We tell you how to care for the guitar: we clean the neck from dirt, adjust the scale, adjust the truss rod and diagnose problems with the instrument's electronics.

Become a happy owner new guitar we want her to serve us long years. I want the state of the instrument to retain its original appearance for as long as possible. This will help only regular care of the guitar.

The guitar requires constant maintenance. The consequence of his absence are problems with the system, phony pickups, a lost signal, inconvenience of the game. To avoid this scenario, pay attention to electronics, scales, tuning pegs and other parts of the guitar.

Editorial website tells how to take care of the guitar at home.

Guitar care. Content:

General guitar storage rules

Guitarists are lazy by nature. To save time and effort, learn how to properly store the tool. Here are a few rules:

• Find the safest place in your apartment for your guitar. Hang it on the wall with the bracket, hide it in a closet, or place it neatly between the wall and the sofa.
• Do not store the guitar near heaters, in a draft, or on a balcony. Wood is sensitive to excessive moisture and temperature changes.
• Buy a case or a hard case. This will protect the guitar from impact. environment.
• If the guitar has been outdoors in cold weather, give it time to acclimate indoors. Do not open the cover for 20-30 minutes to avoid sudden temperature changes.
• If the guitar is to long journey, buy a hard case. Cases are designed to fully protect the guitar during transport.
• If you don't have a stand, lay your guitar on a horizontal surface with the strings down. If you put the instrument with the strings up, then there is a risk of damaging the fretboard. Under the weight of the instrument, the neck may begin to lead.
• Do not rest your guitar on vertical surfaces as it may slip and hit the floor.
• Do not handle the tool with dirty or greasy hands. Washing a guitar is harder than washing your hands.
• Wipe down the guitar with a dry cloth after each use. This will remove traces of dirt, dust and sweat left after the game.
• Use guitar cosmetics: polishes and oils. They perform protective function and improve appearance tool.
• Don't forget to change your strings every 3 months, and more often if you're playing actively.

The most common problem with guitars is the constant detuning of the instrument, which occurs with both new and old instruments. The reason for Nestroevich is improper care of the guitar, improper storage of the instrument and unsuitable strings.

Any strings stretch over time, so they need to be kept in good shape. Grab a string around the 8th-12th fret and pull it away from the fretboard. This procedure has a beneficial effect on the strings, and the guitar keeps the system better.

Pull back the string and hold it for a few seconds. The guitar will stay in tune better.

Thin strings (0.008" or figure 8) are suitable for lead guitar parts, but a light tension reduces the stability of the guitar tuning. This problem can be solved by blocking the bridge and top lock, but it is better to try to use the thickest strings. Additionally, the super-light tension strings act on the headstock, resulting in a non-string. Look for strings thick enough to balance the tension and resistance of the guitar neck.

The Telecaster, Stratocaster, Les Paul and SG models were developed in the 1950s and 1960s, long before super-light and light tension strings were available. However, most guitars are equipped with 0.009-inch strings. To achieve greater tuning stability on the Stratocaster and Telecaster, you can install strings with a thickness of 0.010 or 0.011 inches, and on Les Paul and SG - 0.011 and 0.012 inches.

You can improve the tuning of the instrument with an ordinary pencil that every home has. Paint over the grooves of the nut before installation. Graphite promotes tighter contact of the strings with the grooves, and also does not allow the strings to move freely in them.

Guitars are made from wood. Under the influence of temperature and the environment, the tree contracts and expands. Over time, this will loosen the strap mounting bolts, which can cause the tool to fall from a great height. It's a good idea to start caring for your guitar by checking that these screws are secure.

The bolts that attach the neck to the body of the guitar stretch over time. Regularly check the security of fastening.

If the neck of the guitar is bolted to the body, check that the fastening is secure. A neck that is not screwed tightly enough to the deck spoils the guitar and the instrument's tuning. Tighten the mounting bolts carefully, but do not use brute force, so as not to strip the bolt head.

