In this lesson, we are going to learn tips on how to maintain your guitar fretboard and more. This is very good to know because your guitar is a precision, highly crafted instrument. And just any other professional tool, the more you take care of it, the more it will take care of you.
Why do guitar maintenance?
Guitar maintenance is important because many things can affect the way the guitar plays. Like for instance, the guitar neck is designed to move so that it can hold up to climate changes. That is why all electric and acoustic (except classical) guitars have a metal rod through the guitar neck (called a truss rod) so that this adjustment can be made from time to time.
Also, since tuners and guitar bridges are held in place by screws, these can tend to get loose as well over time due to playing the guitar. So these might need some maintenance as well. Not to mention sweat from your fingers can corrode the strings over time from hours of playing. Along with beverages being accidentally spilled on the guitar’s body.
All this activity can cause a guitar to not play at its best. That is why preventive maintenance is important from time to time throughout the life of the guitar. If you take care of your guitar, it will take care of you and last for generations to come.
Maintain the fretboard
When changing strings it’s a good idea to check the fretboard. A lot of times sweat and grime get on the frets from playing the guitar and it needs to be cleaned from time to time. Sometimes you might need to clean the fretboard with a non-scratch soft brillo sponge to make it look good.
This is a good thing to have in your guitar maintenance toolbox. It can come in handy in other areas of your guitar playing as well. Like maintaining your amp and pedals if you use any.
In addition to that, you might see that the fretboard is a bit dehydrated. The guitar, after all, is wood and wood can be subject to all kinds of climate changes. Especially if you travel with the guitar. If you keep it in your room and that’s the only climate it deals with then you’re probably ok.
But if you go from a humid area like Florida and then take the guitar to somewhere like Colorado or Arizona where the climate is dry. The fretboard could get a little dehydrated due to climate change. That’s why it is a good idea to sometimes if need be, rehydrate your fretboard with some lemon oil. This will refurbish the fretboard, make it look good and smell nice. I recommend using Gerlitz fretboard honey oil. Designed to protect the fretboard from moisture sweat and grime.
The guitar tuners and bridge
Periodically the screws that hold the tuners in place (some models are held in place by pins) will tend to get loose. This is another preventive maintenance item you can check from time to time. And it’s best to have a set of small screwdrivers in your maintenance toolbox to keep these in check.
Also from time to time, you want to check the bridge of the guitar. As this is held in place by screws also. In addition to that, the string height can be adjusted at the bridge but requires a different type of tool than the screwdriver. It requires an Allen wrench.
And a very tiny one at that. So it is a good idea to get a set of Allen wrenches as well. To make sure the strings are at the correct height for maximum playability These come in both metric and standard and it would be best to get both as they will come in handy for other projects you’ll run into.
Polish the guitar body.
It is also very important to keep the finish of the guitar looking nice as well. This can be done with the all-in-one Music Nomad Guitar Cleaner. Specifically designed to keep your guitar looking good at all times while protecting the finish by removing stains of all kinds.
By keeping the guitar looking good you’ll always be inspired to want to pick it up and create magic with it. Whether that be learning a song your favorite artist wrote or expressing yourself through a song that you have created yourself. Keeping your guitar looking good will make you want to spend maximum time learning and playing it.
Change strings regularly.
One thing that can make a world of difference in your guitar playing and one of the most important of all the maintenance duties is to keep fresh guitar strings on your guitar at all times. Especially if you play a lot. Changing out your strings regularly will help to prevent string breakage, dull sound, and unwanted corrosion from hours of playing.
If you reside in a humid area or possibly a really hot area, this can wreak havoc on your guitar strings which affect your guitar tone and inspiration to want to play. Some strings that are great to have in your maintenance toolbox are guitar strings.
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky, Ernie Ball Super Slinky
Ernie Ball Earthwood for Acoustic.
Lubricate all moving parts.
The guitar is designed with a lot of little parts all working in harmony with each other to produce great guitar magic. So it is a good idea to keep all moving parts in good working order by keeping them lubricated.
