Guitar Maintenance

guitar maintenance header

Like any other instrument, the guitar needs a bit of routine maintenance to perform at its best.

Electrics require:

  • regular string changes
  • polishing
  • cleaning and lubricating the bridge (especially on trem-equipped guitars)
  • cleaning and treating the fingerboard
  • periodic neck adjustment
  • Acoustics require:
  • regular string changes
  • polishing
  • cleaning and treating the fingerboard
  • periodic neck adjustment

* Most of the “how-to’s” can be found in the Guitar Maintenance section of the site. Just look for your type of guitar.

You can find information on polishing below…

Polishing your guitar

Polishing your guitar not only makes it look nicer, it also prolongs the life of the instrument. Body oils from sweaty gigs can wreak havoc on your guitar. It can literally eat through gold or black plating on hardware. It can also oxidize (rust) parts and wear into the finish.

All you need is some guitar polish and a cloth (oh…and a guitar).
real guitar polish pic

*Make sure you are using GUITAR POLISH and not some household furniture cleaner. These aren’t formulated for modern guitar finishes and can sometimes leave a cloudy finish. Real guitar polish is inexpensive (under $10) and a bottle can last about a year.

Simply shake the polish, spray it on the guitar

and…well…polish it.

Ideally you should use micro-fiber cloths to clean your instrument. They do a much better job than traditional flannel and are just as inexpensive . These are readily available at most stores and even gas stations as they are commonly used to detail cars.

If you don’t have a micro-fiber cloth handy, You can always use a non-abrasive material like an old t-shirt or sock. Socks are a good choice because they are readily available, absorbent and make GREAT puppets…

great_sock_puppet