Got a guitar but can’t manage to keep it as good as new? Well intrurentals has you covered here are some tips to maintain your guitar and keep it at its absolute best
Clean it well
It’s no surprise that keeping your guitar clean is one of the easiest ways to maintain it. What’s surprising, however, is what you can use to clean it. That soft white tee that inevitably developed sweat stains? Give it a thorough wash, cut it up, and use the unstained sections as a cleaning cloth for your guitar or bass. The cotton (and also some guitar polish once in a while) will keep it looking shiny and smooth. Though ensure the t-shirt you use is 100% cotton. Rough or abrasive textiles can cause serious damage to your instrument.
Put that toothbrush to some good use
When a toothbrush is no longer suitable to clean your teeth, give it a second life brushing the grooves in your fretboard to clean out the grime that accumulates on either side of the frets. Much of the buildup is dead skin cells, so look for it around the frets of the chords you play the most often.
Wipe Your Strings After You Play
Strings are made of metal and your finger’s sweat can corrode and often wear out your strings. Wiping them off after every time you play the guitar will lengthen the life of your strings and keep them feeling and sounding better.
Just in Case
The volume and tone knobs and switches on your instrument can collect dust, which can then get on the contact points and affect your tone which then results in crackling sounds. Keeping the guitar in its case will limit this. And bonus…it keeps the guitar from falling over or having something land on it.
Storage is essential
The easiest way to take care of your guitar is to store it properly. The surest way to keep your guitar in good shape is to remember this simple rule: Do not expose the guitar to any climate condition that you would not want to be exposed to. If you keep this in mind, your instrument will likely last years and years. Avoid large or rapid changes in humidity. Like your body, the guitar gets used to the climate it is in, and suddenly changing it causes stress. Do not store your guitar in a car trunk on summer days when there is extreme heat.
Play regularly
Your guitar will sound better the more often it’s played and enjoyed. Your bass or guitar is a complex instrument and one that needs to be shown some love, more than occasionally. Practice playing your guitar every day, and it’ll show you some love right back.
Always wash your hands before playing.
Dirt and oil from your hands will make strings rust and sound dull. You can actually protect your strings and make them last longer by keeping them clean.
Replacing is key.
Replace the frets when they are worn out. This ensures that the notes you play are true and in tune. Guitars are not unlike cars in that you have to maintain them.
Take a stand.
Your guitar usually tends to fall when kept on table, couches, and walls
It seems like a no-brainer, but lots of people forgo buying a guitar stand to save a few bucks and leave their expensive instruments at a greater risk of falling in the process. If you’re practicing guitar and need to leave the room, don’t lean the guitar against the wall or lay it down on the floor. Put it on a guitar stand. Your guitar is special and important, and it should be treated with a great amount of reverence and respect.
Now that you’ve scooped up all our best tips on how to maintain your guitar or bass, start implementing a love-based maintenance routine.