Cleaning and polishing wood

Seeking a bit of advice on how best to bring up the body finish on this latest acquisition, it's a Vantage VP700 and although the condition is very good for it's age, there is a sweat and muck residue particularly or the rear upper wing where the arm rests and around the control knobs.

I have been looking on the net but am getting conflicting thoughts especially because of it's age/vintage.

Any advice would be gratefully received. Here is a link to the model but not my actual guitar as a reference to the finish. Many thanks as always

https://s591.photobucket.com/user/munkieNL/media/guitars/Vantage%20VP700/Vantage013a.jpg.html

Si, any pix of your guitar? It would be easier to recommend for specific conditions eh?
(I'm familiar with "Munkie Man's")

Generally speaking though, I would not worry about the finish, no need to take any extraordinary precautions. The finish is quite durable, but not as thick as the Westones. Hey, it's a Mats!

Mild soapy water and a toothbrush will get rid of any crud on the fretboard. Arm sweat etc on the body can also be wiped off with the same solution. Once you've removed the dirt and grease:

• use #0000 steel wool on the fretboard, and follow with a good quality oil
  
• use Meguiar's Ultimate Compound to cut any hazing and minor scuffs on the body
  
• follow with Meguiar's Polish or other good quality product to restore shine
  

Be sure and use enough water with the compound, and you'll get better results with a foam applicator.

That should do it.

Thanks as always Barry, so loving this guitar, she is going in the studio on Sunday, pics and maybe a sound bite to follow asap.

Cheers for the advice, I will get back to it on Monday but the word you used "Hazing" describes alot of the finishing on the upper wing. We have a motoring retail firm here called "Halfords" that stock Meguiars so I will pay them a visit tomorrow, thanks again.

You might not even need the finishing polish. The rubbing compound is quite fine and often produces a decent finish just by itself, especially with a foam pad. Doesn't hurt though.

Keep it wet and don't get too aggressive. (and, yes, that's exactly what she said )

Keep it wet and don't get too aggressive. (and, yes, that's exactly what she said )

Mrs Meadows says she likes that, see what trouble you get me into!!!!

The finish on those is not shiny to begin with.
It looks polished up where your arm rests on the upper body which is normal.
It's also an open grain finish any form of compound will sit in the grain and look worse.
As Barry mentioned a bit of soapy water will suffice.
Use a beeswax furniture polish if needed.

Thanks Damian will give that a go. Managed to take her for a spin round the studio yesterday, very impressed particularly with the middle position (single and hum) and the neck tapped. I rushed this one out before taking any shots but a quick look at the pups showed no markings at all. Under the bridge p/up on the wood was written "57" ??? but they sure sound great whatever they are.

Damian makes a good point about the finish on these. It is a low lustre rather than high shine. Just clean it in stages and assess the results as you go to see if it's where you want it. 

"Fore arm shine" will often disappear with soapy water, but occasionally I still have had to resort to a mild abrasive to try and "cut" it. Matte finishes can be a tricky that way. If you're dealing with hazing or cloudiness though, I would still suggest the Meguiar's