Armpit blues

[nickysplendid]

Hiya fellas!

On both my National Resphonics (style n & style 1.5) I find they suffer from slight tarnishing where my right armpit rubs the body. I've noticed that this is pretty commonplace on pics i've seen of original nationals and NRPs. I always give my resos a good wipe down after use but the area where my armpit touches the body always seems to bear the brunt of it!..I appreciate the whole sweat issue here and so i generally use Flitz to bring the the finish back, then some Maguires Gold Class polish to try and protect it.
Any tips ??

[Michael Messer]

Hi Nick,

Try using car wax on the whole body of the guitar. It will protect it against moisture. Everyone has their own take on these things, but personally I don't mind my guitars developing a little 'character' from being played and used.

Shine On,
Michael.

[nickysplendid]

Hi there mike!

The Meguires polish i use is car wax and as per your recommendation, i do give the entire body a good coat.

I guess that i'm pretty much doing all the right things - it just bugs me sometimes....in many ways it's nice to be able to pick my delphi and not worry about the finish.

I take your point about the guitar having a little character but i just can't help but wanna cherish my gear!
in fact last night i was playing thru my mesa tremoverb and even my missus commented that i've had it for nearly 12 years and there isn't a mark on it despite having gigged it 3 times a week for over 10 years - it felt quite pleasing!

[Michael Messer]

Hi Nick,

I don't know what else to suggest. I too like to look after my instruments, but the problem with brand new nickel plated Nationals is that every mark shows. I am surprized that the moisture gets through the wax - maybe you are polishing it off too much?

Take care & Shine On,
Michael.

[nickysplendid]

Good point.
I'll think i'll try applying a thick coat, give it a brief polish and let it settle on the finish.

Story of my life - trying too hard ;-)

[blueshome]

I've had the same with both my NR Style O and my Fine Resophonic triplate. Despite extreme care, car wax from day 1, rubbing over with a chamois after touching, the plating on both guitars has hazed where the forearm touches and on the hand rest. This is irreversible and is caused by acids from perspiration reacting with the nickel.
You see some nickel plated instruments totally unmarked and others milky - I believe it depends on the composition of the player's sweat. I have a friend who can only leave strings on a guitar for a week because they corrode so badly, he also needs to have his guitar re-fretted frequently and he's not a heavy player, yet others (including myself) can leave them on for months with little sign of corrosion.
I think you should, as Michael suggests, accept it as part of the guitar's natural ageing process and get on with enjoying playing it.
BTW I've noticed that on stage the guitars still look as shiny and you can still dazzle that talker in the back corner with the reflection of the lights.

[Andy S]

I was at Leeds College of Music in the mid 1980s, doing their sadly now defunct Musical Instrument Technology Course, and our Brass Repair tutor, was telling us that one of the main issues with brass instruments was the players sweat attacking the instrument. he said that the only way he could stop his particular sweat from eating through nearly a trumpet a year(!) was for him to give up eating red meat.

Not something that this omnivore could remotely consider, but worth a thought for those with valuable metal guitars and corrosive sweat. Maybe even just a reduction in red meat eating if that is what you do might suffice.Me I eat organic and play a wooden resonator.

Andy S

[nickysplendid]

Thanks for the advice all.
Much appreciated!

I feel better about the situation knowing i'm in the same boat as everyone else.

To complete the therapy i think i'll write a song about it

[nickysplendid]

Sorry to dig up an old thread...but, i reckon (as suggested in a previous post on this thread) that i must've been rubbing the polish off by polishing to hard.
I've since tried applying the polish, giving it a quick buff and leaving it alone.
it's made all the difference. Now, any signs of armpit rub come straight off with a quick clean with my lint free cloth after each gig.

Thanks to all.