Guitar Care

Guitars will last for years if they are well taken care of, some acoustic guitars even improve with age.

Develop a good Guitar Care and Maintenance Program

Have basic knowledge of your guitar.

Proper storage will prevent physical damage. Get a properly fitted guitar case and store your guitar in it when you are not using it. This will prevents accidental bumps, scratches and nicks.

Have a guitar stand to put your guitar on if you play frequently, but make sure the stand is in a place where people won’t accidentally trip over it.

Keep the guitar at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.

Make sure that the wood does not dry out. This is essential for an acoustic guitar. Use a humidifier.

Develop a regular cleaning program; wipe the neck and body after each use. Wipe the strings after each use with a soft cloth. Dunlop makes a nice guitar maintenance kit.

Change strings when they show signs of wear, or sound dull.

Extend the life of your strings by washing your hand before you play, and wipe the strings after you play.

When storing your guitar for a long time

Remove some but not all of the tension from the strings

Clean and then polish the guitar.

Put some oil (lemon oil) on the fret board.

Store the guitar in its case in a safe place.

Shipping a guitar on a plane

Most airlines don’t allow you to take your guitar as carry on luggage, so be prepared for some rough handling in the luggage department.

Insure your guitar

Remove all tension from the strings

Remove the strap peg from the guitar if possible

Put crumpled up paper around the headstock and neck area for extra support.

For extra protection put your guitar and guitar case in a shipping box and protect it with extra padding.

Before you leave the airport, check for damage.