Guitarzzz

We here at Guitarzzz.com know that things get overlooked easily when it comes to owning and playing a guitar. Sometimes it’s tricks of the trade that many people just don’t know of, other times it’s general maintenance that one simply forgets to do.

So we thought we’d make an easy How To Guide on looking after your guitar. Some of these apparently procedures might seem anal-retentive, but trust me, it will definitely ensure your guitars standard in the long run. You’ll notice that it’s more often than not rather trouble-free, uncomplicated tasks that make sure your guitar remains in tiptop condition throughout your time as a budding rock star.

• The easiest (and most often overlooked) step is rather straightforward. Wash your hands! Every time you handle your guitar without washing your hands, you’re transferring all the oils and muck your hands have encountered directly to your fret board.

• Make sure you clean your guitar properly before putting it in its case. This entails wiping off any excess dust and oil smudges. It’s a really good idea to invest in a proper hard-shell case and to not use the leather carry case varieties. The latter does not protect the guitar from most bumps and allows for a rather high humidity level within the case. If you own a hard-shell case, make sure to buy a humidity capsule (available at any decent music store) to ensure a regular humidity level within the case.

• On the topic, when not playing your guitar, keep it in your case. Having your guitar out for prolonged periods exposes it to any unwanted weather conditions such as direct sunlight and temperature and humidity changes. Remember, a guitar is made from wood, which is easily influenced (expanding and contracting) by temperature changes.

• Play your guitar everyday! It’s the easiest and most sure proof way to keep it in a desirable condition. Think of starting an engine after a few months of it sitting idle. Not good!

• When changing strings, never ever change them all at once. Doing so can damage the neck in a very bad way due to unequal tension. However, try to change your strings on a regular basis rather than hardly at all. Also, make an effort to tighten all strings, pins and screws.

• Never wear a belt buckle or anything similar that might scratch a guitar while playing. This is a very easy way to send your beautiful guitar straight to Ugly Land where all the dinged up, scratched guitars live.

• If you’re planning on travelling with your guitar, make sure to loosen the strings if it’s going to be packed away for long periods of time. Also, wrap a towel around the neck to protect the machine heads and fret board.

These are just simple, seemingly common sense tips that can go a long way into protecting your shredder but you’d be surprised how few people actually consider them when handling a guitar. So remember to just take simple precautions and you can be playing away for years to come! It might be a good idea to keep your guitar out of little kids hands too!