Minor maintenance jobs
Now that you've got your guitar properly set up, there are just a
few little jobs left to do that will ensure that it's in perfect playing condition and
ready for anything.
Cleaning
Apart from the obvious cosmetic benefits, a clean guitar is
generally a more efficient guitar. Do wipe the neck and body, as well as the
strings, after you play. The sweat and natural oils exuded by the human body can make
strings deteriorate more quickly and also, if left on the finish, cause marks which are
sometimes impossible to remove. My Les Paul came with a pink plush-lined case which has
the habit of transferring the dye to the cream body binding if I don't wipe down those
parts which are in direct contact with the pink plush. In fact, I now wrap the body with a
cotton muslin scarf prior to putting it away in the case.
There are various guitar polishes and cleaners around which all
seem to be OK. For stubborn marks, naphtha - or liquid lighter fuel - is safe to use, but
it won't be needed very often.
You can clean the fretboard with a clean, soft cloth, although if
it's very dirty, you may need to give it more of a clean than this. For maple necks, a
soft, barely damp cloth is all right to use as the dirt just lies on top of the lacquer,
if you've got any left. For rosewood and other dark wood fingerboards, you may need to
scrape away the gunk that builds up on it. Don't be squeamish - it's your gunk! Use a very
blunt knife, a steel rule or even an old credit card and scrape away the dirt between the
fretwire with the straight edge of whatever you're using, going with the grain. Don't
press hard - you don't want to scratch the wood. You can then oil the fingerboard, if it's
rosewood or a similar wood. You can buy various oils, but I prefer pure lemon oil. It's
rather expensive, but a small bottle lasts for ages and it smells good, too. When you're
putting new strings on, with the old ones off, just apply a little oil to the board with a
soft cloth. Let the oil sink in for about a quarter of an hour and then remove the excess
with clean cloth. Then put the new strings on. I oil my Les Paul's fingerboard about
twice a year. Don't overdo it; you don't want the wood to get soggy.
It isn't just the body and neck that you can clean. If you have a
crackly switch or a pot or two, get some WD40 and spray the moving parts with a small
amount of this. If you look closely at these components, you can often see an access point
where some of the lubricant can seep in. I've found that most crackles respond to this
very well. WD40 can also be used to clean and lubricate other things like tuner gears - if
they're not enclosed - and bridge components. Just make sure that you're sparing with the
spraying. You don't want any WD40 to get into screw holes, otherwise the holes can get
soggy and won't grip the screw threads.
Tightening
With the best will in the world, two things can gradually become
loosened which can really screw up your evening - the jack socket and the strap buttons.
Don't just tighten up a loose socket without taking it off the
guitar first. If you do, then the socket may turn inside the guitar and tear the solder
joints. Remove the socket - there's no need to disconnect it - and hold it as you tighten
up the nut. Then replace the socket. If the nut is prone to loosening, just dab a little
clear nail varnish between the nut and the thread. This will just crack if you have to
take the socket out and won't harm it in any way. Don't get any on the finish of the
guitar, however. I hate to think what it would do to the finish!
Strap buttons often come loose and need to be well-secured. Now's
the time to invest in some sort of replacement locking system. Strap holes can become worn
and will eventually slip off the buttons really easily. Not a good thing if you have any
instrument around your neck that you have any regard for. Straplocks are easy to install
and will last you a lifetime. However, even the replacement buttons need tightening
periodically. If any button gets too loose, you may have to plug the hole with wood and
glue - not superglue! - and a new hole then drilled.
I change strings about every three weeks on guitars that I don't
gig and about every three gigs with ones that I do. I check the jack socket and strap
buttons every time. It doesn't take long and either, if loose, could ruin the gig - not to
mention the guitar, possibly.
Well, that's about it as regards guitar maintenance and set up. If
I've missed anything out, or you have suggestions for future articles, let me know - also
if I've got anything wrong.
I hope that this series of tutorials has helped you understand your
guitar better and also saved you some money. Don't forget what I've said throughout. If
you encounter difficulties that you can't sort out, take your guitar to a tech. Ask him
about the problem and ask him to explain what he did to remedy things. That way, you'll
learn a little more which may help you next time you set your guitar up.
Guitar set-up tutorials - Overview