Basic Guitar Care

This is the first in a series of guitar maintenance blogs. I will try to keep this as general as possible so it refers to acoustic and electric guitars both new and used guitars. I will specify when there are differences.

 

Storage

Always put your guitar away in its case or on its stand. Don’t leave it lying around where it could be damaged or scratched. Don’t let anyone pick it up and play it, be choosey who can play your guitar. Apart from the fact that most people will de-tune it they could also drop it, scratch or damage it in some other way.

 

Make sure the guitar is stored in a cool dry place. Humidity and extreme changes in temperature can drastically affect the guitar. As guitars are made from wood and wood expands and contracts with temperature it’s important to try to keep the guitar at a reasonably constant temperature. See our blog on travel tips.

 

Keep it Clean

Always wipe the guitar down with a soft lint-free cloth after every use. I can’t emphasize this enough. Every time you play your guitar dirt and dead skin from your fingers build up on the neck. This build up not only makes the guitar less comfortable to play but can also effect the intonation of the guitar.

 

So when you are wiping the guitar down after use pay particular attention to the neck. Wipe the strings down as well. It is also worthwhile to pull the strings apart a little so you can access the fretboard and frets. If you notice some build up on the fretboard or neck try to remove it with your pic or your toothbrush (or maybe someone else’s toothbrush).

 

Also wipe down the back of the neck and the body of the guitar. This will remove any smudges that could lead to long term stains.

 

Oil or No Oil

Most guitars can also use a little oil or wood polish every now and then. Not every guitar is suited to chemical or oil products so you should check the manufacturer’s guidelines before applying any oil or wood polish to your guitar.

 

I use wood oil on most of my guitars about once per month or more often if needed. Sometimes you can see when a guitar neck is looking fairly dry. You can notice discoloration in the neck, almost a faded look. This is an indication that the neck needs some wood oil.

 

A good time to oil a guitar neck is when you are changing strings or just before you change strings. Do not remove all the strings before you oil the neck. Apply a little polish as you remove each string in turn.

 

Tune It

Keep the guitar in tune. When a guitar is tuned to concert pitch (A 440 Hz) it keeps a certain pressure on the neck. If the pressure is too low or too high the neck can go out (change its shape). So keep it in tune to ensure the neck pressure remains constant.

 

Change Strings

Change strings regularly. How often you change strings is entirely up to you. Most professional guitarists change their strings every day or at least before every gig. How often you change your strings depends on how often you play.

 

Over time strings lose their tone and may become rusty if left for a long time. You should change your stings at least every 6 to 8 weeks even if you don’t play very often. Also the use of a product like Finger Ease will lengthen the life of your strings as well as soften the calluses on your fingertips. See our blog Love Your Strings  for more information about strings.

 

So things to remember for basic guitar maintenance:

1. Store your guitar properly after use.
2. Try to keep your guitar in a reasonably constant temperature.
3. Wipe down the guitar after every use
4. Use wood oil occasionally on the guitar.
5. Change strings regularly.
6. Use a product such as Finger Ease for your strings 

Stay tuned for more blogs in the Guitar Maintenance Series.

 

- Axel