jaykellogg - Posted - 02/02/2009:  08:09:25

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I took my Beard Vintage R apart and cleaned it up today. I used metalpolish on the coverplate, and Windex on the cone. I checked the spider bridge for level and blew out the guitar body with compressed air. I used fingerboard oil on the fingerboard and Axwax on the guitar body and strings. For now, I have the screens out and when I reassembeled it, I installed Pearse Uncle Josh strings with the unwound third string (G). It sounded great as I was tuning it. I hope I like the strings, this is the first time I have used them.

W. Jay Kellogg

meldooby - Posted - 02/02/2009:  08:40:15

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Be sure to report back. I'm curious about that unwound 3rd
myself. I use open "D" and it might make a better F#

Mel

jaykellogg - Posted - 02/02/2009:  08:58:35

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To my ear it sounds better. You have to factor in all that I did though. It has a lot more sustain and clearer notes. My old strings were nickle wound Dr. Duck's and they had been on for three to four months. So, just new strings of the same type would have probably sounded better. Also cleaning the cone would be expected to make some difference. In addition, I no longer have the screens in place. By the way, this set of strings has .018" first and second strings. They are a heavy set of strings. juststrings.com/jps-3050.html .

My instructor taught me to press on the strings after you first install them to "stretch" them. I don't like to do this because, in my opinion, it puts an undue load on the cone. Comments?

W. Jay Kellogg

Old Blue - Posted - 02/02/2009:  12:19:27

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That 'pressing on the string' is also used to set them through the nut and saddle grooves, but a better way (although it can be messier) is to , using a sharply pointed pencil, scribble a little graphite in each notch before installing the strings. It really does make a difference, as the material in the nut and saddle can no longer hold onto the string.
I use to use unwound #3 (,024's) on my electrics for slide , back when I bought strings individually packaged, but now just take whatever comes in pre-packs.

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Edited by - Old Blue on 02/02/2009 12:21:52

Square Neck - Posted - 02/02/2009:  13:36:22

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quote:

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Originally posted by jaykellogg
My instructor taught me to press on the strings after you first install them to "stretch" them. I don't like to do this because, in my opinion, it puts an undue load on the cone. Comments?

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I pull up on them, hard (almost breaking on the light ones), then tune again, then pull em again, then tune again....
Repeat till they don't drop pitch after stretching... this is to speed up the process that normally takes a few hours of playing and re-tuning several times.

If you try to gig on new strings without stretching they will go out of tune half way through the first song.....

Here is a thread that might also help, has a few good suggestions anyway...
resohangout.com/forum/topic.as...C_ID=4116

Preston Thompson - Posted - 02/03/2009:  04:24:43

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I don't think you would hurt the cone with one string at a time.

Play it again, Sam. Over, and over, and over:

bluesman67 - Posted - 02/06/2009:  18:46:05

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is it ok to use brasso or other type cleaner on a tarnished chrome or nickel plated brass body guitar???

Mbradford6288 - Posted - 02/06/2009:  21:00:00

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I use simichrome in my shop. Works good.

Square Neck - Posted - 02/06/2009:  21:12:28

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I would use Mothers aluminum polish. Only to get it nice and polished. It will leave a very slick protective film on the metal. Keep it clean with an old cotton t-shirt. Do not use micro fiber as it removes the protective film when you wipe it of. Brasso should work but it does not protect like Mothers. Mothers is a polish and does remove a very small amount of metal. I use it on my 1928 every half year or so. The key to it all is always cleaning off your finger prints when you are done playing it. If you want it to stay looking shiny.

I am actually not sure if that is the best thing for our guitars. It might be better for them to leave them as they are.

I like mine to look like a mirror, so oh well??????

Square Neck - Posted - 02/06/2009:  21:22:58

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mbradford6288

I use simichrome in my shop. Works good.

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I think it is about the same as what I am talking about. There is also Flitz. That is what National recommends. nationalguitars.com/admin/faq.html

Post a picture of it???

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Edited by - Square Neck on 02/06/2009 21:24:06

Mbradford6288 - Posted - 02/07/2009:  01:28:26

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oneidasuzuki.com/store/parts-a...lish.html

That's what I use, I'm sure there's other stuff very compatible.

jaykellogg - Posted - 02/07/2009:  04:26:04

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I used Pol metal-polish. The package says it cleans and protects. It is supposed to be good on Copper, Nickel, CHROMIUM, steel, pewter, silver, gold, etc.

W. Jay Kellogg

GrayPlayer - Posted - 02/07/2009:  09:10:51

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Some where I read about using a second string for the third string. Will this cure the, sometimes off sound?

Fred