Cleaning

[PeteCady]

I played a short (1hr. +) gig at a local town celebration, on the RS Smokey SMH. We were under a big tent, with the sun on it. It got hot in there, and it was a humid day. I'd have worried about playing a good quality wooden guitar in that environment. Of course, the Rainsong didn't care.

Putting stuff away, I thought something should be done about the guitar having been up against my more or less soaked body and gathering salt deposits.

I simply took a soft cloth, wet it well with tap water, wrang it ought vigorously, and wiped the body and the back of the neck with it, staying away from the "barn door" and the end pin jack. Hung the guitar on the wall to dry throughly.

Should I have used some expensive polish? Did I do a stupid?

I think you did what was necessary and what was sufficient. It wouldn't hurt to finish the job with a polish as an added bit of protection against blood, sweat and tears.

[MiG50]

Doesn't the Smokey have a matte finish? If so, I'd be really careful about using anything called "polish." There are automotive cleaners that are formulated for matte finishes, that's what I'd use (and, if memory serves, that's what Rainsong recommends also).

[CRM]

I have the same Rainsong Smokey as you and I use Mequiar's DeepCrystal Carnauba Wax and it does a great job............it does not change the finish into being a gloss at all, it stays a matt finish...........I have also used their cleaner finish wax with the same outcome.

[David Eastwood]

If wiping your Rainsong down with a damp cloth causes any kind of issue, then we’ve all been fooled

[ChrisE]

I play outdoor gigs all summer with my D-18 and I just did the same process on it as you did with yours.

I don’t do it after every gig, but I do try to wipe it down and wipe off some of the runny stuff before I put it back in the case, and then once I get home to the AC I’ll take out of the case to “air dry” so to speak.

I only do the damp cloth rubdown when I change strings (like today). I’ve probably played at least 50 gigs with it and the finish still looks great.

[RP]

Originally Posted by eatswodo

If wiping your Rainsong down with a damp cloth causes any kind of issue, then we’ve all been fooled

Thanks for my chuckle of the day....

Perhaps I've been misguided, but I've always preferred Mequiar's polish rather than the wax. I feel that the wax builds up, smears and slows down neck action.

On the other hand, it could be that polish erodes the finish???

Many many years ago I used to use toothpaste to clean my guitars: Just enough grit to clean and just enough polish to make the instrument shine. And I had really good smelling guitars. That was back in my early wooden years, have no idea how it would work on CF.

[mot]

All I use is an old T-shirt and a smile. Works great so far. Speaking of toothpaste, you know You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.

Mot;

Does that mean I'm never naked if I smile?

[tbeltrans]

But officer, I WAS smiling!

Tony

[mot]

It takes hubris, but if you got it flaunt it.

I'm willing to flaunt my hubris. Not so sure about my other stuff. But in any event, it doesn't hurt to smile.

[ChrisE]

Originally Posted by EvanB

I'm willing to flaunt my hubris. Not so sure about my other stuff. But in any event, it doesn't hurt to smile.

Maybe not, but why take a chance?