How do you clean your pickups?

[hareek]

I tried searching and could not find any threads here related to this. I'm in the process of polishing up and restringing my guitar. Usually I use a little light guitar polish/cleaner spray on a rag and wipe down my strat pick guard, but I stay away from the pickups because of the moisture. I wipe the dust away with a dry cloth.

I was curious though do you guys clean the pickups any further than this?

[Quencho092]

Perhaps a quality precision electronics contact cleaner that evaporates extremely quickly. I have the radio shack version, but I know that specialized electronics stores sell an even more concentrated.

It consists of ISOHEXANE and diflouroethane, two solvents with an extremely low vaporisation temperature, so it absorbs the gunk, runs off, then evaporates, leaving the gunk in another place besides the pickups. I've never used it on my pickups but it helps with scratchy pots and such in high humidity environments (ie the south in the summer...right now....) I live in Miami and play at a restaurant in south beach so my pots don't stay as clean as I would like.

[Funkfingers]

On a Stratocaster, I go in for reverse cleaning. I leave virgin white pickup covers with a chain smoker until the tar on his fingers turns the plastic just the right shade of Dirty Yeller. Only then do I consider the pickups fit to go on a guitar.

[hareek]

On a Stratocaster, I go in for reverse cleaning. I leave virgin white pickup covers with a chain smoker until the tar on his fingers turns the plastic just the right shade of Dirty Yeller. Only then do I consider the pickups fit to go on a guitar.

haha! You know it's funny you mention that I had a thread on here from some years back where I asked about cleaning the white pickguard because it was turning yellow. Some people were saying that's a good look and at the time I said I didn't like it, but now I really appreciate the aged effect it has now. Tastes change I guess.

I was concerned more with getting the sweat off so that the plastic is smooth again, even though it's yellow in color. I ended up using a hint of polish on a guitar cloth to wipe down the pickguard. For the pickups I just used the dry side and got it close enough. I just didn't know if anyone has a particular process the recommend here.

[Jessie's ghost]

The day I deliberately expend a significant amount of effort cleaning my pickups is the day I admit defeat as a human being.

[Archer_of_Fish]

I put them on the top rack of the dishwasher

[GilmourD]

Actually, I think a lot of players in bar bands use beer.

[BlueSnMettle]

cleaning a pup is like scrubing a wok.

[formula73]

I don't.

[metlking]

I don't.

+1

[ItsaBass]

Clean?

[LonePhantom]

What are you doing to your guitar where a wipe down with a rag isn't enough!?!?!?!?

[crusty philtrum]

I remove a couple of hundred turns of the windings. That cleans 'em right up.

[~Vintage~]

For my gold & chrome ones I use the same rag that I wipe down my guitar with. With some StewMac Preservation Polish. If you have plastic pickups, see above and rinse & repeat.

[Grindspine]

.............................

Ok, seriously.

I had an ancient Alnico II Pro with a bit of pitting on the pole pieces. A white pencil eraser helps gently remove that junk and leaves the pole pieces much cleaner. And seriously, use a white one; they're more solid than the wussy little pink pencil erasers and won't leave pink gunk on your pickups.

As far as the covers, just use a rag and elbow grease to polish those.

[TattooedCarrot]

I don't.

Exactly!!! (although if anyone should, it should be you!!)

[~Vintage~]

^ EWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!! ^

[grumptruck]

I dont.

Spend more time playing it than cleaning it. It's not your car.

I see a contractor with a clean truck. I want another one.

[GilmourD]

I dont.

Spend more time playing it than cleaning it. It's not your car.

I see a contractor with a clean truck. I want another one.

On the other hand, I also don't want a contractor with a truck held together with the dirt... I had one of those do work at my place of employment and... Well, I think the guy with the clean truck would've done a vastly better job. LOL