The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **3 Jul 2006 7:49 pm**

Does anyone have a good method of cleaning the headstock without removing the strings to do it. I searched and didn't come up with anything.

Posted: **3 Jul 2006 8:12 pm**

I can't imagine that. Why wouldn't you just do it when you change strings?

Posted: **3 Jul 2006 8:19 pm**

Well, I have a new guitar and I just played it outside this weekend. I don't want any build up between the time I change strings. I thought maybe someone had a long bristled brush or something that might work easily. As you know, it is really a pain to get in there without doing it at string change time.

Posted: **3 Jul 2006 8:24 pm**

I see. Maybe some canned air, like they use to clean computer keyboards?

Posted: **3 Jul 2006 9:19 pm**

That's easy. Use a paint brush - a big, broad,new unused one of course. Break the dust and crap loose with the brush and blow it out w/compressed air.

Posted: **4 Jul 2006 2:34 am**

For a quick cheap cleaning, I just use a regular dustbrush like you get in a housewares department. I use it on my six-strings too, just to get the major dust off the headstock. I keep a special one just for the guitars and rack stuff, mixer etc. The soft ones will go right between the strings and dust off the fretboard too. A good blow has to finish it up, of course....

Posted: **4 Jul 2006 3:55 am**

Between strings changes, I use a good quality, soft bristle 2 inch paint brush. It gets the dust out of those areas pretty well.
Hook

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www.HookMoore.com

Posted: **4 Jul 2006 5:55 am**

What Hook said...also a brush is good for getting polish residue out of the little cracks and crevises.

Bill

Posted: **4 Jul 2006 12:26 pm**

Like I said...........

Posted: **4 Jul 2006 12:44 pm**

Put your steel in the back of your pickup and go thru the car wash...

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http://home.comcast.net/~steves_garage

Posted: **4 Jul 2006 1:49 pm**

Maybe some canned air

Better be carefull with that.Some cans contain a little water.I wouldn't use it.But maybe the containers at home are better than the ones over here in Europe.

Ron

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Posted: **4 Jul 2006 2:33 pm**

Steve's got a good idea with the car wash.
You can get all the little dirty crevices and spots. I think I will try that.

Are MSA s waterproof??

Posted: **4 Jul 2006 7:09 pm**

Q-tips

Posted: **4 Jul 2006 7:30 pm**

Q-tips are the reson I asked the question in the first place. I think the MSA Millinium would be the best candidate for the car wash but I would recommend only the body be washed that way so you would have to take it apart. May not be a time saver. : ) Thanks you guys for the great ideas. I am going to try a couple of them! I believe this is the first time I searched a subjest before posting and nothing came up. [This message was edited by W Franco on 04 July 2006 at 08:32 PM.][This message was edited by W Franco on 04 July 2006 at 08:34 PM.][This message was edited by W Franco on 04 July 2006 at 08:34 PM.]

Posted: **5 Jul 2006 5:18 am**

One more - I keep a camera cleaning brush with my equipment - it looks like a lipstick tube, but when you pull off the top an twist it you end up with a fine-bristle brush the perfect size for headstocks (and bridges on 6-strings). Available at any professional camera store.

Posted: **5 Jul 2006 6:33 am**

How about trying to get the dust from between the necks of an Emmons!!!? Especially in that tiny gap between the switch-panel and the E9th neck, and also at the changer-end?!

I do have a quality bristle craft brush (purloined from my dear wife! I wonder if she's missed it yet?) that is good for the machine-head, but it won't deal with those other difficult spots. Is the Emmons worse in this regard than other steels? I can't remember now...

RR

Posted: **5 Jul 2006 10:30 am**

Steve had a good suggestion for us rednecks. You could also use the old Ralph Mooney method and wash the guitar down with a garden hose and sit it in the yard to dry.

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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37

Posted: **5 Jul 2006 7:58 pm**

Hook,
Tommy Skelton didn't talk you into putting some paint in that brush ,did he ?

Steve,
You're so funny,
Wish id'a said'dat,,,,,,,,,,,,,
sounds like sump'um Tommy would'a said.

being serious, I use a 225 psi air compressor to clean mine,,,with a water trap inline, so as to get No moisture from the nozzle.
Otherwise, wait till you change strings, clean and polish the surface so dust won't stick as easily..

Kenny[This message was edited by KENNY FORBESS on 05 July 2006 at 09:11 PM.]

The Steel Guitar Forum

Cleaning machine head with strings on.

Cleaning machine head with strings on.