Best way to clean up a 60s era finish without damaging it?

[chuck7]

Hey all,

As I posted in another thread I am embarking on a refresh/referb project of a 1960s Kay Vanguard K-100.  I think its a nitro lacquer finish given the age and what appears to be hair line spiderweb subtle cracking in the finish that I assume is due to it shrinking over time. 

I would like to clean it up as much as possible without risking damage to the existing finish.  What is the best cleaning method?  Should I just use a towel dampened with water?  Soap and water?  I'm fairly sure I want to avoid actually getting it wet to any degree. 

Once clean, should I attempt to polish it in any way?  If so whats my best safe bet?  From what I know of lacquer finishes they are very very thin, and I don't want to risk burning through it in a polishing process. 

Attached below are some pictures.  I don't have any yet that detial the condition of the finish so my poorly worded vague description is all I can currently offer

 

[Tonar8352]

Please do not use water.

If you really want to get it clean and shinny (which many vintage people would be horrified by they want dirty smelly guitars) you can wipe it down with Benzene on a micro fiber rag. I would pull the pickguard and do a small test area under the guard just to make sure the benzene does not remove any of the finish, which it should not, but I always do a test to make sure nothing is going to happen.  If any color shows up on the rag stop.  Then polish it up with Virtuoso cleaner and Polish From Guitar Center. The other option is to skip the Benzene and go with the Virtuoso Cleaner first and follow the directions on the bottle.

Good luck, and Cool Guitar!!!!!

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Removing the pickguard would also tell what the finish was too.  If Nitro, it should be drastically faded compared to under the guard.  Also, I'm with the smelly vintagey guitar crowd on this one.  I've seen enough episodes of Pawn Stars to know that original, albeit worse, condition is always preferred...atleast with coins and guns.  I do cringe on the few vintage instruments they have aesthetically repaired.

 

[chuck7]

Ya, I don't want to go to "it looks new" level, but really just knock the dirt off and possibly polish it up a bit.  Thanks for the advice!

 

[jackthehack]

See pic; this product is available at most Ace/Tru-Value hardware stores and worked great on my '64 Gibson Melody Maker: