Frequently Asked Questions

 We recommend reading these.

1. How is this product different? We are a highly innovative guitar polish company. Over a decade ago we pioneered the first real guitar scratch remover polish that went further than other guitar polishes ever could. We breathe, think, and dream about polishes. Want simple polishing and cleaning? Our polishes do that, for the best-ever finish. Want to go further and remove surface blemishes and scratches? Meet our Player's Kits! The best polishing kit ever, in a unique dual blend set. We don't make guitar straps, amps, or other guitar products because our focus is making the best polish in the world. 
2. Does this stuff really work? Is it easy to use? The answer is YES! Check our Reviews page above for actual customer comments and blogs. Or just Google us and see many customer reviews on the web. This product works to remove surface scratches on your high gloss (glossy) guitar finish (not including deep scratches). It also removes other surface blemishes bringing your finish back to life.  Your satisfaction is guaranteed or your money back (details below). Safe to use as directed. Player's Kits are recommended and is the best product we offer. It's easy to do and the entire process is by hand. Just firmly rub it on and wipe off on high gloss finishes. No special knowledge or tools required. Some guitars and scratches will require more firm rubbing and repeated applications.  Full instructions are provided.
   
3. Is there a money-back guarantee? Yes, refunds or exchanges are no problem if you wish to return the product. Return within 30 days for a full refund of purchase price (less S/H fees). Email us for return instructions prior to returning. Note--we almost never get returns because the product does work, but your satisfaction is guaranteed anyway!
   
4. Do you take PayPal ?  What is Amazon Pay? Our PayPal checkout is being replaced by Amazon Pay. We still offer credit and debit card payments, but now you can order securely on our site with your Amazon account, all without entering credit card info and billing addresses! All of your info including address and payment is securely provided by Amazon, then we quickly ship your order! (you can still use debit or credit cards if you don't use Amazon).
   
5. When will my order arrive? Do you ship worldwide? We ship fast! ...Usually within 24 hours. USA orders arrive on average in just  2 - 4 business days including Saturdays, with tracking! Read more about shipping info including international shipments here
   
6. What is the best product available? We highly recommend any of our Player's Kits. It's the best all-around product whether you own just one guitar or many guitars. See below for more info.
7. What does "removing a scratch" mean? Scratch removal is permanent elimination of a scratch from view or minimizing it's appearance in the clearcoat. Polishing smoothes and fades the scratch. Light surface scuffs and swirls literally wipe away in seconds. Slightly deeper scratches are usually diminished in appearance until they are invisible. While nothing removes deep gouges and scratches, many customers report improvement on deeper issues. Follow all product instructions and use care to avoid excessive use. High gloss finishes only (Be sure to see below questions: 'Will your polish remove every scratch and problem' and 'What issues the polish will fix/not fix'). 
8. I've tried some other scratch products like Brand-X, and big-name guitar polishes--isn't your stuff the same? No, our ingredients and processes are different. Our product is more gentle than typical scratch removers so you won't wreck your surface, yet it's incredibly effective. The Player's Kit is a dual-blend polish set, not just a cleaner and polish; this is important for polishing effectiveness and real restoration. According to our tests and customer feedback, better results are seen. Plus our polishes are always silicone-free! Customers say our product out-performs the others in a big way. See what they are blogging about those other products and ours on the web, and on our Testimonials page. We use the latest technology, best ingredients and design team. The formulation of our polishes is unique and also quite expensive, a process the big companies aren't looking to take on. 
9. So how does it work & how will I fix scratches on my guitar? Your polish will include full instructions and tips. The process is simple, done without tools and done in just minutes. The polish functions on high gloss clear-coated finishes by working & resurfacing those trouble areas at the microscopic level--so small that all you see is improvement. The scratches are smoothed out becoming less visible with each polishing motion. In the past a polish that attempted this could scratch your finish because it had to be strong enough to work out the scratch. Getting good-sized scratches out usually required sanding & buffing. Not anymore! Thanks to the latest micro-technology and break-through ingredients, our polishes will amaze you by removing many scratches and blemishes before your eyes. Think of it like drawing a line in the sand with your finger, and then the seashore coming in and smoothing it out. The sand remains virtually unchanged, but the surface becomes smooth again.
10. Is it safe to use on my precious instrument, any harsh chemicals? Totally safe when used as directed & no harsh chemicals or fumes; our polishes are environmentally friendly & silicone-free. We have thousands of happy customers! Follow the detailed directions and you will never damage your finish with GuitarScratchRemover polishes! Whether it's Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Taylor, Martin, Ibanez, Epiphone, Jackson, and other big name factory guitars, you are good to go on your high gloss finish! It is safe even on a $5000 high-end acoustic dreadnought, or vintage electrics. Works on classical & bass guitars, too.  High gloss finishes only. Not for unfinished wood or areas without a high gloss clear-coated finish. See below question about "Any guitars I can't use this on" and note about Rickenbacker guitars. Optionally tell us at checkout about your guitar model.
    
