Guitar care...

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

Guitar care...

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

Merle

Posts: 218
Joined: Jul. 6 2003

Guitar care...

Ok, all you knucklehead guitar players, if you have not changed strings in the past 4 weeks, GET OFF THE FORUM NOW, and go change your strings!!

Also, prior to taking off your old strings, get a damp COTTON cloth wet with WATER and wash your guitar HEAD TO TOE. Wash the back, front, sides, fretboard, peghead, everywhere! Then get a DRY soft cotton cloth and polish it real good, then start changing your old strings. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT, EVER USE A GUITAR POLISH OF ANY KIND! Just use a soft cloth and water! And, DON'T put any of that 'FingerEase' or "FastFret' stuff on your fretboard. All that crap does is dulls the new strings!!

After you change your strings and bring it up to tune, leave it out of the case for 1 hour, then retune it and put it in you guitar case and leave it alone till the next day.

Now then, about your case! If you don't have a humidefier in your guitar case, then just throw the guitar away, because that means that you don't care about the guitar!!

After the guitar is in the case, and the humidifier registers a close 40% humidity, make sure that you have a NEW polishing rag that you fold and lay across the fretboard! This keeps the guitar fretboard happy and maintains some of the moisture inside the guitar case in the fretboard. Also, when you leave home with the guitar, you always have the polishing cloth with you. Also, when the guitar is out of your guitar case, ALWAYS SHUT the guitar case so that it maintains the correct humidity!

Now then, again, if you have not changed your strings in the last month, GET OFF THIS FORUM and take care of that beautiful lady of yours! NOW GIT!!! ;>)

Merle

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 1:24:26

Thomas Whiteley

Posts: 786
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Merle)

My approach is different.

1. Remove strings.

2. Use a soft cloth like a new baby diaper to apply a polish cleaner such as Gibson GG-910 to the entire instrument – including fingerboard.

3. Let it dry.

4. Polish with a soft cloth as in step 2. A chamois may also be used.

5. I have never used a humidifier – in high desert climates that could be a requirement. In the San Francisco Bay Area we average 50% humidity which people, wood and metal seem to prefer!

6. Never place the guitar in or out of a case near a source of heat or cold!

7. Never leave your guitar in the car or trunk. Temperate build up can ruin it in short order.

8. Never hang your guitar on a wall for display unless it is worth 50 cents and you do not like it or you have an expensive instrument and want to impress someone who does not know wood from concrete.

9. Store the guitar in its case when not in use and lock it to protect it from sudden changes in temperature and humidity.

10. Enjoy your guitar and treat it well as it will serve you for many years and gives the player and audience the joy of music.

_____________________________

Tom
http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 3:25:33

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Merle)

The guy who used to do work on my guitars told me he didn't believe it was good to introduce humidity to guitars... I haven't had any problems. I live in Phoenix, the desert, real low humidity.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 3:55:19

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Merle)

Ops i think i have just done all the donts you guys mention

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 7:25:57

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Merle)

Hey can i boorow someones guitar for a week ? hehe

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 7:27:04

Merle

Posts: 218
Joined: Jul. 6 2003

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

Tom, about putting something like Gibson GG-910 or some other smelly, greasy, yucky stuff on your guitar, I'm just following Juan Martins advice that he nevers uses that stuff. Your guitar ends up smelling just like the stuff you put on it. Also, it leaves a film that really attracts the fingerprints and dust!!

I used to put that stuff on my classical guitar, and to this day, it smells just like that guitar polish, not like the wood smell. I never did it to my Navarro or my Carpio and they look and smell just like when I recieved them.

To each his own, but, count me out of the guitar polish gig! I'll just stick to water and a dry cotton cloth.

Merle

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 13:00:57

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Merle)

Why not smear melt hot butter over the sound board and finish off with a light sprinkle of dusted sugar and caramelised shortbread, put it in the freezer for a few hours and then (without delay) sit it outside in the blazing sun till the headstock kisses the bridge and the shelac goes a nice golden brown, then serve on a bed of Pilao rice.
Mmmm..! nice enough to eat.
making me feel hungry, lunch time!
Jim.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 13:20:31

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Jim Opfer)

LOL!! Jim.

Hey, Merle....do you do your guitar washing before or after the dogs?

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 14:29:13

Merle

Posts: 218
Joined: Jul. 6 2003

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Ron.M)

Before, RonM, always before!! What? You want dog hair all over your guitar?

Perhaps I should spray polish over all dogs that I wash? ;>)

I need to start a post on 'How to Properly Wash a Dog', for those of you that are not experienced in such manners!!

Merle

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 15:18:48

Merle

Posts: 218
Joined: Jul. 6 2003

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Jim Opfer)

quote:

then serve on a bed of Pilao rice.

You almost got it, Jim! However, everyone knows that you serve that on ham fried rice...

Man, it amazes me how little you folks know about things!! ;>)

Merle

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 15:21:22

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Merle)

Do you guys change your strings all at once or one string at a time? I change em one at a time. I've heard never take them all off but I've done that at times and never had any problems. I do it one at a time to be on the safe side.

I don't use a humidifier either. Here in Texas it's real damn hot and humid in the summer and a little bit of humidity in the winter although you can't feel it.

Now if your up North you may need a humidifier for sure.

Merle, do you take as much care of your wife or does your Carpio have seniority.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 18:22:46

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Merle)

Tom,

I talked to John Shelton about this, and he said it was more an issue of bringing the guitar back to full tension for tone, not a safety issue. He said if you take them all off, it may take awhile to get back to full tone. He also builds in a recurve into the neck, which is straight with strings under tension. If you take them all off the neck will reflex back and you may get buzzing until the neck come back into position.

Pat

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 19:00:51

Merle

Posts: 218
Joined: Jul. 6 2003

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to TANúñez)

El Zurdo, I change my strings one at a time, just for the reasons Pat mentioned. That's why when I'm sure that the string are worn, I wash the guitar fretboard (with a damp cloth) real good, then change the strings.

No, I take care of the wife and kids, then I get what's left over! (as usual)!! Hey, I just bought her a new 2003 Suburau Outback! (well, she's paying for it)...

Also, she does not even know about our secret (no what I mean alligator)?

Merle

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2003 19:11:44

Paul Bruhns

Posts: 77
Joined: Jul. 14 2003

RE: Guitar care... (in reply to Merle)

Guys:

I change my strings SIX at a time. I actually take them all off and inspect the inside of the guitar with my hand and a mirror.. I tap the top and make sure all is sound (no pun intended). Then I clean the fret board, paying particular attention to the fret wire,including where the fret meets the board.

Frets tarnish and dirt/ oxidation (from the strings) builds up around them. If the dirt is on there long enough, small micro creatures can form (molds) along the wood/fretwire interface. That's what causes wear... not your fingers... its the dirt that breaks down the wood (I'm assuming you keep your left hand nails short). Some luthiers, Like Conde (Felipe V shop) even use coated fret wire to inhibit this as much as possible.

I then clean the giutar body, and sometimes I use the same Gibson polish that Tom Whitely mentioned. I've never had a problem using the GIbson polish on any finish (Laquer or French Polish), but you should make sure you rub it out pretty well, so you don't get the build up that Merle mentioned.

Well, that's what I do... I'm not saying anyone else's way is not correct, or that you should do what I do, But I'm pretty confident that the fret board cleaning will go a long way in preserving your axe.

Regards,
Paul

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 22 2003 2:33:37