Guitar Maintenance 101
I don’t know why, but I love the smell of guitar cases! I think that because I grew up around them, it’s a bit of a nostalgic smell and it just reminds me of my initial excitement of learning to play guitar. Every time I opened my guitar case I was SO excited to play and I had a world of possibilities for how guitar would play a role in my life. Even now, there is something about taking care of my guitar and doing guitar cleaning/maintenance that feels rewarding, and I think that this time of year is a good time to show thankfulness for your instrument.
Me taking care of my guitar:
In this blog, I wanted to give you my top tips for guitar maintenance because especially at the end of the year, it’s nice to prep for a fresh start! If you are new to this, don’t be intimidated! I used to be a little worried that I would forever ruin my guitar or accidently break something- that has happened now a few times (worst fears realized!) but it’s helped me understand my guitar’s ins and outs better and there’s never been anything I haven’t been able to undo. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s go!
Gather Your Supplies
Ernie Ball strings are my all time favorite- these paradigms last a really long time!
There are a few things you might need before we get started so here’s a quick checklist with what I personally use:
(These are affiliate links so make sure you click through here if you decide to get any!)
Strings (duh)
I use Ernie Ball and usually go as light as possible for ultimate bend-age (I think this is a word…). My weak little fingers need all the help they can get so why make it harder on myself.
Cleaner and Wipes
Using a guitar cleaner is always a good idea because they are specifically made to get the grease off your fretboard that can build up over time (lovely I know). You can either buy a cleaner and then the rags or the one-time use guitar wipes.
Tools: Hex Keys, ruler, pliers
If you want to get into the setup side of things, these are handy tools. I won’t be talking about setting up your guitar in this blog, but there are a lot of resources online to help with that (I like this article by Sweetwater!). Just make sure you google the specific type of guitar you have so you can follow directions accordingly. Or just take it to a pro to make sure it’s perfect!
My All Time Favorite Maintenance Kit I got one for myself and loved it so much I bought one for my dad who said it was the best gift I ever got him (is that sad?) Anyway I love this thing!
Batteries
If you play acoustic, you may need to purchase a new 9V battery from time to time. It’s always nice to have these on hand!
What To Do To Maintain Your Guitar
This is the guitar that I atempted to change the pickups myself on (see this article for more on that). I ran into a sag and had to take it in but the change was so worth it!
Shine It Up
Ok, so the first step is to remove your strings (check out this recycling program from D’Addario) and spritz your rag and wipe down your guitar. Pay special attention to your fretboard and getting near the frets. There are general cleaners (I like this one by Taylor!) as well as fretboard cleaners so if you specifically notice your fretboard looking dirty, this might be the better option.
Make Adjustments
The next step will be to make sure all the jacks are tightened and the hardware is all good. This includes making sure the input jack isn’t loose and taking the time to notice if your action (the distance from the strings to the fretboard- click here for a guitar word dictionary!) is too high. Again, I would google your specific guitar model to get the exact measurements it’s supposed to be, but this can make a big difference in your playing speed. You can also look at whether your strings are going straight on the neck (for example my high E on one guitar was falling off the neck at one point).
Re-String
Time to put those strings back on your sparkly beauty! For choosing your strings, you’ll have to figure out what brand/ type to go for and the string gauge. I love Ernie Ball Paradigms for my electric because they seem to last a long time and I usually go for the 9-42 gauge because I love light bendable strings. Why make something more difficult for yourself! For acoustic, I also use Ernie Ball Paradigms Phospher bronze 12-54. Everyone has a preference of what they love so try a few different types and see what you like best! After you restring, just make sure you stretch out your strings for a bit so they don’t go out of tune easily.
Store Away
Since wood is a living material, your guitar will contract and expand depending on the weather conditions. On acoustic guitars, the wood is thinner and more exposed, so I usually keep these in a case. I try to choose one that is less expensive to keep out when guests are over, but in general, don’t leave these out hanging on my wall. You will notice in most music stores, their acoustic section is in a temperature-controlled room at the perfect humidity. I, unfortunately, don’t have a temperature controlled room (Yet! wah ha!) so I just try to be mindful of keeping mine in even temperature rooms and not leaving them out. For electrics, over really long periods, this might be a concern, but most people are usually fine leaving them out.
And here’s wear I spend the majority of my time after the maintaining has happened :)
So hopefully by now, your child is shiny and perfect and I hope you had fun taking the time to polish it up! Guitars are for the most part easy to maintain and if there is anything that’s bothering you about your guitar (such as going out of tune easily, buzzing, or cutting in and out) there are usually always parts you can swap out or fix. I hope this article helped you and thanks for reading! Let me know if you have anything you’d like to share about how you maintain your guitar in the comments!