11. Lacquer, poly, nitrocellulose (nitro) guitar finishes, thin nitro, all okay?  These high gloss guitar & bass finishes are safe to polish and it's ok to use any of our products. Even thin nitro finishes are fine to polish (note that nitro and thin finishes are a bit more delicate than a standard finish, use care).  Lots of high-end guitars like Martin, Gibson Les Paul & Fender Stratocasters can have a nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Our products are completely safe to use on these high gloss finishes. Works on high gloss drums, too! Just follow the provided instructions included with each order and you'll be all set! For more info see question: "Any instruments I can't use this on?"
12. What is the shelf-life, how long should I keep it? When stored properly our polishes and sprays should last for years, but all liquids have a shelf-life. Some items list an expiration date on the bottle. Polishes will be freshest within 2 years for best results. Some of the spray products last even longer, but please discard all products over 5 years old, even if no date is listed. 
13. Will my guitar's tone or finish be altered or worse after using this polish? Guitar tone is completely unaffected by our products! The finish will actually look better, many people report a "like new again" appearance. Be sure to visit our Reviews/Testimonials page!  It is not a filler, a cover up, so results you get will last. Safe even on high-end instruments, expect great results. In many cases people are able to get their guitars back to near-brand new condition. 
14. How can I tell if my guitar has a high-gloss finish?  Finishes that are glossy or high gloss show sharp, crisp reflections and have a reflective shine--see the Video & Photo section for examples of a high gloss finishes. Most guitars are high gloss. Matte, satin, or semi-gloss won't show crisp reflections. Know your finish type before usage. We estimate about 95% of guitars today are high-gloss finishes and therefore compatible with our polishes. Expect great results!
15. What happens if I polish a matte or satin finish, or unfinished neck? Most guitars are high gloss, but a small minority of guitars have matte satin body finishes which are non-gloss or low gloss. Just like matte or satin photograph prints - one is shiny, one isn't. There are two types: 1) The majority of matte/satin guitar finishes are simply dulled high gloss finishes, or finishes not buffed to full gloss at the factory giving a duller, flat finish: if you have this finish that is dulled gloss, polishing will permanently make it glossy. This is generally true whether it is a polyurethane or nitrocellulose finish. Since this is a permanent change we do not officially recommend polishing matte finishes.  Doing so is at your own risk.  2) An even smaller group of matte finishes are actually oil, varnish/stain, or bare paint. These should not be polished. Many are thin, fragile and have no clear top coat so they can't withstand polishes or cleaners of any type, including some necks.  If you have a matte or satin finish, follow manufacturer instructions for care.
    
16. Will your polish remove every scratch and problem? It depends on the condition of your instrument. Currently we are experiencing about a 97% success rate, so 97 of 100 people that use the product get good visible results. Basically if your finish looks better after you used the product, then it worked. Many report total 100% results getting out all scratches. Yet some scratches are deeper than they appear and may not improve much. Newer guitars with minimal scratches usually clean up nicely. If your guitar is badly scratched all over, it may not look like new again. However we get emails all the time from customers who say their 30-year old guitar looks like new again!  We have seen many nasty scratches, some we thought would never come out, utterly disappear with repeated applications. Brand new instruments that picked up scratches we thought would have to be sold as discounted models, are usually completely cleaned up scratch-free! (Keep in mind the product is designed for light to medium scratches. Most of these issues clear up within a few minutes of polishing. If you have to polish the same area repeatedly for more than 5-10 minutes and the scratch issue persists, stop and contact us for advice as your finish problem may be beyond what polishing can address.)
    
17. Can I use a towel or old t-shirt to polish my guitar, or a guitar cloth? Stick with microfiber. Cotton will scratch some guitars. Even so-called guitar detail cloths will scratch. Many people put fine scratches in their new guitar with a guitar polishing cloth from their local guitar shop. The best choice is a micro-fiber cloth. They are super-soft. Because of the micro "pockets" in our towels that actually store tiny parcels of polish during application, you will actually get better results with these.     
18. What kind of damage will this product fix/not fix? It WILL fix or improve the appearance of most: common light-to-medium surface scratches & blemishes, pick & swirl marks, sticker residue, recent ink or marker stains, & certain chemical damage. Lighter scratches typically vanish from view. Deeper scratches may not improve. This product WILL NOT correct or repair cracks, chips, dings (dents), scratches or damage from sharp impact or drops, nor any worn out or faded finishes. The good news is that most scratches reside on the surface and are of the lighter type.  More good news - pretty much any guitar or bass will see improvement, many are completely restored to scratch-free appearance. Some deeper scratches "soften" in appearance & look better. (If your fingernail can go into the scratch we consider that a deeper scratch). Some customers have even reported success in removing buckle-rash and finish checking on their older guitars, although we do not officially claim this. We regularly take bad scratches out of $3000 hand-made Ramirez guitars, it's amazing. One other thing--this polish will not help you play like Jimmy, Eric, Eddie, Stevie Ray, or Joe...
    
