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Guitar Maintenance Tips
Guitar maintenance is a crucial aspect often overlooked by guitarists.
However, a well-maintained guitar is essential for optimal performance, ensuring it sounds its best and remains functional.
Embracing proper maintenance practices not only enhances playability and tone but also saves time and money in the long run. Here are some top guitar maintenance tips to consider, which will reward you with a guitar that consistently performs at its peak.
Storage
Take care where you keep your guitar at home. Ensure it's in a safe place where nothing can accidentally fall onto it, and the temperature and humidity will remain relatively stable. In the summer, avoid putting your guitar in hot loft space, the boot of a car or exposing it to to strong direct sunlight.
Case
Invest in a quality guitar case to protect your instrument. While hardcases are ideal, a padded and durable soft case can also do the job well.
Setup and Check
Periodically have your guitar's setup and intonation checked and adjusted by a professional, even if it came set up from the store. A well-set-up guitar enhances playability, puts your guitar in perfect tune and ensures its longevity. N.B. when you have your guitar set up it is best to have a restring to ensure perfect intonation.
Regular String Changes
Develop a habit of changing your strings regularly, keeping them fresh and revitalizing your sound. Wipe your strings with a dry cloth after each practice session to extend their lifespan. It's a little known fact that women's guitar strings last longer than men's. In general, women and children have less acidity on the skin of their fingers so they don't degrade quite so quickly. As a rule of thumb, with light use say, playing once a week for an hour, you should change your strings approximately once every three months or so. Conversely if you play regularly for hours in hot venues you might want to change your strings every week or two. Some strings like Elixir strings come with a coating to extend your strings lifespan. A good test to see if your strings are due for a change, is to run your fingers up and down the thinnest strings and see how they feel. If they feel rusty, bumpy or dirty, it's time to change them.
Dust and Polish
Keep your guitar dust-free with a dry cloth and use a reputable fret polish/oil to maintain a smooth and clean fretboard. Lemon oil is ideal for refreshing rosewood fretboards and it is useful in cleaning the gunk off a fretboard using the edge of a guitar pick.
Clean the Pickups
Regularly clean your guitar's pickups to prevent dust and debris buildup, which can lead to unwanted noise and static. Use only a dry cloth for this task.
Clean with Care:
Exercise caution during cleaning. Never spray products directly onto the guitar; instead, apply them to the cleaning cloth. Test new cleaning products on a small, inconspicuous area before using them on the entire guitar.
By following these guitar maintenance tips, you can ensure that your instrument stays in optimal condition, rewarding you with improved sound, playability, and a long-lasting companion for your musical journey.