Depending on what tools you use and which guitar you have, it should be an easy fix!

How To Tighten The Loose Toggle Switch On Your Guitar

Having loose knobs and toggles on your guitar can cause them to rotate where they aren’t supposed to rotate.

When this happens it can cause the wires in your guitar to pull tight and break. This can also happen when you’re fixing it and don’t hold it down on the other side.

Let’s start with fixing your loose toggle switch. This is the easy one, if you have the right tools.

Open The Toggle Switch Cover

Step one is removing the toggle switch cover on the back of your guitar, Which is usually fixed with a pair of bolts.

Most guitars have a toggle switch cover on the back. For example, Gibson guitars have a separate toggle switch cover on the back. But on Fender guitars, the toggle switch is usually under the same cover that also covers the knobs.

Sometimes it is not on the back but you have to get the cover off from the front. In that case, you first have to get your snares off the guitar.

Hold The Switch In Place

Now that the toggle switch cover is off, you can hold the switch in place from the back of the guitar with your hand. So that when you tighten the switch, it doesn’t rotate.

Tighten The Toggle Switch

When holding the toggle switch, You can tighten the switch from the front. Make sure the switch is placed in the middle.

You can tighten it either with an adjustable toggle switch wrench that you put over the switch and turn. Or you could use a spanner wrench that has V-shaped inlets on both sides.

If you don’t have those tools you could also use needle nose pliers, but be careful not to scratch your guitar.

When you’re going to use needle nose pliers. Make sure it has teeth on the inside, so it won’t slip when you’re tightening the switch.

You could also put some masking tape on the side that is facing your guitar so that when you do slip you don’t scratch it.

How To Fix Loose Volume And Tone Knobs On Your Guitar

When tightening the tune and volume controls the first thing you want to do is get the knobs off.

Get the control knobs off

It’s best to use a knob jack to get them off. A knob jack has one side with a cloth on it that you can put on your guitar so it doesn’t scratch it.

Try popping the knobs off with the jack while pulling on it with your hand. Rotate the knob a bit to get it off equally.

Remove the control knobs cover

Just like with the toggle switch you want to remove the cover of the knobs. Again, depending on the brand and model that you have it could either be on the back or front.

In some cases, a guitar doesn’t have a cover, but then the controls are mounted on a plate of metal, that keeps them from rotating.

Tighten the knobs

Now that you got the knobs and cover off you can tighten them. When your guitar doesn’t have a metal plate that’s holding the knobs, make sure you’re holding the knobs from the back when tightening them.

I recommend you use a socket wrench that is at least half an inch deep. That way it is deep enough for the shaft of the pod to go in the wrench and you can securely tighten it.

Now you can put the cover and knob back on. When you’re putting the knob back on make sure that the dial indicator (if you have one on your guitar) lines up with the knob in the right way.

So that one is one, two is two, and so on. Otherwise, you might be startled by the sound when you have your volume knob on two but it actually is on ten.

Since you’re already working on the maintenance of your guitar, I recommend you check out these three articles about how to properly clean your guitar fretboard, one about what oil to use for refinishing your guitar, and the last one about how to stop your strings from smelling bad.

How To Tighten a Loose Output Jack On Your Guitar

Finally, we have the guitar jack, this is usually the fastest to come loose because it is used so often.

Remove the jack cover

Just like with the other controls that we’ve talked about thus far. If your guitar has a jack plate, make sure to first remove that.

If you don’t do this you risk rotating the wiring pulling it loose or breaking it.

Tighten The jack

You can use the same half-inch socket to tighten the jack, just like you did with the knobs. You don’t have to unwire the jack.

If your guitar has a jack cover, it’s the same as with the toggle switch and controls. You just hold it from the back and tighten it on the front.

Once it’s tightened you can put it back together, make sure to put a cable in to check if nothing went wrong.

Conclusion

Tightening your guitar controls and knobs is pretty easy as you can see. With all the controls its almost the same process:

1. Remove the control cover
2. Hold it from the back
3. Tighten the controls from the front

Not all guitars are the same and the way to tighten the control varies a bit. You just got to make sure to use the right tools, and it should be an easy fix!

Thanks for reading!

