I just got a vintage Gretsch 6120. Its filthy but in great shape. Any recommendations what I could use to clean the pickups and the bigsby? I think there is like 50 years of grime on it. The Bigsby and pickups are nickel or chrome. Anything I should "not" use? Thanks.
Cleaning pickups and bigsby
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Sep 9, 2008 4:00 p.m. mallen:
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Sep 9, 2008 5:13 p.m. afire:
I'd start with naphtha (Ronsonol, lighter fluid), a cotton cloth and some Q-tips. The naphtha isn't in any way abrasive or reactive, and should cause no damage to plating or anything else. It's good at loosening and dissolving any grime so that it can be wiped off. Really, that's the only thing I ever use to clean hardware. It won't polish it, but I don't think it's a good idea to do much polishing of old hardware. Leave the scratches and scuffs, just get the crud off it.
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Sep 9, 2008 5:20 p.m. Ripley1046:
Try Barkeeper's Friend (liquid form), it tends to do pretty well for me. It's made to clean stainless steel pots and pans, but it works on most metals and won't do any damage.
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Sep 9, 2008 7:16 p.m. do not be afraid:
never clean your guitars! it kills all the mojo! and mojo is the only thing that matters when it comes to guitars (well, that, and knowing how to play 'em!)
you're probably one of those sick people who change their strings, too…
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Sep 9, 2008 7:28 p.m. mallen:
What is Barkeeper's? Where would I get it?
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Sep 9, 2008 8:03 p.m. gasmoney:
Lets see a photo of this old 6120.
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Sep 9, 2008 8:10 p.m. Just Dropped In :
I used "Eagle One" Mag Chrome Aluminum polish on the Bigsby of my recently refurbished '66 Tennessean. It has a 'Jewelers Rouge' formula useful on numerous metal types. I completely disassembled the unit, polished everything on my benchgrinder polish wheel.
If you take the unit apart, don't lose the needle bearings (I relubed mine with lithium grease). Another brand is Mother's Mag and Wheel polish, basically the same stuff.
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Sep 9, 2008 8:51 p.m. Ripley1046:
You can usually get Barkeeper's Friend at either Wal-Mart or Bed Bath and Beyond, it's a pretty common cleaner. They make a powder version that will work, but the liquid works better for me.
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Sep 9, 2008 9:30 p.m. mallen:
This post has been deleted
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Sep 9, 2008 9:36 p.m. Bear:
Let me see if I can help here.
- find a free picture hosting service like photobucket
- Set up an account at your site of choice and load your photos there (very simple)
- Once your photo is loaded, click on “Direct Link” and the word “copied” will pop up.
- come back to GDP and click the add photo button
- put your cursor in the top box, hold down the control and “v” key at the same time
- click okay and your picture will be loaded and shown in your post.
I sure hope this helps.
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Sep 9, 2008 10:37 p.m. afire:
Polishing is fine for the Bigsby, which is solid metal. On a 6120, the pickups are gold plated, or were at one time. Any polishing compound will take off what's left of the plating very quickly. If it's already down to bare nickel undercoat, it may not make much difference, but you can also polish through that and get down to brass in areas, which can be sort of nasty looking. I'd just clean them with naphtha. If you get all the grime off and just need to see it sparkle, go ahead and polish. But I would at least give it a go with just a cleaning.
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Sep 10, 2008 7:47 a.m. audiodrome:
I'd like to see a picture of it also. I love old beat up guitars!
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Sep 10, 2008 11:17 a.m. GearJunky:
so, you guys think that brasso is bad? i have pretty good results with it, but then... I don't do vintage guitars :D
i've used it on gold and chrome guitar hardware, drum stands (worked magic), etc.
i don't think it's abrasive, i think it's only chemically reactive with the oxides, but not the metal. Maybe I'm wrong, I wouldn't mind finding out.
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Sep 10, 2008 11:41 a.m. Daddy-O:
I use Flitz metal polish for everthing it like tooth paste you put a small amount and rub it until it turns black wipe it off. It is a nonabrasive polish and it has a chemical to help it from tarnishing. It is the best metal polish I have found Yes it works on guitars I use it on pickup covers Bigsby turners and tailpieces. It is a german product I bought the last tube in a gun store but you can find it also in the larger Ace Hwd stores a small tube last for many years.
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Sep 10, 2008 6:33 p.m. mallen:
Here is a picture of it. 1960.
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Sep 10, 2008 8:22 p.m. Bear:
That is just so cool! I love it, you can just see the history.
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Sep 10, 2008 8:28 p.m. dlfcci:
Just wipe the loose dirt and grime off. The rest IS it's mojo!
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Sep 10, 2008 8:35 p.m. mallen:
I got some Brasso tonight and cleaned some. When I change the strings again I will do a more detailed job. Besides a small scratch on the gold paint of the pick guard, this is a great guitar. I wiped off what seemed was 40 years of dirt on the body and cleaned the neck. The color is a real nice light orange. Came with white cowboy case that I cleaned. it was yellow. A couple things that appear different to me when I played it. The neck feels thicker and more rounded like a strat. I am used to block inlays so the neck feels slick. The bigsby is really light. Not alot of tension. My '59 6119 is like that too. I guess the new Gretches have more tension and you get more out of them.
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Sep 11, 2008 9:31 a.m. PapaDave:
I've been using Maas metal cleaner on the metal parts of all my guitars for quite some time. Even the gold plating on my 6120. It works very well.
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Sep 11, 2008 11:27 a.m. GearJunky:
might i just warn that toothpaste may be abrasive. not as abrasive as mineral chalk (calcium carbonate from myriads of tiny shells), but they do use chemically produced calcium carbonate powder, I think. at least they used to. although... if it's safe for tooth enamel, maybe it's safe for metal :D
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Sep 11, 2008 11:44 a.m. riz:
These threads about people obsessed with cleaning old guitars with chemical or abrasive products always make me a little nervous...
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Sep 11, 2008 12:18 p.m. Bear:
riz, I have to agree with you. As much as I like a clean, shiny guitar, cleaning 40 years worth of gunk off of a classic piece with anything more caustic than a damp diaper gives me the heebie jeebies.
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Sep 11, 2008 4:38 p.m. mallen:
Yeah I agree that maybe excessive cleaning is not good, this guitar probably had never been cleaned in 40 years. For what I invested in it I want it to look the best it can.
