Martin LX1 clean up

[Gazdkw]

Hi, I am looking for some advice on cleaning my guitar. I have just purchased the martin lx1 second hand from a local guitarist. The guitar is really grubby and needs some serious cleaning.

I believe this guitar has no lacked finish, it is a are wood with possibly a waxed finish?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks

[Brucebubs]

I like Music Nomad One for the guitar body and F-One oil for the fretboard and bridge.
Designed for guitars, not furniture or gun stocks or cricket bats.
Easy to use and does what it should.

Welcome to the AGF.

[Shaneh]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I like Music Nomad One for the guitar body and F-One oil for the fretboard and bridge.
Designed for guitars, not furniture or gun stocks or cricket bats.
Easy to use and does what it should.

Welcome to the AGF.

Guitar has a richlite fingerboard so the not need to oil the board. Also don’t use the One polish. Since it it matte finished, get the one detailer instead. Safe for satin finishes.

[Gazdkw]

One detailer?

Is that the same brand/manufacturer? As brucebubs suggested?

Thanks for the replies

[grandstick]

You might want to try some water, with a drop of dish soap. Just dampen a clean cloth with the water solution and clean small sections at a time. Be sure to wipe up any water that collects on the surface.

[Earl49]

The LX1 is made from Martin's HPL (high pressure laminate, more commonly and incorrectly called Formica) and any wood grain is a printed photo finish. It can be cleaned with almost anything you would use on a kitchen counter top. Mild amounts of dish soap and water should get most of it. For really stubborn gunk, naptha from the paint section of the hardware store will get everything else and not harm the finish - even nitrocellulose lacquer. Naptha is sometimes found for more $$$ as Ronsonol lighter fluid.

[Gazdkw]

Really? It's a laminate? Certainly doesn't look or feel like a laminate

[Earl49]

There are Martin guitars that are all HPL, including the top. The printed-on wood grain looks VERY realistic. I believe that an LX1 Little Martin is all HPL (we have one but in a sold color). There are other models that have a sold wood top and HPL back & sides. Either way, the naptha recommendation can be safely used to clean the entire guitar. I used naptha many times on my J-40 which was absolutely nitro finished.

[geelinus]

The LX1 has a solid top.

[Nick84]

Originally Posted by Gazdkw

Really? It's a laminate? Certainly doesn't look or feel like a laminate

The LX1 is definitely solid top the rest is HPL. It’s a hand rubbed finish and I’ve found mine difficult to keep clean and the top can mark quite easily (I actually like it and it adds character).

I’d try a damp cloth first see how much you can get off before moving on to harsher substances that could potentially ruin the finish.

[docwatsonfan]

Originally Posted by geelinus

The LX1 has a solid top.

yes, my LX1 has a solid top, and I've never cleaned it , so I'm not the one to ask

LXM is the " layered " top version.

[ChrisE]

I got a Martin X-Series and it was really grubby. It has a solid top and I used a Magic Eraser to get most of the serious funk off it. It looks good now. It has a solid top and HPL back and sides.



I don't think I have any "before" pictures of it.

[Gazdkw]

Lovely. Thankyou for the information. I will clean it with some mild soapy water on a slightly damp cloth first. Iv ordered some one detailer once I have the grime off.