If the guitar is equipped with a tremolo system (vibrato, typewriter), make sure the sound is clear. Gently swing the tremolo and listen to the sound of the instrument - the guitar should not make squeaks and crackles.

What to do, if…

… the guitar does not build

First of all, check the scale.

Change the strings and let them stretch. After tuning the guitar, hold each string at the 12th fret and check the accuracy of its tuning on the tuner. The indications of the open and clamped strings at the 12th fret should be identical. If the readings differ, then you need to adjust the scale.

... electric guitar phoning

One of the most common problems is poor grounding. Remove the electronics compartment cover and locate the ground wire. This wire attaches to the bridge or tremolo system, or goes inside the body (on Les Paul guitars).

Due to poor soldering, the wire may move away or move, as a result of which the tool begins to emit sound. Check the wire and try soldering it. If that doesn't work, replace the wire itself.

…tone and volume knobs crackle

Mechanical potentiometers on electric guitars have a limited lifespan. Defective potentiometers emit a characteristic crunch and rattle when turned. Before buying new potentiometers, try cleaning the old knobs.

Remove the electronics cover and locate the metal case of the regulator. To clean it, you need to turn the case over and find a small hole on the back side. In this hole, you need to inject a little spray-cleaner for electrical contacts, then turn the knob for a few seconds. You can clean the pickup switch in the same way.

... on the guitar pegs rattle

Problems with the tuning pegs cause the strings to rattle when played. Poorly fixed pegs should be tightened with screws holding the pegs to the headstock.

If the hole has grown or deteriorated, take an ordinary match. Coat the match with glue and insert it into the hole, using it as a screw. After the glue dries, put the pegs in place.

…the guitar picks up interference (radio)

In some cases, the guitar may pick up interference, radio, and other signals. Light, electrical wiring, radio and other devices affect the instrument, and the effect is most pronounced during sound recording.

First, check the grounding of the instrument. Use a different wire - your cable may be of poor quality. If everything is in order with the ground and cable, shield the tool electronics. Shielding can be done using conductive paint or foil.

Screening will require a lot of time and effort. It is better to entrust this task to professionals - guitar masters with good reviews, which can be found in the catalog of the site SoundFinder.ru.

… the guitar loses its signal

First, check the performance of the guitar cable. Connect the cable to the amplifier, and then touch the connector with your hand. If a characteristic hum does not appear during touching, then the cable is dead. If a hum appears, then everything is in order with the cable, and the problem lies in the tool itself.

Make sure that the cable connection socket is not loose. Check the contacts of the socket itself, gently shake the connector in different sides- this will help to more accurately determine the malfunction (see).

Guitar care: truss rod adjustment

On Stratocaster and Telecaster anchor bolt located at the head of the neck and not covered by a lid.

Anchor or truss rod (English Truss Rod)- a metal rod inside the neck of a guitar. The thickness of the rod is about 4-6 mm. One end of the anchor is fixed, and on the second there is a special adjusting bolt that changes the tension force of the anchor and the degree of neck deflection. On electric guitars, the bolt is usually located at the head of the neck, and on acoustic instruments- at the heel of the neck.

The stem prevents the neck of the guitar from bending under the tension of the strings, so it is most often used on acoustic and electric guitars with metal strings. Also, with the help of an anchor, the degree of neck deflection is adjusted to a level convenient for the guitarist.

The anchor can be installed in two ways:

1. Under the overlay, when milling is done from the side of the overlay. This method of installation is cheaper to manufacture. However, it has a serious drawback - over time, the rod can tear the fingerboard off the neck.
2. From the back of the neck, when milling is done from the back and sealed with a rail. The disadvantage of this method is the greater complexity of production.

Anchor adjustment - simple task. The success of the operation depends on the accuracy of the adjustment: excess force will break the rod and damage the pad.

When do you need to adjust the anchor and how to do it?

Anchor bolt adjustment diagram.

