Proper Guitar Care

Proper guitar care is important for any owner wanting his or her guitar to sound, look and perform well for many years. Generally, the better your guitar is made, the more care and maintenance it will require.

Don’t be fooled if you’re first guitar was inexpensive and required very little care and still appeared to be undamaged. These guitars are usually made of laminated wood and over made so that they will be more durable. What is lost in this process is the quality of sound produced when playing one, which is why you’ve invested in a more finely made guitar.

Any guitar benefits from proper care and maintenance. Proper care includes protecting your guitar from outside wear and tear, proper storage, regularly cleaning your guitar and changing the strings as necessary. More details about these follow.

Environmental Issues

Damage as a result of environmental issues is not covered by factory warranty.  Manufacturers of guitars have no control over the environment where guitars are kept after they leave their factory and therefore do not cover this damage, even if a result of the retail store from where it was sold.

Temperature.  Exposure for long periods to cold and hot temperature extremes can adversely affect the condition of your guitar. Several places, like the bridge, neck and any joint, are put together with glue. Leaving your guitar in a hot car, by stoves, in direct sunlight, in an attic or other places near excessive heat for extended periods may cause the glue to soften and the joints to begin separating. Some separation is easily spotted and can be repaired, but other may not be as easily seen.  In addition, exposing a cold guitar, one that has been in cold temperatures for an extended period, to a warm room can cause the finish to crack.  Guitars should be allowed to warm up slowly if possible.  Guitars shipped during cold times should be left in shipping box until it’s had time to warm.

Humidity. Low humidity will dry the wood of the guitar and cause it to flatten, warp, and crack. During winter months, or if you live in a dry, hot climate, it’s important that you keep your guitar from drying out. You may use room humidifiers for this purpose, or humidifiers designed specifically for guitar care. These humidifiers are designed to be placed in the guitar sound hole, or with the guitar in its case. Some symptoms of dryness include: raised lines in the top noticeable to the touch; sharp fret ends due to the fingerboard shrinking; or the action has dropped as top begins to flatten out. Once you see signs of dryness it’s important to humidify the guitar which can take weeks; and will likely require repair by a professional.  When you use humidifiers with guitars make sure moisture does not cause the guitar to get wet as this can also damage it.

Storage

Proper care includes the way in which you store your guitar when not using it.  You can keep your guitar in a case, on a stand or hanging on a wall when not in use.  It’s a personal choice depending on your circumstances.  If you have young children you may require a case, since hanging on the wall and sitting in the stand don’t protect against accidental damage from things flying through the air or practiced karate chops. It’s also a good idea to have a case for transporting the guitar. Your guitar should fit properly in the case you intend to use to prevent damage. If you play frequently, or have it in a dedicated room for performing or teaching, then a stand may be the best place. The guitar is readily available whenever needed.

Cleaning Your Guitar

Part of proper guitar care includes routine cleaning. Dust and oils from your fingers can deteriorate your guitar’s finish, hinder the sound quality, and possibly cause corrosion. Simply getting in the habit of wiping down your guitar after every use will go a long way toward extending its life.  It’s also a good idea to clean it occasionally during periods of non-use.

Changing the Strings

The frequency with which you change the strings on your guitar depends on how often you play it, but if the strings begin sounding dull you should change them. Wiping off your strings after every use will lengthen their lifespan.  Whether you change your strings every month, every 3 months, or every 6 months is up to you and depends on how the strings sound when played.

A simple guitar care routine based on the information above is not difficult to maintain and will insure that your guitar enhances and doesn’t hinder your music making ability. After all, enjoying your music and entertaining family and friends should not be compromised by a poorly maintained guitar.

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