Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

[fretburner]

Is it safe to use Planet Waves "Restore" or Dunlop Formula 65 on Nitro Finish Guitars?

Dunlop's FAQs does say this though:

Q: Is the Formula 65 okay to use on a nitro finish?
A: Yes, Formula 65 polish is ok to use on a nitro finish. I would not use it if there are cracks, weather checking, or dings in the finish. I would not use it on an old and thin finish either. Rubbing on a thin and old nitro finish with any liquid polish and a cloth can take off color.

I wonder though how old is old? Are they referring to vintage instruments from the 50's and 60's?

I'm also curious if some of you actually use it for your nitro finish guitars. And hear about what you use instead.

 

[lex666]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

Save Dunlop 65 polish for poly guitars.

The best polish for nitro IMO is Gibson Pump Polish.

 

[fretburner]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

^How different is the pump polish with the vintage reissue kit? And with the luthier's choice for that matter.

 

[lex666]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I don't use Gibson's restoration kit, so I can't comment on that. Maybe somebody else will chime in on that...

Gibson's pump polish adds a thin layer of wax. More suitable for nitro finishes as it maintains the shiny and smooth feel of nitro.

Dunlop 65 is a good polish as well. Its great for removing smudges, fringerprints etc on poly guitars. I don't use the Dunlop 65 on my nitro guitars as it seems to remove that waxy clean feel of nitro.

 

[brunogio]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I second the use of Gibson polish on nitro. pretty much the only one I use althought I do have Martin polish that seems to be better suited to acoustic instruments with thin satin finishes

 

[Bludave]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I use Pledge

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I use Gibson pump polish as well.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I have a couple of 80's superstrats that are nitro...good to know there is a difference in the polish used, I never thought about before.

 

[ken361]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

Virtuoso cleaner and polish are very good on my Gibsons , removes light marks!

 

[fretburner]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

^There are a bunch of threads in myLP forums showing off the results of the Virtuoso Cleaner and Polish. Seems like a very good product.

I'm not thinking of either that... or I go all Gibson, i.e. Vintage Restoration Kit + Pump polish. It will cost me about the same either way, though going Gibson will also give me a fretboard conditioner and metal cleaner.

Browsing in those forums though showed another product -- the GHS Guitar Gloss. Anyone use that?

 

[Coma]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

Don't use formula 65. Ruined the finish on my LP.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

Martin guitar polish works great IME. Never tried the Gibson stuff. I got my current bottle of Martin polish in 2004, and it is about halfway gone. Maybe I will try the Gibson stuff in 2018.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I like Virtuoso Cleaner for an oxidized finish, and I also use the Polish. They've been great on my LPs with the VOS finish to remove that awful grittiness, and leaves the guitar looking like an older guitar that has been well-taken care of--a nice patina. A couple coats of the Cleaner followed with the Polish has eliminated all problems I've had with neck stickiness. This treatment seems to harden the finish somehow.

The Dunlop 65 Spray Polish is good, too, for a quick clean-up.

For protection, I like the Dunlop or the Planet Waves Carnauba Wax. Good for when I know I'll be playing the guitar heavily, to protect the finish from the sweat and grime.

Gerlitz Carnauba is also good, though I prefer to use it on my poly-finished guitars, and leave the Dunlop and the PW Carnaubas for the NCL finishes. Taylor recommends Turtle Wax on their poly-finished guitars, BTW.

Good luck!

Bill

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I got my current bottle of Martin polish in 2004, and it is about halfway gone. Maybe I will try the Gibson stuff in 2018.

I got my bottle of Martin in 1977. It's also around halfway gone. I don't think I'll live long enough to finish it.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I use the Gibson stuff. Couple of reasons really. It does a good job at cleaning the guitar, but I don't feel like it goes to far in trying to fix my finish. I like my guitars the way they are; played, scuffed, and used. I like em clean, but I'm not trying to fix anything. The Gibson stuff just cleans perfectly for me.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I just used the Planet Waves Restore and it kicked ass. Took out all but the absolute heaviest oxidation and buffed out to a beautiful shine with their carnuba wax.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I got my bottle of Martin in 1977. It's also around halfway gone. I don't think I'll live long enough to finish it.

I can definitely see a bottle lasting that long if I only used it for my own guitars. But I repaired all the guitars for a local shop for a few years (which is actually why I got the bottle in the first place).

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I got my bottle of Martin in 1977. It's also around halfway gone. I don't think I'll live long enough to finish it.

I know what you mean. I think I had a bottle of that for over 10 years.
It must produce a micro mist or something. I also bought a liter bottle of lemon oil at the 99 Cent Store in the 90's, and that thing lasted 14 years.

I have one of the 5 bottle Dunlop kits. It works for me.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I used to use Tres Amigos, which was a 1st stage of lemon oil, then a second of canauba wax, on my '78 SG, but I don't actually remember the last time I polished a guitar. It rubs off all the mojo! LOL

 

[Wattage]

Re: Planet Waves or Dunlop Polish for Nitro?

I had enough of the PW Restore leftover yesterday to clean up my Faded Standard. It did a nice job cleaning up and evening out the finish but it did raise the sheen a little, looks beautiful though.