Tune your guitar to the desired tuning and install a new set of strings. Lay the guitar down so that nothing is pressing on the guitar neck. Otherwise, it will negatively affect the straightness of the neck.

Hold the neck on the 1st fret with your hand, and around the 16th-18th fret with your other hand. Without releasing your hands, estimate the distance between the strings and the top of the 6th-7th fret. As a rule, the maximum deflection of the neck falls on this place.

If the gap between the strings and frets is about 0.2-0.3 mm, the truss rod adjustment is not necessary. This distance is considered optimal for most tools, but is not a strict rule. Depending on the diameter of the strings, the playing style of the guitarist, the preferred tuning and other individual characteristics, this distance can be changed upwards.

The distance from the top of the fret to the strings should be 0.2-0.3 mm.

If the gap is greater than 0.3 mm, the anchor will need to be adjusted. Locate the adjusting bolt and use a hex wrench or flathead screwdriver to loosen or tighten the anchor.

When the gap is less than 0.2-0.3mm, the anchor bolt must be loosened by turning counterclockwise. If the gap is greater than this distance, the bolt must be tightened by turning it clockwise. Any slight turn of the bolt will affect the straightness of the neck. Be very careful not to do more than ¼ turn at a time!

Adjusting the truss rod changes the height of the strings. Under no circumstances change the height of the strings by turning the truss bolt! This way you will damage the guitar. You can only change the distance from the frets to the strings by adjusting the bridge (bridge) and the scale!

Anchor adjustment does not appear immediately, so do not rush to persistently turn the anchor bolt. Wait 30-60 minutes, and then check the tuning result.

Guitar Care: Cleaning the Rosewood Fretboard

Active guitar playing will dirty your frets, even if you always wash your hands before playing. The cause of dirt on guitar frets is our sweat from our hands. Such frets look disgusting, and dirt negatively affects the wood.

The best way to care for a guitar neck with a rosewood fretboard is lemon oil. The oil will clean the wood and soak into it for added protection.

How to clean a guitar neck?

Put a couple of drops of oil on all the frets of the instrument and let it soak in a little. Then take a dry rag and wipe each fret well.

This method of cleaning is only suitable for rosewood, from which it is made most of neck pads. If the fretboard is maple, ebony, or other woods, the lemon oil will damage the structure of the wood.

Setting the scale on an electric guitar

The scale is the distance between the bridge and the nut of the guitar. Usually this distance is 22-25 inches.

The scale is the length of the string from the nut to the bridge (string holder). Adjusting the scale on an electric guitar changes the length of the strings, improving the instrument's tuning and playability. To adjust the scale on an electric guitar, you will need a set of screwdrivers, a tuner and a fair amount of patience.

Because the strings are made from different materials, differ in tension and are produced by different companies using their own technologies, the length of the strings in similar sets from D'Addario and Dunlop will differ.

Tune the string on the tuner in accordance with the scale of the instrument, and then hold it down at the 12th fret. Compare the sound results - the guitar should build in both positions. If the tuner shows that the open first string and clamped at the 12th fret give a clean E, then everything is in order, and tuning the scale on the electric guitar is not required.

Where to turn the bolt while tuning the scale on the electric guitar. If the string at the 12th fret sounds higher, turn the screw clockwise. If it sounds lower, counterclockwise.

If the tuner says that the string sounds higher at the 12th fret (the tuner's arrow moves to the right), you need to move the saddle closer to the tailpiece. After doing this, re-tune the instrument and compare the sound. If the tuner reports that the string sounds lower, move the saddle towards the fretboard. Check the instrument's tuning at the 0th and 12th frets of each string and move the saddles until the strings sound equally clear.

Adjusting the scale on an electric guitar can be difficult due to worn or poor quality strings. Install a new kit and try to tune the instrument with it.

If new strings don't help, then the guitar likely needs a more professional repair. Take the instrument to a technician who will diagnose and identify the cause of tuning problems.

Nut Repair

One of the reasons for the appearance of strings rattling or the appearance of an unpleasant hum when playing is the nut. If you notice a rumble or rattle, first of all inspect the threshold.

