Acoustic Guitar Care

Acoustic Guitar Care could give you an edge how to prolong your guitar instrument. Here are some few background tips:

• We know that the guitar is made of wood, a thin one, this wood can be easily broken or damage without proper care. Unbalance temperature surroundings can affect the instrument structure.
• When in the low cool room air temperature, the moisture of the wood expands and may cause damage to the guitar but not permanently. While in hot or high temperature the moisture of the wood dry out causing for it to have cracked and the glue joints will be lessened that may cause the opening.
• Be advised that hanging the guitar onto the wall is not recommended, the rapid changes of temperature of the wall may also damage it. It’s best you put it in a guitar case when not using because humidity is less in a smaller place. Whether the temperature is overheating or freezing always makes an effort to protect your guitar.
• If the instrument is broken, repairs should be done by an authorized repair person.

 

Cleaning the Instrument. A warm, damp clothing is the best cleaning material for the instrument. The guitar is coated with the highest-grade finish and it is very sensitive that even perspiration can damage it, so keep it dry. Avoid using any liquid solutions (it will just damage the coating ), just to keep your guitar clean and shiny.

Recommendation:  The guitar string can be cleaned with a soft cloth, this is enough to remove the skin oils before putting it into storage.

 

Tuning Guitar as Maintenance. Every machine or mechanical things need some tuning by the use of a toothpick. Just put some petroleum jell at the toothpick to lubricate the tuning machine, however, don’t do this too much to avoid dust which will make the machine less durable.

Recommendation: Lubricate one or two times a year for an open type of tuning machine.

 

Bridge and Endpins. The bride is the part where the strings are being put and lock by a pin notch. Make sure that the pin slot is properly aligned with the strings and the ball end is tightly pulls before you put the pin notch.

Recommendation: Check the pin notch once in a while to make sure it won’t loose from the Bridge.

 

The Strings. Although there are different types of strings, it is a general advice to use lighter strings set to play your guitar easier, hence you have to adjust the bridge saddle to avoid fret buzz. As you play your guitar, you will notice that the sound eventually loses its tune or out of its melody.

Moisture from the human skin can also damage the strings, making it worn out, corrosive and dirty.  When this happens, it’s time the strings should be replaced.

Recommendation: It is best to replace t whole set of strings (not only one string) to avoid the unbalance sounds of your guitar.

 

Traveling Guitar with Care. The guitar is one of the musical instruments that travels more than the other instruments that can be carried to travel, actually,  more than the other instruments in the world. If you are traveling by car or any land transportation, make sure you don’t put your guitar in the trunk. The heat of the trunk is unstable that it may go higher in temperature that may damage your instrument, putting it in the back seat is much safer.

If you’ll travel via airplane, hand carry is advisable. Fragile things should be carried by hand, which include a guitar. Doing this will avoid damage due to mishandling if put with other baggages.

 

Using Strap on a Guitar. Guitar straps can also damage the finish of your guitar. Some synthetic strap contains a solvent that makes the material so soft, make plaint and flexibilities that may cause the damage. Don’t let strap in contact with the guitar finish.

Recommendation: Best that you always remove the strap after use to avoid damage.