Wilkat's Help Tips © 2001

How do I look after my guitar and get the most out of it?

Among the most common things overlooked by guitarists and bassists alike, is keeping things clean. This includes the most obvious task of cleaning the body, but more often the most neglected items are the fingerboard and the strings, etc.  I'll start with strings first:

Why bother cleaning my strings, I'll change them eventually?

Simple. Clean strings sound better, and they last longer. Ever picked up a guitar with a layer of grunge built up underneath the strings? Yuck! Despite the fact that it's disgusting, you'll note that the tone of the strings are flat and lifeless ( no wonder with all that crud stuck to them and muting them! ). Additionally, this build up of perspiration, skin oil (and God knows what else), will result in corrosion, which not only contributes to poor tone, but to string breakage as well.
    The thing to do, is to get into the habit of cleaning your strings after each use of your instrument. Not only will your strings sound better, they'll tune better, the guitar's intonation will be better, and they'll sound better longer than you'd believe possible. I've been doing this for 36 years, and not only does it produce a better sound, my fingerboard stays clean too! Hey! and I save money on strings too!

How do I clean my strings effectively and what should I use?

I first learned this tip from a "How To Play Guitar" booklet that was written by "Cliff Richard and The Shadows" (incidentally, it was a great little booklet that taught me all the notes, and soon had me playing better than some of my peers -- thanks guys!).  So here it is. First go out and purchase a bottle of "lemon oil" furniture polish. Then using a soft rag, apply a liberal amount (not saturated) of oil to the rag, and begin by rubbing the strings from the top of the guitar, all the way from the nut to the bridge. Then, tuck the rag under each string individually, and while pulling gently upwards, slide the rag repeatedly up and down the full length of each string (you'll see the blackish / grayish residue build up on the rag). Then use the rag to wipe down the back of the neck to remove grim that makes the surface sticky and uncomfortable to play. Most of the oil evaporates so don't be concerned if the neck or strings feel a bit too oily at first. Wipe it again with another clean rag, if you like. Personally, I prefer to clean the neck and strings both before I play, and afterwards. Once you get used to this, you'll not welcome playing any guitar that's "not clean".

NOTE:   Don't use the lemon oil on the body. It tends to smear and show fingerprints even worse after you do. Use a proper guitar polish for this task. They are readily available, and do a great job of maintaining the beauty of your prized possession.

As a result of routinely wiping your neck and fingerboard down, your frets stay cleaner, and your fingerboard doesn't get dried out, extending the life of the wood. As lemon oil is a light cleaning oil, it does not cause a build up like other oils. Skin oil (and the dirt that sticks to it) can often cause a build up along the edges of your frets as well as the strings. This can penetrate the fingerboard wood and over time, can cause frets to eventually loosen, and discoloration to the fingerboard itself.
 

NOTE: Eddie Van Halen used to boil his strings. He did this to clean them, and brighten up their tone (and because he couldn't always afford to buy new strings!). I guess the important thing is, he kept them clean!  And, I think we can all agree that his guitar sounded great!

Keep your pots cleaned and lubricated:

Got a scratchy or noisy volume or tone control? Has one or more stopped working altogether? This is a very common problem with potentiometers (you've probably experienced it with products other than guitars, like your amp, for example). You need to remember, these require maintenance, and a little cleaning and lubricating is usually all it takes. The hassle with this is that you'll normally have to open up the guitar's control cavity to get at the pot.  Sometimes you can do it from the top by removing the control knob, and squirting some cleaner into the pot around the pot's shaft while pulling up on it, and then rotating it back and forth (use only aerosol products specially formulated for this purpose. They are readily available at electronic stores  and stereo shops). However, this doesn't always work, and it's best to squirt the cleaning solution into the little opening in the side of the pot's casing (which means opening up the control cavity to get at it).
 

WARNING: Wear safety glasses when you use pot cleaning solvents, and ensure that you protect lacquered surfaces from over spray or dripping solvent (they can damage certain finishes).

If you have difficulty getting access to the pot, it may be necessary to dismount it, and raise it up (or unsolder and remove it) from the control cavity. Also, before spraying the solvent / lubricant into the pot, it's normally a good idea to inject some compressed air into the pot to blow out any loose dirt particles. There are spray cans available for this purpose often available at electronic stores or computer shops. Once you've squirted the pot, rotate the shaft from side to side a few times, and repeat the process. I prefer to remove them, and tip them drain excess lubricant out after spraying. Some of these products work better than others, so you may have to shop around until you find the best one.

What do I do about Nicks and Scratches?

Well, this is a little tougher to advise about. The reason being that there are various types of finishes on today's guitars and basses, and there is simply no "one for all" solution. Minor scratches can often be hand rubbed and polished using a very fine rubbing compound, and this will work well for many types of lacquered finishes ( it does take some elbow grease -- especially if you don't have access to a good polishing wheel ! ).
    Chips and nicks (and dents), are best left up to "highly skilled" professionals, and I don't say this lightly. Ask any builder or repair man, and he'll tell you that this is perhaps the most difficult aspect of dealing with guitars. There are some wizards out there who have gleaned the know how from many years of hands on experience, and it is best to consult them. Chances are, if you attempt a repair to a chipped area, that you won't be happy with the result. I can say this, because I've been there, and some work out fine, while others can fast become a nightmare.
    Having said this, I can tell you that a lot of little nicks can be repaired using some of the clear super glues on the market. Again experience is the best teacher, and you'll need patience (and courage) to attempt these types of repairs. Usually any attempt to fill a nick with these glues will result in the repaired / filled in area being raised higher than the surrounding finish. This means it will require leveling, fine wet sanding, and polishing to blend in.   Go to Repairs of High Gloss Finishes

Hope you found the above helpful, and that your axe plays and sounds better than ever!