If there is no visible damage, check its height. If the nut is set too low, the strings will hit the frets and rattle. Setting the nut too high makes it difficult to play on the first frets of the guitar.

The strings must be firmly held in the cuts. A kerf that is too narrow creates problems during instrument tuning, while a kerf that is too wide results in an unpleasant hum when played. When you hear a hum, find the source of its occurrence. Lightly pull the problem string towards you and produce a sound. If the hum is gone, then you have found the problem.

Remove the strings and carefully inspect the nut for cracks. A cracked nut needs to be replaced. If the threshold is intact, then it needs to be put in order. Take a look at the bottom of the cuts - it should be smooth and even. If necessary, sharpen it with a file.

Superglue will help narrow cuts that are too wide or too deep. Take paper tape (tape for sticking window frames) and tape the neck of the guitar to protect the guitar from glue.

Dip the corner of a small piece of paper in superglue. Carefully fill the problematic cut with glue and let the glue dry. Repeat the process if necessary. If there is enough glue, take a file and file the cut a little so that the cut is smooth.

Tremolo system maintenance (cars, vibrato)

Wipe down your tremolo system after every time you play your guitar. The biggest threat to tremolo is sweat from the hands, which has a negative effect on the metal parts of the system.

Remember that individual parts of a tremolo wear out over time. If the system does not hold the system, check the "knives" - they may have worn out or dulled. If dull, replace them and lubricate with a little machine oil.

Lubricate the tremolo arm mechanism to avoid squeaking.

Without timely lubrication, the micro-adjustment bolts will be difficult to turn. Unscrew them and put a little machine oil on the threads.

Always inspect seats for corrosion or cracks. Special tools or ordinary Coca-Cola will help remove corrosion. Place the saddle in a glass of Coke or wrap the rust with a rag soaked in Coke. After a day, the corrosion should go away. If the saddles are cracked, then it is better to replace them.

Electronics maintenance

The TRS connector is one of critical components any power tool. Like other parts of the electric guitar, the connector requires maintenance.

TRS connectors are open and closed. Open connectors can be easily repaired, but a closed, faulty jack will have to be replaced. Having noticed the first problems with the signal, inspect the cable connector for damage.

Check how well the nest is fixed. If the connector is loose or does not sit very tightly, tighten the fixing nut with a wrench or pliers. If the nut is tightened tightly, and the signal is not received, then you need to check the condition of the electronics. Remove the connector fixing screws and carefully pull out the jack cable.

After pulling out the jack socket, clean the junction of the plug and connector with sandpaper, a file or a screwdriver. This procedure will stop the development of corrosion, remove dust and dirt, and improve the quality of the connection.

The connected cable must fit snugly and securely into the socket. If for some reason this is not the case, visually determine the cause of the malfunction. Most likely the problem lies in a detached or bent connector. Gently bend the connector and connect the cable to check for a signal. If the signal returns after bending, replace or solder the defective connector.

If everything is in order with the jack socket, then the reason for the lack of signal is in another place. Check the pickup switch - it happens that after several switches of the knob, the signal returns.

If the signal returned after switching the handle, it is worth checking the contacts on the board. Remove the cover and remove the entire board. Inspect the wire contacts. If they show signs of corrosion, oxidation or dirt, carefully clean the contacts with a screwdriver, alcohol or cologne. If the switch cannot be repaired, replace it with a new one.

“Why do that, is it still working the way it should? It still sounds as great as it did the first day I bought it!”

One can agree with this, but still, without a corresponding guitar care, it is much more susceptible to destructive factors and literally suffers. As a result, a real problem arises, which can lead to the fact that the guitar will receive permanent damage.

There are particularly sensitive parts in the guitar:

1. Strings

“Well, we know that” - so many of you will say and think that I will advise you to replace the old strings with new ones, in case they have become unusable. Do strings that have been used for X hours really need to be changed due to bad sound?

