. 200ml lasts a long time.

I love Renaissance wax, too, because it is absolutely colorless and won't yellow or darken any surface you put it on. But I don't put it on my guitars because it contains mineral spirits. There may be no harm in that but I prefer Zymol.

kiramdear wrote:

Wiker wrote:I’ve been using “Renaissance wax” (not on matt finish tough). Don’t know if it’s better or worse, but thought that if suitable for antique furniture then it’ll be ok my basses. Anyone else have experience with this stuff?
http://www.picreator.co.uk/articles/3_r ... ce_wax.htm
You’ll find it on ebay. 200ml lasts a long time.

I love Renaissance wax, too, because it is absolutely colorless and won't yellow or darken any surface you put it on. But I don't put it on my guitars because it contains mineral spirits. There may be no harm in that but I prefer Zymol.

I wrote to Renaissance Wax a couple of years ago, asking for an MSDS sheet on their product, so that I could ascertain whether it contained any silicone or polymers. The CEO wrote me back, refusing to send it to me, responding that their ingredients are "secret". An MSDS allows for proprietary ingredients, however. My conclusion: there's enough silicone in Renaissance Wax to be of concern.

Petroleum distillates are not harmful to most guitar finishes that I'm aware of. 99% of all waxes use petroleum distillates of one or another type, to promote easier application. This includes the wax that RIC themselves use at the factory in new instrument prep (Turtle Wax). My avoidance of waxes with petroleum distillates in waxes has to do with their ability to strip previous coats of wax, so you can't layer wax coats. You can layer coats of Zymol, allowing you to build a nice shine and fill microscratches.

Ammonia in the concentration found in Windex is harmless and a good grease-cutter, too. I use Windex (diluted) to wet sand fresh conversion varnish before buffing.

Dr. Duck's is an oil, not a wax. In fact, their own website says it contains "no wax or silicones". The only issue here would be overuse on a guitar with an unvarnished fretboard, or a Rick guitar or its fretboard if nicker, chipped, or checked. Once this penetrates the wood, it softens it. I've heard of refretting being difficult on a guitar which had too much Dr. Duck's applied to the fretboard.

I'm still sticking by my Zymol preference. I use it on my own instruments as well as on my refinishes and restorations. Brillianize is great for matte finishes, and if you're having success with Martin Polish on your matte finishes, more power to you!

You just want to avoid anything with silicone or fine abrasives. Silicone is bad for paint from a refinishing standpoint, and abrasives of any kind will eventually begin to spot and shine your matte-finished guitar or bass.

jingle_jangle wrote:

kiramdear wrote:

Wiker wrote:I’ve been using “Renaissance wax” (not on matt finish tough). Don’t know if it’s better or worse, but thought that if suitable for antique furniture then it’ll be ok my basses. Anyone else have experience with this stuff?
http://www.picreator.co.uk/articles/3_r ... ce_wax.htm
You’ll find it on ebay. 200ml lasts a long time.

I love Renaissance wax, too, because it is absolutely colorless and won't yellow or darken any surface you put it on. But I don't put it on my guitars because it contains mineral spirits. There may be no harm in that but I prefer Zymol.

I wrote to Renaissance Wax a couple of years ago, asking for an MSDS sheet on their product, so that I could ascertain whether it contained any silicone or polymers. The CEO wrote me back, refusing to send it to me, responding that their ingredients are "secret". An MSDS allows for proprietary ingredients, however. My conclusion: there's enough silicone in Renaissance Wax to be of concern.

Searched a little regarding Renaissance wax. People use it on guitars, violins, guns, etc. etc. People say it is silicone free.

The most reliable info I found: ”Renaissance wax is a mixture of microcrystalline and polyethylene waxes ...“, “... it was found that hot (82°C) xylene would successfully remove the white flakes of polyethylene wax.”
http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic ... 1-001.html
(“Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer…” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene)

Haven’t found anything about Renaissance wax hurting the finish, but seems to be problematic to remove it. Don’t know what xylene is, but by the name it doesn’t sound good.

Think I’ll stop using Renaissance wax then. Read one violin luthier saying the best way to preserve a violin is to not add anything to it.

jingle_jangle wrote:

Prowl wrote:Martin Acoustic Guitar polish might be a good option

Nope. Don't use ANY kind of "guitar polish" or wax on a satin guitar.

You don't really want to "polish" your satin bass--"polish" indicates bringing a surface to a shine.

You probably mean that you want to find something that maintains the matte finish while helping it to shed fingerprints.

Best thing I've found is called "Brillianize". It's a plastic preserver for plexiglas--so it's great to clean and preserve pickguards, too.

http://www.delviesplastics.com/mm5/merc ... gwod_WWAOg

This is a mail order company which sells an 8 oz. bottle for only $3.50. You may also be able to find it locally.

THE BEST!

PAUL W. - grazie capo di tutti capi!
I just ordered this from provided link.

jingle_jangle wrote:

Prowl wrote:Martin Acoustic Guitar polish might be a good option

Nope. Don't use ANY kind of "guitar polish" or wax on a satin guitar.

You don't really want to "polish" your satin bass--"polish" indicates bringing a surface to a shine.

You probably mean that you want to find something that maintains the matte finish while helping it to shed fingerprints.

Best thing I've found is called "Brillianize". It's a plastic preserver for plexiglas--so it's great to clean and preserve pickguards, too.

http://www.delviesplastics.com/mm5/merc ... gwod_WWAOg

This is a mail order company which sells an 8 oz. bottle for only $3.50. You may also be able to find it locally.

THE BEST!

I just bought some Brillianize for my 2010 JetGlo with the UV finish as recommended by Ric vs. the Turtle Wax that they recommend for pre-UV finishes. I was happy with the results, although I did use some Nu Finish Scratch Doctor first to get out some surface scratches that hadn't been completely buffed out at the factory. JetGlo Rics are like black cars - it's a real labor of love keeping them looking tip top. The Scratch Doctor / Brillianize did a good job - it's like a mirror now.

who needs wax?!? just play it!!! LOL