Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

[Tor]

I am really really bad at being good at maintaining my guitars in a good cosmetic shape. I wait until it's too bad, and then I go all over it quite intensively.

Anyway, how do you guys go about cleaning the fretboard on an acoustic guitar? I am terribly afraid of doing something critical to the truss rod if I take of all the strings before working on the fretboard. However on the other hand, cleaning the fretboard with one string off at the time doesn't sound too appealing either..

What do you do?

 

[scottish]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

i clean mine when i change the strings. ill take em all off, put lem oil on there...wait 5 mins, wipe off the excess and clean it up then re-string it.

i havent had any problems with buzzing or anything once its restrung. i know what you mean though, i think as long as you dont let it sit over night or anything drastic like that with no strings on then you will be fine

 

[sosomething]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

The only advice I can give is this: DO NOT poop into the hole. I know it's tempting but you must refrain - it's all but impossible to get it back out if you need it.

 

[Tor]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

Thanks scottish! I think my beloved acoustic will get a nice treatment tomorrow.


soso, you're amazing, nothing less. Not only are you æ mæsterr åff længuidsj tvissts, but also a sharp mind-reader! What's up with that? Anyway thanks a lot for the heads up! Perhaps I should just leave the strings on just to restrain me from doing noted action..

 

[usatele]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

I also clean the fretboard up when changing strings using lemon oil - it is a great cleaner conditioner to use on any rosewood fretboard.

I have never had a problem taking all the strings off in one go but I wouldnt leave them off for any longer than the job took.

The only thing to watch is if you have an undersaddle pickup, they can be a problematic if the saddle unseats itself with all your strings off. Not a problem, just be careful and don't let the saddle fall out if you can help it!

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

Depending on how often you change strings, you might not wanna lemon oil it every time. If you over oil it, the frets could start coming up, just fyi. As a general rule of thumb, I lemon oil about once every 6 months or so, and haven't had any issues.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

String change once they sound dead and for me that means really fricken dead, fretboard oil/cleaner, guitar polish, etc.

Then depending on the time of year 1/10 of a turn of the truss rod nut to adjust action. In Minnesota we have such extreme weather that I have to adjust truss rod every spring and fall, 90 degree's and 90% humidity, then 3 months later 20 below and bone dry air.

 

[Tor]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

Thanks a lot folks..

 

[lex666]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

Whenever I change strings on any guitar (approx once a month) I do the same routine: remove strings, lemon oil fret board and clean frets, re-string, and polish. I've had no problems removing all the strings on my acoustic.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

The only advice I can give is this: DO NOT poop into the hole. I know it's tempting but you must refrain - it's all but impossible to get it back out if you need it.

hahahahahahahahahahaha . . . .

 

[andrizzle]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

The only advice I can give is this: DO NOT poop into the hole. I know it's tempting but you must refrain - it's all but impossible to get it back out if you need it.

sound advice.... for more than just this occasion

 

[lex666]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

FYI

There's alot of holes you shouldn't poop in.

If you have to ask, then you probably shouldn't.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

Cleaning maintenance is only part of proper care for a good acoustic guitar. Following what the others have said I also use lemon oil to clean the fingerboard, and I change all the strings at the same time. Its easier to clean the fingerboard. I use 0000 stell wool to buff the frets also. I don't do this everytime, but I take a close look at the frets and if they are getting tarnished or are dirty I do the steel wool also.

Tor where you are located I would be concerned about the lack of humidity. If your acoustic is solid wood then humidity or the lack of to be more specific can cause havoc with your guitar. The neck will bow the top will dry out and sink potentially cracking the top or at least causing the bridge to lift off. What you need to do is keep the guitar in its case when you are not playing it and get a case humidifier to add moisture to the guitar. I like the dampit. Its a snake type of sponge that has a sound hole cover. You wet it, wring out all the excees water and place it in the guitars body through the soundhole. Check it once a week and add moisture as needed. Another good investment is to buy a case Hygrometer. This measures the amount of humidity the guitar is exposed to. Proper himidity for guitars should be between 45 to 50%. IF keeping the guitar in its case is not practical for you, then buy a room humidifier. This blows moisture into the air and will keep the room more moist. LAck of humidity is the #1 reason why acoustic guitars wind up with cracks in them.

 

[Tor]

Re: Talk to me about acoustic guitar maintenance

Wow..... and all these years I thought we were lucky living in Norway, with respect to humidity-related concerns for music gear.. I don't know why I got into that mindset..

Thanks a lot for the heads up on this, and all the descriptive info! I really appreciate it. Looks like I will need to ponder on what solution would be the best for my guitar..