Monday, 15 September 2025

How should you take care of your guitar

 Great question 🎸 — maintaining your guitar properly will keep it sounding great and extend its life. Here’s a practical guide to guitar care:


🎸 1. Strings

  • Change regularly: every 1–2 months if you play often, or sooner if they sound dull or feel rough.

  • Wipe after playing: use a clean cloth to remove sweat and oils (this makes them last longer).


🎸 2. Cleaning

  • Body: wipe with a soft microfiber cloth; for deeper cleaning use a guitar polish (avoid household cleaners).

  • Fretboard: if it’s rosewood or ebony, use fretboard conditioner (like lemon oil) sparingly — 1–2 times a year. Maple boards usually just need a dry or lightly damp cloth.

  • Hardware: gently clean tuners, bridge, and pickups with a dry cloth to prevent rust/tarnish.


🎸 3. Storage

  • Use a case: a hard case or padded gig bag keeps it safe from bumps and dust.

  • Avoid extreme temps/humidity: don’t leave it in a hot car or near heaters/air conditioners.

  • Humidity control: ideally 40–60%. Use a room humidifier or an in-case humidifier if your area is very dry.


🎸 4. Setup & adjustments

  • Neck & action: once or twice a year, have a tech check the truss rod, intonation, and action.

  • Intonation: if chords sound out of tune higher up the neck, it may need adjustment.

  • Electrics: keep pots, switches, and jacks dust-free; contact cleaner helps if they get crackly.


🎸 5. Handling

  • Wash hands before playing.

  • Don’t lean it against walls (easy to knock over). Use a guitar stand.

  • Be gentle with the tuning pegs and cable jacks.


🛠️ Quick Maintenance Checklist

✅ Wipe strings and body after every session
✅ Store in a case or stand (not leaning)
✅ Control humidity (40–60%)
✅ Change strings every 1–2 months (or when they sound dead)
✅ Annual setup by a pro if needed

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