Or, you’re about to take your dream vacation to Hawaii but don’t want to leave your guitar behind. What are your options? Can you bring a guitar on a Southwest Airlines flight? Read on for all the details.

Can You Bring a Guitar On a Southwest Airlines Plane?

You can bring your guitar on a Southwest flight as long as it is in a hard case and it fits in the overhead bin. Your guitar will count as a carry-on bag if placed in the overhead bin.

If your guitar doesn’t fit in the overhead bin (when you have a jumbo guitar for instance) you can check it in for free, in that case, make sure to follow the packing tips below!

Upgraded Boarding

To make sure there is still room in the overhead bins for your guitar. You could consider paying a fee starting from $30 for upgraded boarding.

So you can be sure you’ll be one of the first on the plane. This way your guitar doesn’t accidentally end up in the hold of the airplane because there was no room left.

To upgrade you can ask Southwest personnel at the departure gate or ticket counter for availability.

With United Airlines this upgrade starts from only $15.

Size Requirements of Your Bags

On the website of Southwest Airlines, it is stated that your carry-on bag can only be 24 inches x 16 inches x 10 inches.

For musical instruments, an exception is made and the only requirements are that your guitar is in a hard case and that it fits in the overhead bin.

Maximum Weight Requirements

Your Guitar case can have a maximum weight of 50 pounds with Southwest Airlines just like a normal carry-on bag.

So unless you plan to put some rocks in the case with your guitar, you’ll be fine.

How Much Does It Cost To Check a Guitar On Southwest Airlines?

With Southwest, you can take two carry-on bags, two checked bags plus a personal item for free (your guitar counts as a carry-on bag). A fifth bag (or guitar) will cost $75 per item. You can definitely call this a very generous southwest airlines guitar policy.

I would recommend taking your guitar with you as carry-on luggage so you can be sure it’s safe. You don’t want airport personnel to throw your guitar around.

Does a Guitar Fit In The Overhead Bin?

The overhead bins on a Southwest flight are about 50 inches wide, a standard guitar case is about 44 inches. So it’s big enough to fit regular guitars. You have to put it in sideways so that the neck is pointing towards the cockpit or tail.

Your guitar is likely going to take up three suitcase spaces, but this is allowed on an airplane. You just have to make sure you’re one of the first to board the plane so that there is still room.

How To Pack Your Guitar For a Flight.

When you are taking your guitar as a carry-on you only really need a hard case, and that’s it. But if you’re going to check in your guitar you want to protect it a little better. We’re going to cover a few things you could do.

You could consider packing your guitar like this even if you take it as a carry-on. Just in case there is no room in the overhead bins and you have to put it in the hold of the airplane.

Invest In a Good Hard Case

With Southwest airlines, you HAVE to travel with your guitar in a hard case. But that is not the only reason you want to use one.

A hard case also protects your guitar from being damaged. So make sure you buy a sturdy one!

On the other hand, you also don’t want your guitar case to be too heavy. Since you’ll be traveling with your guitar and you have to carry it around with you.

A sturdy light hard case like this one is perfect to travel with.

You Don’t Have to Loosen Your Strings

Everyone thinks that you have to detune your guitar before a flight, but that is a myth.

It is true that steel strings can create a lot of tension on the guitar, but this doesn’t really matter because all modern guitars have what we call ”adjustable truss rods”. So when there is too much tension on the neck/strings you could just adjust the truss rod.

Plus, the cabin that the luggage is stored in is climate-controlled and pressurized.

There are guitar manufacturers that ship their guitars worldwide and this is mostly done by air travel. When a guitar arrives in the store or on your doorstep it is still somewhat tuned to standard.

Use Bubble Wrap To Protect Your Guitar

Use some bubble wrap to protect your guitar inside the case. Do this especially if the case you are using is not made for the model of guitar you have, then you may have a lot of extra space around your guitar.

Make sure that your guitar sits tight and has no room to move around in the case. So stuff it with bubble wrap and put some cloth under the neck for some extra support.

Use a Lock On Your Guitar Case

It’s a good idea to use a lock on your guitar case particularly if you have an expensive guitar.

A lock doesn’t prevent people from stealing the whole guitar case but it does prevent people from peaking inside and checking if your guitar is worth stealing.

