2/19/2012

Good Care Tips 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, especially the vintage ones from premier brands or the ones that were once played by well-known music artists, bands and guitarists in many cases are 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 could possibly be worth many folds than their original price. These high value instruments can still look and sound good with good care and maintenance.

Due to the fact that the guitar is made of a couple of vital components which happen to be usually constructed from metal and wood materials, each one needs to be cleaned differently by making use of appropriate cleaning agents. Here are some pointers on 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 may be used to treat a dry fingerboard. But you can find commercially formulated oils made particularly for guitar fingerboards. Work with an oiled cotton cloth and spread it on the fingerboard, then wipe off excess oil after 5 minutes with a clean, dry cotton cloth. Wipe it in a circular motion. It's always best to try this once in six months.

Do not forget 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 appearance to your instrument by making use of a polish. Use polishing agents specifically developed for guitars and stick to the manufacturer's recommended instructions correctly. Use a different clean, dry cotton cloth to polish and don't ever utilize the same cloth used to completely clean it.

3. Strings
Finally, make everything fresh on your own guitar by sporting a brand new pair of strings. Tune it and you'll be happy to play it again.

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




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