For instance, anywhere parts are touching. The guitar strings touch the nut or saddles on the bridge. The volume and tone knobs tend to get a little distant in them. Things like that. So I recommend you keep this part of your guitar maintained with products like Big Bends Nut Sauce which,
Ends Pitch Drift
Ends String Breakage Problems
Stops Wear & Tear at Bridge and Nut
Increases Sustain and Harmonics
Improves Overall Performance of ALL Stringed Instruments
And for keeping the electronics sounding great at all times I recommend you use Electronic Contact Cleaner which,
Cleans protects, lubricates, and improves conductivity.
Reduces intermittent connections, arcing, and RFI as well as wear and abrasion
Safe for use on all metal connectors and contacts and will not harm plastics
Dispensing Type: Spray
Volume: 5 oz
Maintenance Conclusion.
If you take some time and keep your guitar maintained in the areas mentioned above, I guarantee that your guitar will perform well for years to come. Preventive maintenance is one of the things that will make your guitar sound good every time you play it, look good, and inspire you to want to learn it and perform as it should while creating your guitar magic or replicating your favorite players.
Dive Deeper.
If you'd like to dive deeper into maintaining your guitar, I recommend you check out the book Teach Yourself Guitar Repair & Maintenance John Carruthers, legendary guitar builder and repair guru to the stars, has teamed up with Alfred to produce this ultimate beginner's guide to guitar repair and maintenance.
Comprehensive, step-by-step instructions and close-up shots clarify how to set the action for ultimate playability, adjust for bulletproof intonation, and keep any guitar in top condition for a lifetime. Also includes steps on setting up and adjusting Floyd Rose tremolo systems.
Soldering and maintaining electronics, the proper way to remove and install strings on both standard guitars and Floyd Rose systems, and exact specs for the action, nut action, and truss rod adjustments of electric guitars, acoustics, and 4- and 5-string basses. 80 pages.
Always be sure to keep progressing forward in your learning. Keep up with your finger exercises and hand warm-ups as these will allow your hands and fingers to stay in shape.
Keep progressing at learning your guitar chords and discovering different things you can do with them and why as this will enhance your creativity and fretboard knowledge. If you like to play rhythm, this is a great place to start. All music is based on good-quality rhythm creativity and understanding the inner workings of chords and timing.
If you’re into playing guitar solos, study techniques used by the masters to enhance your guitar solos. Learn what they do and put those ideas into your playing. That’s what they did with the people they were inspired by.
And always remember to have fun with your learning. Whatever works for you is best. Everyone is different and it is best to find what works for you. If you need help with learning guitar no matter if it’s acoustic or electric, check out my book Learn Guitar Simple Method. It’ll help guide you along the way.
How to get started playing guitar in a fun and easy way. This book consists of techniques and training methods that have been developed through years of learning, playing, and teaching. This getting started guidebook has everything you need to learn how to have fun playing guitar.
Learn which guitar to choose, how to hold the guitar, how to tune it, how to use a guitar pick, your very first guitar chords, reading sheet music, improving chord changes as well as strumming and arpeggiating chords. In addition to all that you will learn simple song melodies you can play right away.
The difference between learning online as opposed to offline, is practice habits, common mistakes to avoid, and a simple training quiz to make sure you fully understand the material. All this and more can be found in Learn Guitar: Simple Method For Beginners.
If you need help with your lead guitar playing, check out my book Lead Guitar Wizardry Vol 1.
Rock guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix & Eddie Van Halen made playing the guitar look like magic!
Now you can learn how to play lead guitar and create magic of your own with this book.
Jam-packed with simple diagrams and clear explanations, this training manual lets you practice at a pace that’s right for you. You’ll learn the secret formulas & techniques that provide the foundation of rock guitar as if you were taking private lessons with this basic course.
You’ll learn,1. How to play your guitar solo you create yourself (your friends will be cheering for more)
2. The lead guitar solo techniques of musical greats that you commonly hear in songs
3. The modern step-by-step method to pick up axe skills faster than you thought possible. From finger exercises to scales and basic music theory, this is the how-to guide to help anyone who’s dedicated enough to put in the effort to learn the sacred art of lead guitar.
In addition to all this, I also offer private guitar lessons. These can be a real help to excel in your learning. So if this is something that you prefer, contact me and I will be happy to help.
Thank you for your time reading and until our next lesson, take care.
Sincerely, Dwayne Jenkins
