Sunseed Music

We have assembled the best ways to keep your guitar in perfect condition – follow these tips and your guitar will last as long as want it to! 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.

·    Post-practice
All you need to do is as soon as you have finished practicing, take a soft cloth and gently clean the strings. 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.

Before you re-case your guitar, you might want to think about applying a thin layer of string conditioner – these solutions are relatively inexpensive (a good one will cost less than ten US dollars) and they do a great job of preventing the oxidization of the strings that causes them to rust. This is a very simple action, but it will get rid of all the oil, dirt and sweat that can accumulate on the strings.

·    The fretboard
When you next change your strings, simply clean the fretboards with a damp cloth. There can often be an accumulation of dirt and grease around the fretboards, just as there is on the strings. If this is left unclean, it can lead to serious damage for your guitar, compromising the integrity of the instrument.

·    Polishing
By paying attention to the body of your guitar, you are more likely to sustain the overall life of the instrument. The body of the guitar can often be neglected, as people tend to focus on the strings and the fretboard. Polish it regularly with a lint-free cloth, using only guitar-specific polishes. Some more widely available household polishes arte too abrasive, and can cause damage.

·    Storage
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. 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.

·    Scratches
It may sound obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many people have made this mistake! 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! Before you even start to play, make sure you have removed all your jewellery and other accoutrements that may damage your guitar.

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. You can prolong the lifespan of your guitar by applying simple common sense in the majority of cases.

Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson