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ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT CARE AND

MAINTENANCE

A well maintained musical instrument will provide a lifetime of musical enjoyment. Acoustic

Instruments are sensitive to the environment, so it is important to make sure the instrument is

periodically checked out, usually whenever the seasons change as this is when humidity and

weather changes occur and a musical instrument is most sensitive to these conditions. Never let

your instrument linger for too long without your attention- a neglected guitar can experience

many issues that can easily be fixed if they are noticed early.

CLEANING

Keeping your instrument clean is important- and it will always impress your friends! All music

stores sell a variety of cleaning products specifically designed for guitars, along with lint-free

polishing rags. If you clean and polish your instrument on a regular basis, it will always look as

good as new!

Fingerboards also need a little TLC every once in a while. Your fingerboard can be cleaned with

steel wool, or a damp wash cloth. We recommend using lemon oil periodically on the

fingerboard whenever strings are completely changed. This will insure that your fingerboard

does not dry out or crack over time. It will also keep it always looking its best!

Periodically give your guitar hardware a good wipe down as well- sweat and external humidity

conditions can cause your hardware to oxidize over time and become spotty and tarnished. This

is particularly important if your instrument has gold plated hardware, as it is more susceptible to

oxidation. If you reside in a particularly humid environment, this activity is crucial.

HUMIDITY

Humidity or lack thereof can be any acoustic instruments biggest enemy. It is important to

regulate as best you can the relative humidity that surrounds the instrument. 45%-55% relative

humidity is optimal. The best way to regulate this is with an Acoustic Guitar case humidifier.

These products are available at any musical instrument store and are very easy to use. Never

store the instrument by an outside wall/window or heating vent.

If an instrument becomes too dry, then the guitar will experience neck shrinkage and the frets

will begin to feel sharp along the neck. Top shrinkage, top cracking are more severe symptoms,

and can be expensive to repair. Please note that problems such as these are beyond a

manufacturers control and are not considered for warranty repairs.

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ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT CARE AND MAINTENANCE A well maintained musical instrument will provide a lifetime of musical enjoyment. Acoustic Instruments are sensitive to the environment, so it is important to make sure the instrument is periodically checked out, usually whenever the seasons change as this is when humidity and weather changes occur and a musical instrument is most sensitive to these conditions.
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Do not store the guitar in or near any temperature extremes, and never in direct sunlight. If your instrument has been kept in particularly hot or cold environment for a period of time, make sure it is kept secure in a case. When it is brought into a more normal temperature range, give the case/instrument a few hours to acclimate before opening up the case. STRINGS Strings should be changed frequently - at least 4 times a year.
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String action is NEVER adjusted via the truss-rod- it is always performed at the saddle, and sometimes by adjusting the nut height. QUICK TIPS!  Have your instrument professionally set up at a music store at least 4 times a year- a professional instrument setup involves changing the strings, oiling the fret board, and a truss rod adjustment. This is the best time to experiment with a different string gauge size if you feel like experimenting.