In order to enjoy the full life and playability of your instrument, it is paramount that you keep it is the best possible condition. Often, it can come secondary to playing, but if you want to continue to play for a longer time, then keeping it in the best condition is vital. We have assembled the best ways to keep it in perfect condition – follow these tips and your guitar will last as long as want it to!
• Post-practice
A common problem amongst guitarists is the deterioration of the strings. If they start to rust they become much rougher, and also will be more likely to cut into your fingers. If your fingers are cut, then you are not going to be able to play as well, so it’s vital to make sure you don’t get to this stage. All you need to do is as soon as you have finished practicing, take a soft cloth and gently clean the strings.
This very simple action will rid your strings of all the dirt, oil and sweat that accumulates. Another good idea is, before you case your guitar, to apply a layer of conditioner. You can pick these up for less than ten dollars, so they are relatively cheap and are great for preventing the oxidization of the strings which causes them to rust.
• Clean the fretboard
The next time you change your strings, take a look at the fretboards and clean them with a damp cloth. As well as the strings, there can often be an accumulation of dirt and grease around the fretboards. If unchecked, this can damage the sound of the guitar, and eventually the integrity of the instrument.
• Care for your body!
All you need to do is polish it regularly with a lint-free cloth. Make sure you use only guitar-specific polishes – some of the more widely available household polishes are more likely to be abrasive and cause some serious damage. A lot of people neglect the body of the guitar as they focus too much on the strings and the fretboard. Whilst these do need a lot of attention, paying a bit of attention to the body of your guitar will prolong its life by a large factor.
• Storage
Whilst most guitars are tolerant to a range of temperatures, excessive moisture will cause swelling which in turn causes the wood to warp and affects the overall sound. For ideal conditions, you should be looking at storing your guitar at around 50% humidity and a temperature of around 25 degrees C. Your guitar is a very sensitive instrument, and is extremely sensitive to the environment in which it is stored. Wood is a porous substance, which means it can absorb moisture.
• Scratches
It may sound obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many people have made this mistake! Before you even start to play, make sure you have removed all your jewellery and other accoutrements that may damage your guitar. The obvious things are things like bracelets and rings, but I have also seen expensive guitars scratched badly by something as simple as a belt buckle!
You can prolong the lifespan of your guitar by applying simple common sense in the majority of cases. It’s not really rocket science – and if you treat your guitar with the respect that it deserves then you will find the rewards are much higher.
Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson
• Post-practice
A common problem amongst guitarists is the deterioration of the strings. If they start to rust they become much rougher, and also will be more likely to cut into your fingers. If your fingers are cut, then you are not going to be able to play as well, so it’s vital to make sure you don’t get to this stage. All you need to do is as soon as you have finished practicing, take a soft cloth and gently clean the strings.
This very simple action will rid your strings of all the dirt, oil and sweat that accumulates. Another good idea is, before you case your guitar, to apply a layer of conditioner. You can pick these up for less than ten dollars, so they are relatively cheap and are great for preventing the oxidization of the strings which causes them to rust.
• Clean the fretboard
The next time you change your strings, take a look at the fretboards and clean them with a damp cloth. As well as the strings, there can often be an accumulation of dirt and grease around the fretboards. If unchecked, this can damage the sound of the guitar, and eventually the integrity of the instrument.
• Care for your body!
All you need to do is polish it regularly with a lint-free cloth. Make sure you use only guitar-specific polishes – some of the more widely available household polishes are more likely to be abrasive and cause some serious damage. A lot of people neglect the body of the guitar as they focus too much on the strings and the fretboard. Whilst these do need a lot of attention, paying a bit of attention to the body of your guitar will prolong its life by a large factor.
• Storage
Whilst most guitars are tolerant to a range of temperatures, excessive moisture will cause swelling which in turn causes the wood to warp and affects the overall sound. For ideal conditions, you should be looking at storing your guitar at around 50% humidity and a temperature of around 25 degrees C. Your guitar is a very sensitive instrument, and is extremely sensitive to the environment in which it is stored. Wood is a porous substance, which means it can absorb moisture.
• Scratches
It may sound obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many people have made this mistake! Before you even start to play, make sure you have removed all your jewellery and other accoutrements that may damage your guitar. The obvious things are things like bracelets and rings, but I have also seen expensive guitars scratched badly by something as simple as a belt buckle!
You can prolong the lifespan of your guitar by applying simple common sense in the majority of cases. It’s not really rocket science – and if you treat your guitar with the respect that it deserves then you will find the rewards are much higher.
Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson
About The Author Liam Gibson of http://www.ReviewsMetro.com/learnguitar, specializes in helping aspiring guitarists get the info that they need to make the right choices. Liam, a stage guitarist himself, leads his team of guitar experts to constantly review new courses and products in the market and make sure you get the best value products that work for you. Check out his honest and unbiased independent reviews of the best guitar courses and products at http://www.ReviewsMetro.com/learnguitar. You can also get his free guitar lessons online there too. |
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