Geni Swing Guitars

Wire Guitar

It is important to look after your guitar properly to prevent excessive wear and tear and premature aging; keeping your instrument clean is the first step for every beginner or expert in keeping your guitar in top playing condition. Basic guitar maintenance is within reach of every beginner and the cornerstone of a good guitarist.

Essential items to keep in your carry case

Keep a couple of soft clean cloths in your carry case along with super-fine grade steel wool, a new set of strings, some polishing oil, wire cutters, a small artists paintbrush, a medium-sized adjustable wrench and perhaps a string-winder.

The clean cloths are for wiping your guitar down, the steel wool is for cleaning your frets, the new set of strings for replacing worn out strings, the polishing oil for keeping the guitar in pristine looking condition, the wire cutters for cutting off the ends of your new strings when you re-string your guitar, the art brush for cleaning the dust from hard to reach places like in the corners of the bridge, the adjustable wrench for tightening up the nut in the tuners, and the string-winder (not absolutely essential) can be used for winding on new strings. These items are good for an electric or acoustic guitar although you should have other items for your electric guitar such as: a deep socket, allen wrenches, and an assortment of screw-drivers.

Clean your guitar after you play and when you re-string

Your guitar will get dirty really quickly. Dirt and sweat will transfer to the fretboard and your strings when you play so it is important to clean your instrument often; the strings will sound better when clean. Try washing your hands before you play to reduce the build up of grime on the strings. Always give your instrument a wipe down with a clean soft cloth when you finish especially the strings. You can slip the cloth under the strings and give the fretboard a good wipe down. When you re-string give your guitar a wipe down from the headstock to the bridge.

Extreme temperatures

A guitar does not like extreme temperatures. Be careful never to leave the guitar in direct sunlight, in the car during winter or summer for any length of time or stored in the garage for a lengthy period even in a carry case. Keep your instrument away from extreme heat, cold, moisture or dry air. Watch the humidity; 45-55% is regarded by many as the best condition for your guitar.

Protect your guitar

Protect your instrument from sharp objects especially personal objects such as rings, watches, and belt buckles. When you are travelling with your instrument always use a carry case - I always carry my guitar on-board a plane - not sure whether that still applies today. Stow the instrument in the carry case or in a stand when not in use.

When do you re-string?

It really depends how often and for how long you play in each session, but when the strings sound a bit dull they need replacing. If you see dull spots on any part of the strings - replace them. If the strings are frayed - replace them. If they look flat - especially the steel variety - replace them.

Clean the frets and fretboard

Use a very fine grade steel wool to rub your frets down to make them shiny and smooth; but make sure you protect the fretboard. You can make up a small cardboard template with slots that covers maybe three frets at one time. The template will expose the frets but protect the fretboard from scratching. When you re-string the guitar, wipe the fretboard with a clean cloth; follow that with a rub down with oil; some guitarists use woodwind bore oil. If the strings are still on the guitar, slip the cloth under the strings and wipe the fretboard and body down.

The body, neck and headstock

Wipe the entire surface of the body with a soft clean cloth and then give it a polish with high gloss polish. Pay attention to any loose tuners on the headstock when you give it a clean. Don't forget to clean the neck. Use a small paint brush to clean the dust around the bridge area.

Final comments basic guitar maintenance

A well-tuned, clean guitar is a pleasure to hold and play. When you look after your guitar and keep it clean you will extend the life of your instrument. These basic guitar maintenance tips can be applied to both electric and acoustic guitars.

The acoustic guitar is an instrument that one can derive a great amount of pleasure with the smallest investment of time; especially when it is well maintained. Lessons abound all over the internet for every known topic surrounding the guitar including Acoustic Guitar Maintenance. There is no doubt that to become a good guitarist you need to take lessons. To master and Play Acoustic Blues Guitar requires dedication and enthusiasm and is within the grasp of any beginner who has a will to learn.

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