What’s the best guitar wax/cleaner?

[palolowarrior]

Hey gang...

What’s the best guitar wax/cleaner?

I am always searching for the best stuff to keep my guitars looking good.
I have been using Gearlitz carnuba wax with good results.
I use a D’Addario “spray on” in between wax.
I have used Phil’s clay bar kit for the old beaters.

One luthier told me to use water only or with very mild soap. No waxes.

So, what do you use and why?
What is too harsh?

Thank you.
Alan

[Ramesses]

I don't usually dress up a guitar unless I've just bought it or its going to be sold. Then I use Turtle Wax Express Shine, which is just carnuba wax.

[Silly Moustache]

Hi This is what I use ;

[Alathea]

I like the Dunlop stuff and you can get a huge spray bottle of it for less than 20.00 which will last years.

[stephenT]

Some freak out when I mention this product since it has a car on the label but it's the best hands down.

-Contains the highest grades of ingredients derived from nature
-Unique one-step cleaner/wax combination derived from a 120 year old German formula
-Internationally acclaimed world-class shine and protection
-Gentle, safe, mild cleaning and petroleum solvent free

I use it on my nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, have for years.

https://www.amazon.com/Zymol-Cleaner.../dp/B07Q46SY4L

[MHC]

I use a little bit of Virtuoso polish about once a year. Works great. I do not use the cleaner. Not really necessary.

I also use Stew Macs Colortone Fretboard oil. Also, very little and about once a year.

Those two products seems to work well for me and last a long time.

[Brucebubs]

Works perfectly - easy to use - made for guitars.

[Perchman]

Several months ago I took my J35 over to some friends’ house for a little jam. I played seated, laying back on a couch. Next day, I saw that the back of the guitar was all scuffed up from the buttons on my shirt. I tried the Music Nomad One that I had and that got me nowhere. Ordered Virtuoso and problem solved. Amazing product.

[rokdog49]

For removing swirls and light scratches I use Meguiars Scratch X 2.0.
For polishing I use this:

https://www.guitarcenter.com/GHS/A92...loss-Polish.gc

[mikef]

I use Virtuoso cleaner and polish about once or twice a year.

[gfspencer]

Originally Posted by stephenT

Some freak out when I mention this product since it has a car on the label but it's the best hands down.

-Contains the highest grades of ingredients derived from nature
-Unique one-step cleaner/wax combination derived from a 120 year old German formula
-Internationally acclaimed world-class shine and protection
-Gentle, safe, mild cleaning and petroleum solvent free

I use it on my nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, have for years.

https://www.amazon.com/Zymol-Cleaner.../dp/B07Q46SY4L

Zymol makes good products. In fact they make some of the most expensive waxes in the world. Their guitar specific wax is ZYMOL GBC# GLOSS FINISH RESTORER.

Some skeptics might not believe that car waxes/cleaners work fine on guitars but they do. Just make sure you know what you are using. Years ago I toured the old Martin factory. Most work stations had several bottles of Meguiar's sitting around.

[Sonics]

Acoustic, Electric, other? Expensive but this is probably the only polish you'll need.

[slide496]

I mainly play laddorbraced catalogue harmony, stella, kay etc and use Gibson Restoration and the Stew MAc preservation - the Gibson Restoration works well on my harmony bobkat.

[Big Band Guitar]

Originally Posted by Ramesses

I don't usually dress up a guitar unless I've just bought it or its going to be sold. Then I use Turtle Wax Express Shine, which is just carnuba wax.

Yes Turtle wax.

Johnson Paste Wax.

[SkipII]

There is really no such thing as a polish/wax specifically for guitars. They may be branded that way, but it all comes down to what is on the surface, not what is underneath the surface.

Assuming your guitar has a nitrocellulose finish (better guitars do, lesser ones might have poly), you can use any wax suited for such a finish. I may be old school, but that to me means carnauba wax. I would caution against any kind of polymer (Zymol) since that can seal up the surface. Lacquer continues to cure for years.

A polish should not be needed unless to remove some light environmental contaminants; even then a light touch is called for.

As well, all-cotton cloths are best. Lacquer is a relatively soft finish and will suffer micro-scratches if you use a cloth that has polyester or nylon in it. Microfiber cloths are getting better all the time, but they are not all the same. Again, the finer a microfiber cloth -- especially one that is tufted -- is best.