19. I damaged my finish with a competitor's product! Can yours help? We get this question often! Usually, the answer is 'yes' our product will usually undo or correct finish damage done by other harsh products or abrasive polishes, depending on the severity. For this reason you should not use automotive products or compounds on your guitar! Email us with questions. Our products are safe, your guitar has never looked better!
20. Can I use your products as well as a competitor's product together?  Yes, but do not mix them together in application. If you are going to wax your guitar, it's best to do that last, after you've polished & restored the finish. Also, if you have used other scratch remover products on your guitar, they may have damaged, coated, or chemically changed your finish making more polishing less effective. This is rare but can happen depending on the competitor and guitar. Some products, including wax, can make guitars resistant to future polishing. Contact us for questions on this. Rest assured that Eternashine Guitar Polish products will not damage your finish. Use as directed.
21. I've got a guitar that is almost 40 years old, can I expect it to look like new again? We get emails ALL THE TIME from people that got amazing results on their old Martins & Gibsons! (see Testimonials). We can't promise like-new condition on every forty-year-old Martin D-18, but some customers have this experience.  There are some amazing success stories on this site.  As guitar finishes age, the wood can shrink, dry out and sometimes an aging guitar finish "checks", cracks or turns yellow. This product may not do anything about that but it will clarify the surface & remove scratches.  How much depends on the condition of that old guitar of yours!
22.  I have an instrument worth tens of thousands of dollars, should I use your product? Any collector's instrument or valuable guitar regardless of price may possibly be worth more in original condition than having the original or vintage finish treated or restored.  So we suggest leaving it as is or getting advice from a professional appraiser (a 1957 Chevy can be worth more with weathered original paint than a restored one).
23. Any instruments I can't use this on? What about some of the new "worn" or "faded" finishes by Gibson and Fender? If your guitar is high gloss you can use all of our products. This includes all major brands like Fender, Gibson, Taylor, Martin, PRS, Ibanez, Jackson, etc - these are all fine to polish. There are a few exceptions: Some Rickenbacker models are not compatible with polishing, but you can use wax. Many violins should not be polished regardless of finish luster, including oil, varnish or shellac coatings; this would include other instruments with these finishes. Most orchestra instruments should not be polished; seek brass polishes, oils, and cleaners for them. Follow manufacturer instructions on your instrument. Avoid non-gloss surfaces. A few companies are making new guitars like guitars of yesteryear with a "soft gloss". This includes the Gibson VOS line. Some Gibson Les Paul "worn" finishes or Fender's Worn 50s Telecaster even have wear marks & missing finish straight from the factory to appear used. Because these are made to look worn or have no glossy finish, it is not recommended to polish them. You can use the product on any other high gloss guitars by Fender & Gibson. Other stringed instruments besides guitars and basses: some have special sensitive finishes, therefore you would need to check with their manufacturer for care instructions before polishing. Our detail cleaning sprays & wax CAN be used on any guitar  - but avoid unfinished wood or neck areas without a high gloss finish.  Non-gloss finishes should not be rubbed much, even a towel alone can affect these finishes if rubbed aggressively. If your guitar has artwork and logos these must be well under the clearcoat, and most are. If you have an uncommon brand guitar or situation, it's always best to contact us or the manufacturer first before polishing! Note - the vast majority (about 95%) of guitars are high gloss and can be polished or cleaned.

24. Silicone or silicone-free? I've heard silicone should be avoided... Does your polish contain silicone? No silicone! Many guitar enthusiasts and repair shop avoid silicone. While it technically is not harmful for your finish  (many industry polishes and waxes contain silicone) it can be a little more work to clean and remove in the rare event you decide to strip and repaint your guitar, and most people will never need to do that. For these reasons though we are happy to report our polishes are silicone-free. 

25. Why haven't I heard about this product before?   Thanks to thousands of customers, if you do a Google internet search about removing guitar scratches, you will find us at the top of the results. We are also privileged to be Amazon's Choice for "Guitar Scratch Remover". Also this might be the first time you've searched for a guitar scratch remover. There are many good reviews about us online, guitar blogs, and this site; about great results people are getting.  While some companies have been making the same old non-innovative polishes for decades, the technology in our polishes is relatively new and does more for scratches.  Our polishes are safe and advanced. Over a decade later we still believe we offer the best products available for polishing guitars and removing scratches in our Player's Kits. We ship worldwide and have a dealer network in the US, Europe, and Pacific Rim. Compared to the other so-called scratch & swirl removers out there, nothing comes close. So give us a try! 

*Please note, information on this page is not a substitute for reading the instructions provided with our polish kits. You're just minutes away from a better looking guitar, so check out our kits below.