In this article, I will reveal to you a little secret, with the help of which your strings can stay “like new” much longer. Hint: This secret will be linked to string cleaning.

2. Vulture

Here frets are especially problematic. Every person, and therefore every guitarist, sweats while playing. This sweat naturally settles on the fretboard and on the strings. The more you play, the more sweat. This sweat wears out the frets and .

The wood of the fretboards also suffers, which of course is mostly a visual problem, as sweat builds up over time. This is especially noticeable when the neck is made of light woods. And yet, even if the neck is made of dark wood, if not cleaned enough, it can darken even more. Therefore, it, as well as a light neck, can and should be cleaned.

If there is dirt on the neck of a guitar, not only its appearance suffers, but also its playability. In particular, the frets are very vulnerable here, on which deposits appear over time. In addition, sweat slowly but surely eats into the metal and a process occurs that is very reminiscent of corrosion.

It doesn't matter if it's a tremolo, tension springs, or maybe even a Floyd Rose system. All metal is susceptible to sweat and corrosion. Here, over time, there may be big problems, which usually hit the pocket very hard.

4. Housing

When the body develops cracks and other signs of wear due to insufficient care, it can degrade the sound of your guitar many times over. Therefore, it is very important to know how to clean your guitar.

“Okay, okay, I get it. But what should I do now?”

There are countless guitar care products, countless ways to invest your money, and countless user opinions about it. Which opinions are rational and which are nonsense? Ultimately, it's all just various ways removing the effects of playing a musical instrument.

How to deal with deposits under the strings, on the neck of the guitar and on its metal parts? How to deal with all kinds of stains on the varnish? To combat all these negative things, there are very simple and effective methods.

1. Cleaning the strings on the guitar

Here we must, first of all, clean the dirt (sweat from the hands, skin particles and dust) from the strings.

Mud reduces string vibrations. Consequences of this: bad sound. In order to avoid this, you need clean the strings every time after playing dry and clean cotton handkerchief or cloth.

2. Cleaning the neck and frets

Fingerboards are divided into lacquered and non-lacquered.

Lacquered necks are most often made from light woods (such as maple) rather than lacquered dark woods (such as rosewood).

First of all, you need to bring the frets to a shine. This can be done very effectively with steel wool.

and a soft toothbrush.

Wherein always work in the longitudinal direction.

In order to get shining sills, you need to use lacquer care products. However, you need to be careful when doing this, because you can not apply lacquer care products to unvarnished fretboards! In this case, the neck, first of all, must be cleaned with a damp handkerchief.

Most good time for guitar care activities comes when you change the strings. For cleaning unvarnished fretboards, it is mainly used lemon oil.

You just need to spread a few drops over the neck and then wipe with a soft cotton handkerchief. At the same time, some dirt will be removed. Synthetic oil can be used along with lemon oil to clean unvarnished fretboards. gun oil(Waffenöl), for example, ballistol (Ballistol).

It is very important to consider the following: the strings are made of metal, and the neck is made of wood. Both are cleaned separately. For example, neck cleaning oil causes strings to corrode. Therefore, oil your neck only when the strings have been removed.

3. Cleaning the metal parts of the guitar

The mechanics of the guitar are steel, which entails the fact that it is susceptible to corrosion. This happens when the mechanics come into contact with sweat or when you play the guitar in the rain;) Therefore, you need to clean the metal parts of the guitar regularly.

Here you can use oil with simple sewing machine

or synthetic gun oil Waffenöl (Ballistol). One or two drops will be enough. When doing this, contact with the electric parts of the guitar and wood should be avoided. You can use a soft toothbrush to get to the grooves and grooves of the tremolo.

4. Guitar Body Care

If the door is varnished, it is almost impossible to make a mistake. The easiest way to clean the case is with a handkerchief or cloth. The scarf should be as clean as possible and without threads. In addition, it should not leave scratches on the varnish. Every music store has these handkerchiefs, and it will also work. microfiber fabric(the one used for wiping glasses).

