how Regular Maintenance Benefits your Instruments
Is your instrument playing, sounding , and looking its best?
Regular maintenance can help you achieve all of this and it doesn’t require as much work as you might think. With so many “How To” videos available, you could easily learn in no time how to maintain basic care of your stringed instrument.
For Electric Guitars & Basses, it will be a bit more involved as compared to Acoustic Guitars, Mandolins, ect. Don’t be apprehensive if Electrics are your thing, most of these practices transfer to the care & maintenance of other stringed instruments.
Lets get started!
Playability is everything to an instrument. Have you ever been guitar shopping and picked up a really cool axe only to find out it didn’t play well so you passed it by completely? Over time this could happen to your guitar without some type of regular maintenance.
Setting the guitars action (height of the strings from the fretboard) is important. If it is set properly, your playing experience will be so much more enjoyable. There’s nothing worse than struggling to make chords because the action is set too high. It’s really easy to fix with just a few special tools.
Settings the intonation is a process of properly adjusting the saddles at the bridge so that the guitar plays in tune no matter what position you might be on the neck. This portion will require a guitar tuner.
One item often over looked is the fretboard and frets. These too need to be maintained & its super easy to do. Use fretboard cleaner & a soft rag to remove any buildup caused by normal use. Then you might apply a thin coating of lemon oil to preserve the wood from drying, this also aids in the ease of playing. Lastly, polishing the frets will help you play effortlessly with smooth transition between chords.
Strings in good repair are everything to your sound. Old strings or mismatched gauges are simply not good. Have fresh strings on your guitar for enjoyable play and optimum tone. How often you replace them is based on you. If you start to notice a dullness in tone, an inability to keep you guitar in tune, or feel the strings are uncomfortable, it’s time to change them.
Keeping your guitar cleaned and polished is a benefit for a few reasons. A clean instrument is fun to play and if it looks great it will feel great. There are several polishes on the market & they all help to maintain the guitars finish & feel.
If this all seems like a bit more than you care to tackle, chances are there is a qualified tech in your area that can do all of these things for your instrument.
A clean, well maintained instrument will bring you years of enjoyment and also help to maintain it’s value and visual appeal.
What’s in our shop
The Taylor 1993 810 Acoustic Electric, available for purchase with a hard shell case, is a remarkable instrument that combines superb craftsmanship with rich tonal quality. This used model features a solid Sitka spruce top paired with Indian rosewood back and sides, providing a warm, balanced sound ideal for both strumming and fingerpicking. The Fishman Prefix Plus-T pickup system enhances its natural acoustic tone, making it versatile for live performances and studio recordings. With its elegant appointments and playability, this guitar promises to be a cherished addition for any musician seeking a premium acoustic experience.
With Hard Shell Case
Very Good