Gibson says cleaning your guitar improves your tone.

[Dave W]

Really.

Rag-Time: How to Clean Your Guitar for Better Tone

Is author Ellen Barnes trying to become the new Anne Erickson?

Some of the comments are brutal.

[Highlander]

Your supposed to clean them...? That's where I went wrong then...!

[Basvarken]

Your supposed to clean them...? That's where I went wrong then...!

+1 !   

[66Atlas]

huh, and for all these years I've just be holding my bass as I walk though the car wash.  Thankfully this article was published so I know how to properly do it and what products to purchase.  Plus, those spinning brushes hurt so this will be much easier.

Thanks Gibson!

[Granny Gremlin]

But what if you don't want a clean tone, but a dirty one?

But seriously, a dirty fretboard, in extreme cases could possibly affect tone a little.  Like I mean sticky gummy levels of dirt.

I am also wondering if Gibson is doubling down on Anne's schtick and going all Onion on us (except poorly executed, as usual,.... as well as hocking overpriced accessories.... also as usual).

[nofi]

what a pant load. it must be part of that lifestyle/brand thing. i'll have to get one, lifestyle that is.

[uwe]

By rights, that quote shouldn't even be allowed here:

"The finish on older guitars is often significantly thinner, yielding a better tone."


I also like this piece of personal hygiene advice here:

"Make sure to squirt your polish onto a rag, not onto the surface of your guitar."

That much then for orgiastic feelings about a new guitar! 

[Granny Gremlin]

Gibson legal hasn't grasped the concepty of the disclaimer/caveat:

"... when strumming acoustically."

[Dave W]

My favorite comments so far:

"In the studio I was having the problem of getting that perfect tone that separates a million dollar single from a ten million dollar single. The famous producer whom I can't name here suggested I clean my guitar with some crap in a bottle. It made all the difference and bought me a Bentley. Thanks crap!"

"Well, a nuclear-fueled power-washer and Brillo pads have always worked well for me...Then polish with a dabba bacon grease applied with a toothbrush (the big ones they use on horses work well). I also keep a couple pounds of beach sand in my case to "cushion" the guitar when traveling..."

"I will release this neck slicker secret one time and one time only! I keep a Ron Popiel set it and forget it rotessiere oven offstage to my left.Enclosed inside the oven in all their glory are 4 pork jowels golden brown and dripping juices. I discretily wipe the neck and then throw the offending jowel to an appreciative fan.Now you know."

[hieronymous]

I like how they say you should clean your guitar each time you change strings, and that taking the strings off allows better access to the fingerboard, and then in the next section that you should clean your fretboard only 1 or 2 times per year... 

[nofi]

there are no rules here. goddamn are people really that dim. do they need an instructional booklet for every single thing they will ever do in life. i think not!

[uwe]

If you can't see the strings anymore, then it's a good time to clean.

[Blackbird]

Perhaps Gibson, or at least the "author" can see how many Fender custom shop guitars are out there and the price they command for the relic'd finishes..   

It's just a marketing thing for polish kits, can't read into it anymore than that.

[Blackbird]

My favorite comments so far:

"In the studio I was having the problem of getting that perfect tone that separates a million dollar single from a ten million dollar single. The famous producer whom I can't name here suggested I clean my guitar with some crap in a bottle. It made all the difference and bought me a Bentley. Thanks crap!"

"Well, a nuclear-fueled power-washer and Brillo pads have always worked well for me...Then polish with a dabba bacon grease applied with a toothbrush (the big ones they use on horses work well). I also keep a couple pounds of beach sand in my case to "cushion" the guitar when traveling..."

"I will release this neck slicker secret one time and one time only! I keep a Ron Popiel set it and forget it rotessiere oven offstage to my left.Enclosed inside the oven in all their glory are 4 pork jowels golden brown and dripping juices. I discretily wipe the neck and then throw the offending jowel to an appreciative fan.Now you know."

I liked this one: "tone polish is sold next to blinker fluid in walmart."

[nofi]

so even with crappy tone you can still sell one million records.