Help ! My SG has sweated grease !!

Mr. B

Mr. B

New member
I have no idea what the crap has happened to my good SG standard. I had it stored in the same cool dry corner of my house that all my guitars are stored in. When I opened the case to get it out, it looks like it has been smeared with butter !!

The thick sticky grease is all over the wood portions of the body and neck, but not on the plastic. What the crap is going on??

I used the same pro smith polish I've always used to clean my other Gibson guitars which are stored in the same style case as the SG. Does anyone know what is going on here. I'm worried it has ruined my best SG!!
 
Re: Help ! My SG has sweated grease !!

Its all over every inch of the wood, even on the front of the headstock. I unscrewed the pickguard to look under it, and there is no grease UNDER the plastic either. I haven't seen anything this greasy and sticky since I cleaned the cosmoline off a WWII rifle that had been in storage since the 50's.

I bought this one second hand, so I have no way to know what someone else may have used to clean it. I did not notice anything for the first month while I had it sitting out. It has only been in storage about a month or two. I checked my other 2 Gibsons that have the same case and finish, sitting right next to this one. They look completely normal. The fur in the sticky guitar's case does not feel sticky or greasy either, which is odd.

I don't get it.. :33:
 
Re: Help ! My SG has sweated grease !!

Looks like the nitro has reacted with some of the fumes in the case, and unfortunately, your goose is cooked. Take it out of the case, and sun dry it I guess or somthing, and find a different case, or stow it in a Gibson Gig-bag. I t wont look the same, but ti'll still play and sound the same.
Get it refinished if its that important.
 
Re: Help ! My SG has sweated grease !!

The finish does not seem to be melted or weakened. It just looks like it has sweated a film of oil out, or that oily residue has condensed on the surface of the wood. I don't really see how Gibson's own cases could contain fumes that would react with the guitars they are selling in them. I've done a google search and this does not seem like a problem anyone else it having. I'm hoping someone here has some experience with this.
 
Re: Help ! My SG has sweated grease !!

Pull it down and then use Virtuoso brand polish and cleaner...all should be well after that.

Is it in a Gibson case?

Is there anything else in the case?

Any chance the case got wet?
 
Re: Help ! My SG has sweated grease !!

Only thing in the case is the hang tag and owner's manual. I have used naptha to clean off the layers of grease, and for now, I'm not putting it back in that case. It is the original Gibson case btw. I've heard of people who have trouble with "sticky neck" on some nitro finished Gibsons before the nitro cures, but this is like someone has sprayed the entire body with pam cooking spray or crisco. Its thick and very visible, and on the body, it is so stiff a dry cloth would not wipe it off.
 
I've seen that on old furniture. Turns out it was caused from something reacting with whatever was used to clean it, the humidity and temp. It was like a wax buildup. Once you clean it up, make sure to clean it with only wax free guitar polish, or just wipe it down with a soft damp rag.
 
Re: Help ! My SG has sweated grease !!

Mr. B said:
Thats about all I've figured out so far too..
Click to expand...

How old is this SG? What are the contents of the polish that you've used? Have you used anything else other than that polish to clean it? One thing about nitro is it can break down over time and using the wrong stuff to clean and polish it can only speed that up. It sounds like that is what is happening, the finish is breaking down. Get that top layer off and clean it up good. Then only use polish without any wax or any harmful agents to nitro.
 
Re: Help ! My SG has sweated grease !!

WUZDAT SMELL LIKE?!

unforgivable.jpg
 
Re: Help ! My SG has sweated grease !!

ErikH said:
How old is this SG? What are the contents of the polish that you've used? Have you used anything else other than that polish to clean it? One thing about nitro is it can break down over time and using the wrong stuff to clean and polish it can only speed that up. It sounds like that is what is happening, the finish is breaking down. Get that top layer off and clean it up good. Then only use polish without any wax or any harmful agents to nitro.
Click to expand...

It is a 2011 model. Like I said, if I've used any polish on it (and I can't remember if I have yet. I had not changed the strings on it, so probably not) it was the Pro Smith Polish that I have been using on Nitro finished Gibsons for years. It is formulated for use on nitro finishes. I never use anything else to polish.

I've used Naptha to clean truly dirty finishes for years. Dan Erlewine suggests it in the guitar players repair guide, and says it is even safe on vintage nitro finishes. The key is to use it fairly dry and not slop it on.

The Naptha cleaned the waxy oily residue off fairly well, and it does not really look like the finish has been harmed from what I can tell. I just can't figure out where it came from and what the heck it is.

One interesting thing was that up on the headstock it was very thin and looked like cooking spray that had been sprayed on the finish. On the body it was much thicker and was very gummy and waxy. It was so sticky a dry cloth would not budge it.

That corner of my house is very stable temperature-wise and is always cool and dry, so it should not be a heat or humidity thing.
 
Good to hear you got it cleaned up good. Keep an eye on it. I'd check the case lining for anything in there. The fact that it was thinner on the headstock than the body leaves me to suspicion of the case. The lining being in contact makes sense since the headstock tilts back so it is not in contact where as the body is.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Nut - the least friction
2
Replies
36
Views
1K
GuitarDoc
G
S
Humbucker for HSS strat
2 3
Replies
40
Views
664
Explorer84
E
Ascension
Major Pawn Shop SCORE NGD!
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Ascension
Ascension
D
Do you prefer locked or standard tuners?
2
Replies
28
Views
1K
Mincer
Mincer
80's_Metal
Need Help- recommend an acoustic guitar
2 3
Replies
46
Views
2K
jeremy
jeremy
Back
Top