59 Burst question

[JBLPplayer]

Hello All,
Greetings from Hong Kong.. The tour continues to roll along very smoothly and we have been having a blast. I need your advice on a small problem I am having. I am playing the 59 out here on tour. It sounds great.. We call it "Magellan". What I have noticed in playing it like some other vintage guitars the finish clouds up a bit on the back when the guitar gets hot or slightly sweated upon.. How do you combat it or reverse it? I make sure the guitar doesn't get put away without it being dried off. I am happy to leave character marks on it, ( that I made peace with that after I read somewhere that a guy claimed each scratch takes a 1000 dollars off the guitars value.. Im like , so if I put 200 scratches on it its worth nothing.. ?? ) but the clouds bug me slightly. Just wondering if you guys had any advice or have dealt with this problem before...
Thanks
Joe B

Happy Mothers Day and Happy 100th Birthday to Robert Johnson..
:2zone

 

[andy k]

Hey Joe,
I guess there's only a couple of people who are qualified to answer your query?
Not many people play these great instruments as hard as you these days, have to hope Slash, The Rev, JP or Perry etc. read these posts.
I'm only just starting to get 'clouding' on the top bout of my R7 where my flesh rests- maybe it's just the consequences of sweat on nitro, but don't stop doing what you do,and maybe these days each scratch ADDS a K,
Just as well you took a beater out on tour eh.
Keep on rockin.
Cheers
Andy k

 

[MikeSlub]

Joe, this happens with the reissues also. The moisture is penetrating the finish. It has to dry out thoroughly. If it doesn't go away, sometimes using a bit of Meguiar's swirl remover (the stuff they use on cars) will get it out. It has a mild abrasive, so be gentle! Once it does dry out, put some nitro-friendly guitar polish on there to build up some barrier against the moisture. :hank

 

[manifolddestiny]

greetings to Hong Kong.
used to have the same thing myself from sweat, just let it dry real well and clean it with a bit of polish, a few coats of this stuff helps stop it as well


http://www.sylmasta.com/acatalog/Renaissance_Finishing.html


after 200 scratches you can give it to me, I don't mind

 

[lpnv59]

I toured with my bursts in the late 70 & 80's. Wipe it down after like you would any guitar and put it in the case. Back then, a local Boston music store, E.U. Wurlitzer marketed their own guitar polish. And thats what I used on tour and it got rid of those sticky & cloudy areas on my burst. I suspect it was repackaged Imperial Hand Glaze by 3M. It looks , feels, & smells like its the same stuff. I've been using it, getting the same results since I ran out the Wurlies polish 20 years ago.

http://www.autogeek.net/3mimhanglaz.html

 

[MK.II]

Virtuoso Premium Cleaner (not the Polish), sold at Guitar Center, will clean the hazing off of nitro finishes. I think it might be a guitar Center exclusive because I can't find it at other music stores.

 

[Kevin L.]

I've (unfortunately) never owner a vintage 'burst, but have owned a number of vintage Strats. They did the same thing. When wiped down and allowed to dry they were just fine. The cloudiness went away on its own.
Play it in peace and health JB.

 

[58burst]

It sounds to me like there may be a bit of waxy residue on it- a careful and thorough wax removal may help. Naptha can do it, the best thing I've found for vintage wax removal, believe it or not, is ghs guitar polish, does a trick.

 

[1fastdog]

The phenomenon you describe is "blush".

The advice to allow it to dry and then use a nitro friendly polish, will combat it.

The Virtuoso product mentioned earlier is quite good. As mentioned, I've seen it a GC.
http://www.virtuosopolish.com/page13.php


I had it alot on my old 'bursts when playing out and sweat was the rule.

Avoid guitar polish that's primarily silicone and water. They are bad juju for nitro.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Virtuoso Premium Cleaner (not the Polish), sold at Guitar Center, will clean the hazing off of nitro finishes. I think it might be a guitar Center exclusive because I can't find it at other music stores.

It is advertised monthly in Vintage Guitar Magazine and is available from a variety of sources.

 

[MK.II]

Thanks for the info Tom! Good to hear that it's available elsewhere besides GC. I'll have to look for the ad in Vintage Guitar.

 

[The Tube Doctor]

Well, you're here in HK at the start of the
wet-blanket weather. I've been here near 20 years,
And have worked on a truck-load of LP's, a handful
Of which are vintage. Try your best to keep your baby
In a dehumidified room between shows. Wipe her down
After playing, & put some silica dessicant bags in the
Case. Going from an air-conditioned room to the
Stage with the humidity where it is today (high 90's)
Can also mess with your set-up. FWIW, if you're using
A wireless on stage, beware of the interference that
Our vast & powerful cellular phone networks can
Present.

 

[esmin]

Virtuoso Cleaner! Then, Virtuoso Polish.

Worked for me. Happy belated birthday!

 

[JBLPplayer]

Thanks guys..
I will try the Virtuoso cleaner when I get back stateside. I do know it is on a guitar per guitar basis.. Some of my Reissues and Signature models do the same while others seem like I can put the guitar in the hotel shower and it would touch the finish... Not that I would do that.. :2cool Again many thanks!
Joe B

 

[bildo]

Very true Joe. I have had some (not 50's Burst) Les Pauls blush like that and some not?

 

[access]

Thanks guys..
I will try the Virtuoso cleaner when I get back stateside. I do know it is on a guitar per guitar basis.. Some of my Reissues and Signature models do the same while others seem like I can put the guitar in the hotel shower and it would touch the finish... Not that I would do that.. :2cool Again many thanks!
Joe B

Joe......in a way I've seen you do that! You played the riverbend festival here in Chattanooga back in 07 I think, and played 3/4s of the show in the pouring rain! Pretty cool presentation and dedication, but I wondered how that paul fared after its bath!

 

[alexanderja]

Joe, ..... if you took a shit on the guitar it would probably boost the value
..... with the turd still in place ..... chill.
And thanks for the music :salude

 

[Cliff Gress]

I toured with my bursts in the late 70 & 80's. Wipe it down after like you would any guitar and put it in the case. Back then, a local Boston music store, E.U. Wurlitzer marketed their own guitar polish. And thats what I used on tour and it got rid of those sticky & cloudy areas on my burst. I suspect it was repackaged Imperial Hand Glaze by 3M. It looks , feels, & smells like its the same stuff. I've been using it, getting the same results since I ran out the Wurlies polish 20 years ago.

http://www.autogeek.net/3mimhanglaz.html

Not to derail the thread, but are you Billy Loosigian from Willie Alexander and the Boom Boom Band? I still spin the LP with Radio Heart and Live at the Ratt.

Joe, I missed you in Grand Rapids, but I'll see you next time around.

 

[JJ Blair]

Did anybody mention silica yet? Might want to keep some in your case. Get the biggest packets you can find. Plenty of electronics stores in HK. I bet you can find them easily.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Not to derail the thread, but are you Billy Loosigian from Willie Alexander and the Boom Boom Band? I still spin the LP with Radio Heart and Live at the Ratt.

Joe, I missed you in Grand Rapids, but I'll see you next time around.

Yes, lpnv59 is Billy. :dude: