Maintenance
Step 1
1. Keep Your Guitar Clean
Invest in a good polish and a couple of lint-free polishing rags, but use the polish sparingly
- Wipe the strings down with a dry cloth after playing
- If the strings are dead or discolored, change them. For routine changes, change strings one at a time, putting less stress on the truss rod.
- On satin finishes, the wood will take on a nice patina (shine) over time. Again, use your polish very sparingly!
- Use lemon oil on the fingerboard and bridge a couple of times a year, or if the wood looks dry. Be careful not to overdo though, or the wood will rot!
Step 2
2. Keep Your Guitar Comfortable
Generally, if you are comfortable, your guitar will be comfortable. Try to keep the temperature moderate and keep the guitar between 40 – 60% humidity. Buy a digital hygrometer and monitor it frequently. If where you store your guitars becomes too humid, get a dehumidifier. If it becomes to humid in the room, buy a silica pack, or a device to re-humidify your guitar.
Step 3
3. Don't Hurt Your Guitar
- Do not subject your guitar to extremes! If you are out in the snow, and enter a warm house, do not open the case until the guitar inside has come up to the temperature of the house.
- Do not leave your guitar in the trunk of your car! (That will kill your guitar and you will be sad!).
- Make sure you have the proper case. When you close the lid, be sure to latch it! Carry the case with the lid towards you. Backwards down the stairs and forward going up.
- If you don't know what you are doing with the truss rod, don't touch it! Get it to a good guitar tech!
- Don't tune it above pitch. The A string should be 110 Hz
- If travelling by plane, be very careful. Loosen all the strings on your guitar and use the best fitting, best constructed case you can find.
Step 4
4. Play Your Guitar As Frequently As Possible
Not only will you feel good and get a rush from playing your guitar, but the more you play the more you will help the solid woods to develop tone. This also helps to keep you in touch with your guitar, should it need maintenance.