Label Your Guitar

Make sure you put a ”Fragile” label on your guitar letting the airline’s personnel know they have to be careful with your guitar.

Also, consider putting a name tag with your phone number on your case. For the rare instance that someone else carries a guitar case like you, or for when your guitar gets lost.

General Tips For Flying With Your Guitar

Don’t Bring Your Best Guitar On The Plane

This may seem like a no-brainer, but don’t bring your best guitar on the plane.

That means a guitar that is a collectible or one that has sentimental value to you or a guitar that is signed by your favorite guitarist.

You never know when something might happen to it and you really don’t want to damage your most expensive guitar.

So unless you’re a professional musician who needs to take their best guitar with them, consider leaving it at home.

Pack a Humidifier With Your Guitar

Depending on where you’re traveling the air could be very dry. Your guitar is a wooden instrument and it could get damaged if it dries out.

You can get these small humidifier bags that can fit in your guitar case. Some of the really cheap ones tend to get moldy quickly, so consider buying one of better quality like this D’Addario Two-Way Humidification System.

Book a Seat Near The Front of The Plane

If you’re going to check in your guitar and you’re not taking it as a carry-on. Make sure you’re booking a seat in the front of the plane.

That way you are one of the first to get off the plane and you’re one of the first to get to the luggage belt so you can grab your guitar right after it lands on it.

Get a Travel Guitar or 3/4 Guitar

Journey Instruments make some of the best travel guitars that can snap into two parts so it has the size of a normal suitcase.

This makes it very convenient to travel with. Plus you don’t have to go through that awkward moment when other people on the plane get irritated because you are taking up three suitcase spots.

Another option is buying a 3/4 guitar. These guitars are a bit smaller than a regular guitar, also making them more convenient to travel with.

Conclusion

Yes, you can take your guitar on a Southwest Airlines flight, the southwest instrument policy requires it’s in a hard case and fits in the overhead bin. You also have to make sure you’re taking the right precautions so your guitar doesn’t get damaged or stolen.

Use a hardshell case, pack some bubble wrap, put a label on it, and consider using a lock. Flying with your guitar should be a fun and easy experience as long as you take the necessary precautions.

United Airlines has a great reputation for being one of the most pet-friendly airlines. But what about musical instruments?

Can You Bring a Guitar On a United Airlines Plane?

You can bring your guitar on a united flight as long as it is in a hard case and it fits in the overhead bin. Your guitar will count as a carry-on bag if placed in the overhead bin.

If you’re taking a guitar on a united flight as your only hand-luggage item, you’ll be able to bring it onboard free of charge.

But if you have another carry-on item with you, such as a suitcase, then you’ll have to check in one of them.

Exceptions

If you bought a Basic Economy ticket for a flight that is not trans-Atlantic. You’re only allowed to have a “personal item” with you.

So unless your guitar fits under the seat in front of you (this might only be the case with a small ukulele for example), you are required to check your guitar and pay the checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge.

Priority Boarding

To make sure there is still room in the overhead bins for your guitar. You could consider paying a small fee starting from $15 for priority boarding.

So you can be sure you’ll be one of the first on the plane. This way your guitar doesn’t accidentally end up in the hold of the airplane because there was no room left.

Size Requirements of Your Bags

On the website of United airlines, it is stated that your carry-on bag can only be 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches.

For musical instruments, an exception is made and the only requirements are that your guitar is in a hard case and that it fits in the overhead bin.

Maximum Weight Requirements

Your Guitar case can have a maximum weight of 50 pounds with united airlines just like a normal carry-on bag.

So unless you plan to put some rocks in the case with your guitar, you’ll be fine.

How Much Does It Cost To Check a Guitar On United Airlines?

If you have to check your guitar because you have another suitcase with you or you’re flying Basic Economy, then it will cost you $35 for the first checked bag.

If you have not indicated this in advance and you have to check it at the gate you have to pay another $25 gate handling charge.

I would recommend taking your guitar with you as carry-on luggage so you can be sure it’s safe. You don’t want airport personnel to throw your guitar around.

Does a Guitar Fit In The Overhead Bin?

The overhead bins on a united flight are big enough to fit regular guitars. You have to put it in sideways so that the neck is pointing towards the cockpit or tail.

Your guitar is likely going to take up three suitcase spaces, but this is allowed on an airplane. You just have to make sure you’re one of the first to board the plane so that there is still room.

How To Pack Your Guitar For a Flight.

When you are taking your guitar as a carry-on you only really need a hard case, and that’s it. But if you’re going to check in your guitar you want to protect it a little better. We’re going to cover a few things you could do.

You could consider packing your guitar like this even if you take it as a carry-on. Just in case there is no room in the overhead bins and you have to put it in the hold of the airplane.

Invest In a Good Hard Case

With United airlines, you HAVE to travel with your guitar in a hard case. But that is not the only reason you want to use one.

A hard case also protects your guitar from being damaged. So make sure you buy a sturdy one!

On the other hand, you also don’t want your guitar case to be too heavy. Since you’ll be traveling with your guitar and you have to carry it around with you.

A sturdy light hard case like this one is perfect to travel with.

You Don’t Have to Loosen Your Strings

Everyone thinks that you have to detune your guitar before a flight, but that is a myth.

It is true that steel strings can create a lot of tension on the guitar, but this doesn’t really matter because all modern guitars have what we call ”adjustable truss rods”. So when there is too much tension on the neck/strings you could just adjust the truss rod.

Plus, the cabin that the luggage is stored in is climate-controlled and pressurized.

There are guitar manufacturers that ship their guitars worldwide and this is mostly done by air travel. When a guitar arrives in the store or on your doorstep it is still somewhat tuned to standard.

Use Bubble Wrap To Protect Your Guitar

Use some bubble wrap to protect your guitar inside the case. Do this especially if the case you are using is not made for the model of guitar you have, then you may have a lot of extra space around your guitar.

Make sure that your guitar sits tight and has no room to move around in the case. So stuff it with bubble wrap and put some cloth under the neck for some extra support.

Use a Lock On Your Guitar Case

It’s a good idea to use a lock on your guitar case particularly if you have an expensive guitar.

A lock doesn’t prevent people from stealing the whole guitar case but it does prevent people from peaking inside and checking if your guitar is worth stealing.

Label Your Guitar

Make sure you put a ”Fragile” label on your guitar letting the airline’s personnel know they have to be careful with your guitar.

Also, consider putting a name tag with your phone number on your case. For the rare instance that someone else carries a guitar case like you, or for when your guitar gets lost.

General Tips For Flying With Your Guitar

Don’t Bring Your Best Guitar On The Plane

This may seem like a no-brainer, but don’t bring your best guitar on the plane.

That means a guitar that is a collectible or one that has sentimental value to you or a guitar that is signed by your favorite guitarist.

You never know when something might happen to it and you really don’t want to damage your most expensive guitar.

So unless you’re a professional musician who needs to take their best guitar with them, consider leaving it at home.

Pack a Humidifier With Your Guitar

Depending on where you’re traveling the air could be very dry. Your guitar is a wooden instrument and it could get damaged if it dries out.

You can get these small humidifier bags that can fit in your guitar case. Some of the really cheap ones tend to get moldy quickly, so consider buying one of better quality like this D’Addario Two-Way Humidification System.

Book a Seat Near The Front of The Plane

If you’re going to check in your guitar and you’re not taking it as a carry-on. Make sure you’re booking a seat in the front of the plane.

That way you are one of the first to get off the plane and you’re one of the first to get to the luggage belt so you can grab your guitar right after it lands on it.

Get a Travel Guitar or 3/4 Guitar

Journey Instruments make some of the best travel guitars that can snap into two parts so it has the size of a normal suitcase.

This makes it very convenient to travel with. Plus you don’t have to go through that awkward moment when other people on the plane get irritated because you are taking up three suitcase spots.

Another option is buying a 3/4 guitar. These guitars are a bit smaller than a regular guitar, also making them more convenient to travel with.

Conclusion

Yes, you can take your guitar on a United Airlines flight if it’s in a hard case and fits in the overhead bin. You also have to make sure you’re taking the right precautions so your guitar doesn’t get damaged or stolen.

Use a hardshell case, pack some bubble wrap, put a label on it, and consider using a lock. Flying with your guitar should be a fun and easy experience as long as you take the necessary precautions.