We dip the handkerchief in rinse water (water + detergent) and clean the dirt from the case. Caution: do not use too much detergent! 2-3 drops per liter will be enough! In the end, don't worry about the wood, because varnish protects it.

After drying, you can use a lacquer care product. It's called "polish".

Please note that there are various polishes that differ in their composition and strength of action. Thanks to the polish, the surfaces are smoothed and light scratches are removed.

For guitars covered modern (polyurethane) varnish the different strength of the polishes is not a problem - their surface is quite hardy. The same cannot be said about concert, western guitars and high-quality vintage instruments, which most often use fast lacquer (nitrocellulose lacquer). This varnish is very thin and is used to seal wood. But, unfortunately, it is much less tolerant of nail polish care products.

The meaning of the above: you can not work with polishes here. Such guitars should be wiped with a dry, soft, cotton handkerchief.

The polish is pretty easy to use:

It is rubbed into the varnish in a circular motion with a handkerchief. Then the body of the guitar is polished to a mirror finish with another dry and clean handkerchief. Do not try to polish your guitar every day. This is best only when changing strings. At the same time, I want to add that the head and back side necks are cleaned in the same way as the body.

Now let's move on to unvarnished surfaces. Here it is inappropriate to use the above method using rinse water (with detergent).

Due to the fact that there is no varnish to protect the wood, water soaks into the wood. This may lead to cracks. At the first stage, you just need to remove the dust (with a dry handkerchief).

In addition, lacquer care products should not be used on unvarnished surfaces, as ugly oil stains may appear without a protective lacquer. For these purposes, there are special oils and waxes.

Lots of things to do!

I hope that in this article I have convinced you of how much you can do to take care of your guitar. However, you can spend enough a large number of money, at the same time you can achieve your goal with inexpensive means. Many people probably assume that an uncleaned body of their guitar looks as good as it did a few years ago and that their guitar has finally taken on the desired worn look. Other people have Custom-guitar with special varnishing. And at the same time, they do everything to make it shine and shine.

Ultimately, what matters is how valuable your guitar is to you and what you attach importance to.

How do you take care of your guitar?

Do you have your own guitar care tips? How do you approach this issue? Do you have any questions? Write your comments below this article. And of course, put likes at the top of the article if you liked it ...

How to care.

The guitar, like any other device, is subject to wear and aging:
- the strings are deformed and even sometimes torn;
- wooden parts can warp from sudden changes in climatic conditions; moving parts wear out, etc.
All these unpleasant changes can prevent you from expressing yourself through your instrument and increase your chances of expressing yourself through other, not very suitable for printing, ways. Therefore, if you want your guitar to always be in good working order and ready to play, you need to learn the rules for caring for it and the simplest repair.

As your playing level increases, you will begin to get a better feel for the instrument, so if there are subtle changes in the response of the strings or action, you will immediately notice them. In the same way, your ear will develop: in some cases, the response of the guitar and its appearance will not change, but its sound may become a little different from what you are used to. This will already be a signal to devote time to the tool and find out what the problem is. The more you get to know your guitar, the less afraid you will be of experimenting with it. Gaining experience and knowledge as you master the instrument is a natural process. But, on the other hand, unforeseen situations can always happen (for example, a guitar breaks down on the road), so you should be prepared to do minor repairs on your own. In doing so, you will not only save money and time, but also better understand how the guitar works. So put your plectrum aside and grab your repair tools! Next, you will learn exactly what tools, materials and fixtures you will need, as well as how to use them correctly.

Guitar care
You may not like it, but the most destructive forces that can damage your guitar are yours. Your hands sweat, transfer moisture, grease, corrosive liquids and dirt to strings, wood and metal parts. Add to that the natural natural phenomena: dust, beer, cigarette smoke (even if you are a supporter healthy lifestyle life, performing in clubs, you are unlikely to be able to avoid this) and drops of sweat from the bassist's hair. Luckily, cleaning a guitar is a fairly simple and quick procedure. In most cases, your guitar will shine like new within minutes.
To minimize the chance of your guitar becoming contaminated with dust and droplets of any kind, try to place it in a case or case as soon as possible.

strings
After each performance or each rehearsal, clean the strings with a piece of soft cloth. At the same time, pay attention to the cleanliness of the nut and stand. Wipe the strings one at a time - this will lengthen their life.
Body, headstock and guitar mechanics
With the guitar strings taut, pour guitar polish onto a piece of cloth and wipe the body, back, and front of the neck (for better contact with a wooden surface, you can pass the fabric under slightly loosened strings). Then rub the guitar to a shine with a dry rag. Similarly, with a soft cloth, you can wipe down all the metal parts. To get to hard-to-reach places, such as string sockets and the area under the tails of the strings, you can use a cleaning stick. Be careful not to get any cleaning fluid on the strings - they can become slippery, like the handshake of a burnt politician.

Nuts
To properly clean the frets, the strings must be removed. First, wipe the sills with a clean cloth. To remove dirt, you can lightly go over the surface of the nut with fine-grained sandpaper (the so-called "zero"), moving the paper parallel to the fingerboard. At the same time, the effort should be very light so that the emery, along with the dirt, does not remove the metal of the nut. Be especially careful not to damage the face of the neck with the emery. Always move the emery in one direction in a very slow motion so that your hand does not come off and hit the wood surface of the fret.

Check the surface of the sills for burrs and nicks. Small burrs can be removed on their own using the same “zero”, and it is better to entrust the removal of deeper burrs to a qualified specialist. Due to the fact that the strings are constantly pressed against the nut, small indentations form on the nut after prolonged use of the guitar. While the surface of the nut is even, the string is pressed against it in different places (albeit in a rather narrow band), thereby evenly distributing the "damage". However, as soon as a recess begins to form on the threshold, the string will more and more often be pressed against the threshold in this very place, thereby “breaking” the threshold, like heavy trucks on a country road. Therefore, timely grinding of recesses (until they become "grooves") can significantly lengthen the life of the sills.

Electronics
Contamination of the contact surfaces of switches, connectors and potentiometers can cause any music you play to be accompanied by crackles, clicks and acoustic shocks. But getting rid of such undesirable phenomena is quite simple - you just need to perform " general cleaning electronic economy".
Cleaning potentiometers (sound volume controls, guitar tone)

By performing the simple operations described below, you will protect yourself from the troubles associated with the ingress of dirt on the contact surfaces of the potentiometers or with the occurrence of corrosion on them.

1. Remove the potentiometer knob. Plastic handles are usually held onto the shanks by friction alone. Insert the tip of a screwdriver under the handle and lightly press on the handle of the screwdriver to remove the handle from the shank. However, be careful - metal handles are often attached to the shank with a small screw. In this case, first unscrew this screw, and then remove the handle.

2. Apply contact cleaner to the contact surfaces of the potentiometer that are visible through the hole.

3. Rotate the shank of the potentiometer several times in different directions to evenly wet the contact surfaces with the cleaning liquid.

Cleaning switches and connectors
The contact surfaces of switches and connectors are generally more difficult to reach than the contact surfaces of potentiometers. On some guitars, to gain access to the switches, you need to remove either the protective cap or the switch bar. However, if you managed to get access to the elements of interest to you in one way or another, the cleaning technique remains the same: pour as much liquid as possible on the contact surfaces and operate the switch or plug until you get rid of the dirt.

Guitar storage
You can be very careful with the guitar while it is near you, but all your efforts will be in vain if you do not take care of proper storage in time. As already noted in this chapter, wood is a rhyme sensitive material, but in relation to factors external environment, and some of these factors can be a source of sufficient power for your guitar. serious problems. Here are some simple guitar storage tips that will save you headaches and your wallet from guitar repair costs. Always store your guitar in a case. Soft cases are only good for short-term storage - nothing protects the wood, mechanics and guitar strings like a good, durable case. If the guitar is stored in such a case, you don't have to worry about the fretboard moving. The case will reliably protect the tool from dust, moisture.
And a few more tips:
Try to avoid sudden changes in temperature;
Store the instrument in constant humidity conditions;
Inspect the instrument regularly for any damage.

Any musical instrument, and the guitar as well, needs proper and timely care. Otherwise, cracks may appear on the body, and the neck may delaminate. With prolonged use, the pegs and strings wear out and the sound of the instrument deteriorates. Cheap guitars are more resistant to environmental changes. The manufacture of expensive tools takes place under certain conditions to preserve all the nuances of wood. And these conditions must be maintained for the entire period of using the guitar.

Acoustic Guitar Care

Electric guitar care

General advice - the same as for the care of acoustics. also does not like temperature changes, so it is better to keep it in a trunk or case. The body can be wiped with a damp cloth, then wipe dry and wipe with a special polish. The main thing is that the polish should not contain alcohol!

accessories

If the bridge (string holder) is heavily soiled, it must be removed and lowered into soapy water. Rinse until clean. Rinse in warm clean water and wipe dry. It is better not to use iron washcloths and powder, otherwise scratches may appear. Lubricate all friction points engine oil, except for the potentiometer knobs. Time ort time to clean the sills. The accumulated dirt dampens the strings. The screws on the pegs periodically need to be tightened, because as a result of shaking they unwind and a bounce appears.

Although the guitar is made of wood, it should not be treated like furniture. No wonder we hug the guitar when we play it. She is the spokesman for our feelings and thoughts. She is our vest, our sedative. Therefore, if you are the owner of a good acoustic guitar, you must follow the rules for caring for the instrument. Proper storage, maintenance, and regular minor repairs will keep your six-string friend not only looking good, but her pure, alluring tone as well.

Tool storage

Having bought a guitar, be prepared for new expenses. You have to purchase a case (or case). At worst, buy a cover, just keep in mind that it should be tight, with good insulation. Please note: some guitar manufacturers produce cases specifically for their acoustics.
If you intend to use the instrument frequently and handling the case is inconvenient for you, purchase special stand for acoustics with a holder under the fingerboard. The stand holder will not let the tool fall if your child or pet is interested in it.
Remember that the guitar does not tolerate temperature changes! Therefore, do not place it next to the radiator or at the balcony door. If you have to walk with acoustics in the cold, do not take it out and do not play on it as soon as you enter the room. Let the tool stand in the case for a while and warm up.
One more nuance: any musical instrument does not tolerate too low humidity. If the air is too dry, cracks may appear in the case, as a result of which the sound will no longer be the same. Keep the humidity in the room where the guitar is stored at around 50%. This rule is especially true during the heating season. Most simple solution buying a humidifier will be a problem, but if you can’t afford it, then place cans of water around the tool or spread a damp rag near the battery.

String and body care

If you care about the sound quality of your acoustics, get ready for the fact that you will have to change the strings about 2-3 times a year. To avoid doing this too often, try the following tips:
Loosen the strings after each play by 1-2 tones;
Wipe the strings regularly with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth;
Remember that dirt and grease from our fingers will clog the windings of the strings, resulting in a less bright sound, so always wash your hands before playing the instrument;
If you are inclined to save, do not rush to throw out the strings that have become unusable! Put them in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. The dirt will be washed away, the grease will dissolve, and the strings will sound like new!
The tool must be cleaned regularly to remove dust. For example, Yamaxa guitar bodies are distinguished from others by their exceptional reflective surface properties, and greasy hand stains are quite noticeable on them. To care for the body, get yourself a cloth with a soft pile. In no case do not wipe the guitar with a damp cloth, it is better to apply a special tool for the care of musical instruments to the cloth.
Don't forget to inquire about the specifics of guitar care and storage from the sales assistant of the guitar store where you are going to purchase the instrument. He will give you detailed instructions on how to care for each specific model.