Have you ever had times that you have felt as if you and your guitar are not connecting as well as you used to? If so, I can relate. There have been times when I would look at my guitar and think to myself, if only it was not there.
This happens to a great many people, for some it happens for this or that reason; for others, because of an accident. To some, through no fault of their own; while on the other hand, some are just way too careless and simply don’t care.
What am I talking about here, I am simply talking about guitar stains, dirt or disrepair; call it whatever you want. I am talking about the thing that keeps you away from enjoying time with your gorgeous string instrument, (albeit in this case it would not be gorgeous anymore).
First off, as the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.” We have to make sure that our instrument is protected when it is tacked away or when you are traveling.
What do you need to protect your guitar from you ask. Humidity (which is very bad for guitars), dust, scratches, glue, permanent markers; the list is endless. Please use a guitar case at all times, especially when you are traveling.
The finish, this is responsible for the general outlook of your guitar. Most musical instruments have some kind of finish like: polyesters or French polish.
Regardless what the finish is, it still needs to be taken good care of.
The best way to keep it clean is to wipe it off with a soft cloth after each use. This removes sweat, oil and dust.
(If need be, use a damp cloth and/or any specific guitar cleaner/solvent that you can get from a music store or online. Be weary not to use any kind of solvent or cleaner, as some may cause serious damage to your finish).
If you need a tip, the automotive industry would be a good place to go. They use a cleaner that might work well with some finishes. “Glaze”, is the product name. It contains no silicone and thus; it can be used on just about any surface.
When cleaning the neck, you can use glaze as well, it leaves it smooth and shiny. I would not recommend using waxes; they don’t leave the neck smooth and shiny.
Don’t forget about the fret board, which needs to be cleaned as well. Remove all your strings and clean the frets and the fret board. Use steel less wool and linseed oil for this. Wet the wool with the oil and clean the frets.
For the strings, use a rag and WD-40 lubricating spray (any other lubricating spray will work). Spray a fair amount on the rag (you don’t want it dripping wet). Wipe down your strings with extra care not to touch any other part of your instrument and you are done.
Samuel Malama is a great encouragement to every guitarist out there. He is well known for the motivation and suport that he gives to guitar players. For a limited time, grab his report on the 3 secrets to succeed as a guitarist by clicking the link learn to play the guitar or visit www.zoblazo.com/learn-to-play-the-guitar
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