How to Maximise your Guitar's Performance

[Dominick Harvey]

Guitar is a kind musical instrument that needs care like a child. The
performance and the longevity of a guitar depend on its maintenance.
Specially, in case of the older ones, the care has to be more. It all
starts from cleaning and tuning the guitar regularly. If you are
really a good guitarist, you should have every bit of knowledge about
the little details of your guitar. And you should know the perfect
answer to the question, how to maximise your guitar's performance? And
just like a good guitarist the beginners should also get well
acquainted with the maintenance of their guitar in order to maximise
the durability as well as playability.
When we talk about how to maximise your guitar's performance, there
are few methods that should be followed. As already mentioned earlier
a guitar's performance depends on its maintenance that basically
includes cleaning and polishing of guitar regularly. Apart from this
storing the guitar in a proper place, changing the strings regularly
and the most important, tuning your guitar on time are all necessary
for getting the best performing guitar. However, the steps are
methodically discussed here for you.
Step I to maximise your guitar's performance
Cleaning and polishing:
The first step towards maximising the performance of your guitar is to
keep it clean, that should be done everyday and after every use. A
regular wipe with a soft cotton cloth can be preferred. In case of
stains, fingerprints or other kind of dirt a good cleaning is must by
wiping the surface after moistening it with your breath (huffing).
But in case of scratches, polishing can be done. Lots of polishes and
cleaners are available in the market that can be used. Even various
solvents are there like mineral spirit and naphtha that are basically
used to polish the old guitars.
Step II to maximise your guitar's performance
Storage:
Next comes the point about storing your instrument. The proper storage
is necessary in order to protect the guitar from any physical damage.
Especially if you have to go out with your guitar, it is necessary to
keep it in a guitar case and then carry. This will basically, protect
the instrument from direct sunlight that tends to make the wood dry,
cracked and even brittle.
Other than this, when you are not traveling, try to keep your guitar
in room temperature. This will mainly save your guitar from the
effects of climate change.
Step III to maximise your guitar's performance
Changing the strings of guitar:
A guitar is all about strings. So it is very important to take care of
the strings properly that will not only give good sound but will also
increase the longevity of the guitar. Therefore your guitar strings
need changing as soon as it starts sounding dull. You should change
the strings of your guitar once in atleast 3 months depending upon
your usage.
Step IV to maximise your guitar's performance
Tuning the guitar:
Generally a standard guitar has six strings, which should be tuned
regularly to keep the sound in-tune. Tuning is necessary especially
after every change of the strings. Keeping the strings tuned means
shortening and lengthening the height of the strings to adjust the
pitch. A perfect tuning is that where the 1st and the 6th strings open
produce the same note, definitely at different pitches.