Guitar oxidisation

[musikwerks]

I've just pulled out some guitars for the first time in quite a while and the pick up covers and tuning pegs etc have a green-ish substance/marks on them. I think it's the nickel oxidising but I don't know for sure. Anyone experienced this and know how to remove it?

The fretboards and frets have some too.

[rick]

just rub it off with a bit of elbow grease
its two metals talking to each other with moisture in the mix

[musikwerks]

Any liquid solution or just a dry rag?

[Linear]

where metals are concerned, green = oxidation of copper.

believe it or not, this copper oxide layer actually protects the copper underneath from oxidising further (I think it's called passivation) - which is how/why the statue of liberty remains, and has turned a lovely green colour.

if you're not going to use the guitar for a while again, just leave it. otherwise, a quick once-over with a gentle metal (jewellry) cleaner will do the trick.

Chris

[rick]

personally i would literally spit on a rag and just clean it up a bit
the only issues is that the green muck can stain the guitar paint job where it touches it and lift the chrome plating so best clean it up now i reckon
there are a million chemicals for this stuff
spit is cheap and is fairly effective for guitar parts

[The Tasmanian]

Yeah Spit - just wait until your next cold - and give it a good clean.

[Chinagraf]

Just don't use someone else's spit. I did that once..um never mind..

[Kurt]

Once it's cleaned up, get some silica gel packets and chuck them in your guitar case!

I use a cloth dipped in soapy water to clean my guitars when they get really grubby and I rub my (raw timber) fretboards with a linseed/wax based furniture polish.

[The Tasmanian]

On cleaning and storing guitars, please note: Rule's no 8 and 9 - Captain Beefhearts 10 commandments for guitarists

1. Listen to the birds

That's where all the music comes from. Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren't going anywhere.

2. Your guitar is not really a guitar

Your guitar is a divining rod. Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over. A guitar is also a fishing rod. If you're good, you'll land a big one.

3. Practice in front of a bush

Wait until the moon is out, then go outside, eat a multi-grained bread and play your guitar to a bush. If the bush doesn't shake, eat another piece of bread.

4. Walk with the devil

Old Delta blues players referred to guitar amplifiers as the "devil box." And they were right. You have to be an equal opportunity employer in terms of who you're bringing over from the other side. Electricity attracts devils and demons. Other instruments attract other spirits. An acoustic guitar attracts Casper. A mandolin attracts Wendy. But an electric guitar attracts Beelzebub.

5. If you're guilty of thinking, you're out

If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something that is fur bearing.

6. Never point your guitar at anyone

Your instrument has more clout than lightning. Just hit a big chord then run outside to hear it. But make sure you are not standing in an open field.

7. Always carry a church key

That's your key-man clause. Like One String Sam. He's one. He was a Detroit street musician who played in the fifties on a homemade instrument. His song "I Need a Hundred Dollars" is warm pie. Another key to the church is Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf's guitar player. He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty — making you want to look up her dress the whole time to see how he's doing it.

8. Don't wipe the sweat off your instrument

You need that stink on there. Then you have to get that stink onto your music.

9. Keep your guitar in a dark place

When you're not playing your guitar, cover it and keep it in a dark place. If you don't play your guitar for more than a day, be sure you put a saucer of water in with it.

10. You gotta have a hood for your engine

Keep that hat on. A hat is a pressure cooker. If you have a roof on your house, the hot air can't escape. Even a lima bean has to have a piece of wet paper around it to make it grow.

[Ben M]

I'm contemplating spitting into bottles in my spare time (ha!), then labeling them...anyone for a bottle of...err...cough..(sorry dry mouth)...guitar cleaner?

TR discount applies.

[The Tasmanian]

Ben - considering where you live you may get "organic" status for your mucus - you can charge a premium too.
Sell it at Macro and all the health food stores in major cities all round the world.
Great business idea!
I've got a good name for it too "Kangaroo Valley Organic Mucus Guitar Cleaner" - or - KVOMGC
No charge for that marketing advice - I'm a philanthropist

[smash]

Brain Explodes


__________________
Simon "Smash" Ashby
This Signature is now intact

[Ben M]

Nice work Chris! Your on the board for sure. I didn’t think of the organic angle. I can see it on the shelves right next to the organic mung beans and the “It’s not really bacon”.
Sadly, my “Roo Juice guitar cleaner” aka KVOMGC will have too many toxins in it to go for organic certification. The toxins are the real cleaner while the mucus is just the carrier fluid for applying the cleaner.
oh well..back to the drawing board.

[mylesgm]

I imagine if I tried to market organics from my body they would cry foul because of the alcohol my job requires me to drink. And the Pancakes.

M

[Ben M]

I imagine if I tried to market organics from my body they would cry foul because of the alcohol my job requires me to drink. And the Pancakes.

M

Myles...you get pancakes? Hmmm, with what topping?
I'm calling the union.

[mylesgm]

well if you were closer I'd make you a few. toppings? maple syrup, chocolate, strawberries, cherries, king island cream for the first one and maybe barbados cream, bananas, and golden syrup on the next...

[stosostu]

Pancakes...........................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm