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Nitro issue on my new LP due to Klotz cable

Andrea.

New member
Joined
Oct 13, 2021
Messages
6
This is a sad post (my first post here btw).

My one-week-old LP Slash Standard Goldtop has a black stain clearly visible on the cream binding.
This happened due the use (5 minutes!!) of a Klotz guitar cable locked into the strap, as every player does when standing with the guitar.

I try cleaning the nitro finish with a special semi-wet cloth normally used to clean metal and other stuff (it's called "cape cod" if I remembered correctly). I removed a little bit of the stain but it looks like it is sunken into the finish, so polishing the thing doesn't work more than that.

I always use same cable with my nitro finished PRS silver sky without any issue, but using it for 5 minutes on my LP was a disaster!

Is it possible to repair in any way the finish?

Also, how do you lock guitar cables when standing with your LPs?

I was really care about protecting the finish with cotton clothes on stands and resting the LP in the case after cleaning it EVERY time I play, but I missed the plastic cable... no one mention the cable as a possible threatening, so beware of that!
 

DutchRay

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
Damn, that's not a nice story... Melting finish or hanger rash happens when the top coat reacts with some type of rubber, no easy fix unfortunately.
What kind of cable were you using? On stage, I've been using spectraflex cloth covered cables for ages but at home I have a rubberised klotz with a silent plug, fortunately no rash yet.
 

Andrea.

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Oct 13, 2021
Messages
6
Mine is a Klotz Titanium with silent plug.
I will post a photo soon. Still can't believe it.
 

Andrea.

New member
Joined
Oct 13, 2021
Messages
6
Here it is.

Stain looks better in photo than live, visible from across the room.

IMG-20211021-090242.jpg


Can't polish better than that.

IMG-20211021-090140-01.jpg
 

vim

Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
28
Tape off and leave a damp cloth soaked with (deluted) bleach on that area for 1/2 hour.
I guess "heavy relic" finished guitars is not for you then... :ROFLMAO:
 

DutchRay

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Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
Here it is.

Stain looks better in photo than live, visible from across the room.



Can't polish better than that.

IMG-20211021-090140-01.jpg
That doesn't look too bad. I've seen far worse burns, you're lucky it 'only' caught the binding. Still sucks..
 

Andrea.

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Oct 13, 2021
Messages
6
It is worse in person than on photos. It's not easy to shoot... I don't like heavy relic guitars 'cause I prefer something natural, but this is a really unnatural black halo, nothing related to the good looking 'aging' process.
It is a week old guitar too... yet shining. So annoying.

I can try with the bleach as suggested by @vim but I don't like to experiment on the finish. Is it safe? What will do on the stain?
 

DutchRay

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Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
It is worse in person than on photos. It's not easy to shoot... I don't like heavy relic guitars 'cause I prefer something natural, but this is a really unnatural black halo, nothing related to the good looking 'aging' process.
It is a week old guitar too... yet shining. So annoying.

I can try with the bleach as suggested by @vim but I don't like to experiment on the finish. Is it safe? What will do on the stain?
Don't. You might have some luck with hydroperoxide spot cream but I wouldn't go that route either. My best advice is to just life with it, it is a guitar not a museum piece after all.
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Try some Power Clean Dawn with a very soft cloth versus Clorox which I would think would be very abrasive .
 

vim

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Oct 10, 2008
Messages
28
Don't. You might have some luck with hydroperoxide spot cream but I wouldn't go that route either. My best advice is to just life with it, it is a guitar not a museum piece after all.
Can´t see why you say this? Do you have first hand experience, or just guessing? Diluted chlorine(is what I use removing stains on outdoor (plastic) furnishing and other miscolored plastic. If anyting, it may be to weak to remove the stain on his binding. Try 1:20 or so first, if you want to start mildly.
 

DutchRay

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Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
Chlorine is fine for home use but it will deteriorate some plastics so I would not advise the use of it when it concerns guitars.
 

vim

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Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
28
Chlorine is fine for home use but it will deteriorate some plastics so I would not advise the use of it when it concerns guitars.
OK, now I am being annoying I guess, but guitar bindings are made of ABS plastics. ABS has an excellent resistance against wet chlorine, and chlorine is actually sold in ABS bottles :)
Acetone or alcohol on the other hand, you want to stear clear of.
 

DutchRay

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Mar 15, 2015
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872
I would not use chlorine for anything other than cleaning the toilet bowl. But maybe that's just me.
 

renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Try some Power Clean Dawn with a very soft cloth versus Clorox which I would think would be very abrasive .
A warning.

I have some Dawn cleaner in the garage that will remove a porcelian top off a stove.

I use it to strip paint off of cars.

I would not use it.
 

Andrea.

New member
Joined
Oct 13, 2021
Messages
6
Thank you all for the tips.
I leave the stain as is for now... It will be a interesting argument of discussion next time I'll talk to a luthier in person.
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
A warning.

I have some Dawn cleaner in the garage that will remove a porcelian top off a stove.

I use it to strip paint off of cars.

I would not use it.
Okay , I stand corrected . I think I might have mixed it up yesterday with 3M Rubbing Compound , which was what I was thinking but my fingers started typing Dawn , which will remove grease stains and other heavy duty obnoxious stains and such .
 
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