Guitar care... (Full Version)

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Merle -> Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 1:24:26)

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



Thomas Whiteley -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 3:25:33)

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.



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 3:55:19)

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.



Florian -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 7:25:57)

Ops i think i have just done all the donts you guys mention [:(]



Florian -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 7:27:04)

Hey can i boorow someones guitar for a week ? hehe[:)]



Merle -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 13:00:57)

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



Jim Opfer -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 13:20:31)

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.



Ron.M -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 14:29:13)

LOL!! Jim.

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


Ron



Merle -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 15:18:48)

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



Merle -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 15:21:22)

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



TANúñez -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 18:22:46)

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.



Patrick -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 19:00:51)

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



Merle -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 21 2003 19:11:44)

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



Paul Bruhns -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 22 2003 2:33:37)

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



Escribano -> RE: Guitar care... (Aug. 25 2003 9:34:35)

... and a drop of lemon oil on those dried out ebony fingerboards.



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