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How to Restore a Parlor Guitar

Parlor-style guitars are defined by their size. The term describes a small-bodied guitar that is noticeably smaller than a standard concert model. Parlor guitars boast a lifespan through the 19th and 20th century, when families often entertained at home and sang together in the parlor. Because these guitars can be quite old, they often need small to significant levels of repair and restoration.

Things You'll Need

Precision screwdriver set
Blow dryer or commercial heat gun
Thin-blade putty knife
0000-grade steel wool
Polishing compound
Q-tips
WD-40
Alcohol- or solvent-based wood cleaner
Spray guitar polish (not silicone based)
Microfiber or flannel polishing cloth
Lemon oil polish, or high quality paste wood wax
Clean rags

Instructions

Cleaning
- 1
  Remove the strings and strap from the guitar, along with any stickers or applied decorations. Use the precision screwdriver set to remove the tuning keys from the guitar's headstock.
- 2
  Remove the pick guard by heating it with the blow dryer and lifting it from the surface of the guitar with a small putty knife. Hot air will soften the glue that holds the guard to the body. If the dryer does not get the guard hot enough to release the adhesive, use a heat gun on a low setting.
- 3
  Use the solvent or alcohol-based degreaser and clean rags to remove all finger oils and dirt buildup from the guitar. When a rag becomes soaked with dirt and cleaner, discard it and use another. Oil- and solvent-based cleaners are better than water-based cleaners, which may soak into the wood and create problems with the finish.
Polishing
- 4
  Use 0000-grade steel wool and polishing compound to buff out any deep scratches in the guitar's finish. Polishing compound contains a very low-grade abrasive, and you're buffing the scratches out of the surface by removing some of the thickness of the guitar's sprayed-on finish. Exercise caution to avoid buffing the finish completely off the wood surface. Clean the surface according to the manufacturer's instructions when finished.
- 5
  Apply paste wax to the body of the guitar with a microfiber or flannel polishing cloth. Paste wax has a tendency to build up and turn white as it dries in the scratches or nicks of the wood's finish. Allow it to dry, then buff any remaining wax from the surface.
- 6
  Apply spray polish on the front and back of the guitar's neck. Avoid silicone polishes or polishes with silicone additives. These chemicals do not interact well with guitar wood finishes.
- 7
  Remove any dirt buildup from the tuning keys by spraying with WD-40 penetrating oil and wiping them down with a clean cloth. Hard-to-reach buildup can be removed with a clean Q-tip cotton swab.
- 8
  Replace the tuning keys and install a new set of strings when the guitar is cleaned and dry. Purchase a new pick guard from a guitar shop. Pick guards may be attached with two-sided adhesive tape.

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