Proper Care Advice For Used Guitars

By Lance Sermons


You can find a myriad of reasons for why guitarists buy used guitars. But whether you've bought one for your beginner instrument or as a valuable collection, you've got to do occasional maintenance and cleaning routine to keep it in good condition and sound.

Used guitars, particularly the vintage ones from premier brands or those that were once played by well-known music artists and guitarists are usuallyy considered an investment. A particular guitar model that's no longer produced or those on limited production models may become rare as they age, such instruments may be worth many folds than their original price. These high value instruments can still look and sound good with good care and maintenance.

Since guitar consists of a couple of vital components which happen to be usually constructed from metal and wood materials, each one should be cleaned differently by using appropriate cleaning agents. Listed below are some tips about the proper care and upkeep of your priceless stringed instrument.

1. Body
The perfect time to clean your guitar happens when you're changing most of the strings. Minus the strings, you can now clean and polish the body of the instrument throughout. Cleaning the interior part from dust balls can be done with the aid of a vacuum pressure cleaner. This allows you to clean all of the inner portion of the body. Clean the outer part with a damp cloth and follow it up with a dry cloth. The dust on hard to reach areas are better blown off by an air compressor or by an aerosol air duster can.

2. Fingerboard
Lemon oil or mineral oil are proven to treat a dry fingerboard. But there are commercially formulated oils made specifically for guitar fingerboards. Use a cotton cloth with oil and spread it on the fingerboard, then wipe off excess oil after a few minutes using a clean, dry cotton cloth. Wipe it in a circular motion. It is advisable to do this once in 6 months.

Remember that oiling is no longer necessary if your guitar is painted or coated with a clear finish.

Protect the finish and supply a brand new look to your instrument by making use of a polish. Use polishing agents specifically created for guitars and follow the manufacturer's recommended instructions correctly. Make use of a different clean, dry cotton cloth to shine and do not utilize the same cloth previously used to clean up it.

3. Strings
Finally, make everything fresh on your own guitar by putting on a new pair of strings. Tune it and you're ready to play it again.

With good care and storage, used guitars will be more valuable as time passes.




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