But now your guitar starts to sound a bit different than before, and you’re wondering… Should I put some new strings on my guitar or are these old ones still good?

We’re here to figure that out.

Is It Better To Use New or Old Guitar Strings?

The first thing we need to know is that there’s no definitive answer. It all comes down to personal preference.

Some guitarists prefer the sound of new strings, while others prefer the sound of old strings.

It really is a matter of preference and what you think sounds better.

Now, with that being said, there are some advantages and disadvantages to using either new or old strings.

We’ll go over those so you can make a more informed decision on which type of string is right for you.

Advantages of Using New Strings

There are several advantages to using new strings on your guitar.

They will have a more crisp and sharp sound to them.

This is because the new strings have not been played as much and they haven’t been through the wear and tear that old strings have.

This means that they will be able to vibrate more freely, which gives you a sharper sound.

Seeing this as an advantage is of course, a bit subjective. There will be a lot of people out there that prefer the flatter and warmer sound of older guitar strings.

Another advantage of using new strings is that they’re less likely to break.

This is because they haven’t been played as much and they’re not as worn down.

Worn-down strings are more likely to break because the metal is thinner in certain places.

So, if you’re doing regular gigs and don’t want your strings to break when you’re on stage, consider changing your strings every three months.

Disadvantages of Using New Strings

New strings will go out of tune faster in the beginning.

This is because they haven’t been stretched out as much as old guitar strings, it will take about a week or two before your new strings are settled in.

You have to pay for new strings.

This is pretty obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. You’ll have to spend money on new strings every few months if you want to keep using new strings all the time.

Advantages of Using Old Strings

There are also several advantages to using old strings on your guitar.

Old strings have a warmer sound.

This is because the metal has been played for a while and it’s been through the wear and tear of regular playing.

The metal will also start to oxidize, which gives the strings a different sound.

Some people prefer this warmer sound, as it can be more pleasant to listen to.

Older strings are already stretched out.

Another advantage of using old strings is that they’re already stretched out. This means that they won’t go out of tune as quickly as new strings will. So, if you’re playing a gig and you don’t want your strings to go out of tune, consider using old strings.

Disadvantages of Using Old Strings

Old strings may not be tuned properly after a while.

If your strings are only a few months old they will usually stay in tune longer than fresh strings.

But when you haven’t replaced the strings for a year or more.

When the strings get really old the contact of your fingers eventually does something to the material of the strings.

Especially if you play guitar often and passionately. Eventually, this causes loss and damage of material on your strings.

The result is a false octave pitch, which causes everything you play to be out of tune. Therefore, you may find that when you play the first fret, you get the right tone but your guitar may be out of tune at the 10th fret.

Do New Guitar Strings Sound Better Than Old Ones?

Now that we’ve gone over the advantages and disadvantages of both new and old strings, you might be wondering which one sounds better.

As we mentioned before, this is a matter of preference. Some people prefer the sound of new strings, while others prefer the sound of old strings.

It really is a matter of preference and what you’re looking for in your sound.

If you want a sharper, more crisp sound, then new strings are probably the way to go.

If you want a warmer, more mellow sound, then old strings are probably the way to go.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide which one is better.

When To Change Guitar Strings

If you want to keep that sharp crisp sound of new strings on your guitar, it’s advised that you change your strings about every three months.

If you like the sound of older strings, you could just go off hearing and replace the strings if you don’t like the sound anymore. 

Or change them when you get the tuning problem that I talked about earlier in this article.

How To Change Guitar Strings

The first thing you need to do is loosen the old strings. You can do this by turning the tuning pegs in a counter-clockwise direction.

Once the old strings are loose, you can remove them from the guitar by taking the strings out of the turning keys in the headstock. And after that taking out the pins in the bridge so the strings come out.

Make sure you dispose of them properly so they don’t end up in a landfill.

Now it’s time to put on the new strings. Start with the low E string, which is the thickest string.

Put the new string in the bridge with the pin and then thread it through the tuning peg. Make sure you leave about two inches of slack.

Now it’s time to start tightening the string. Turn the tuning peg in a clockwise direction until the string is in tune.

Repeat this process for the rest of the strings. Once all the strings are on and in tune, you can start playing your guitar.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using new and old strings.

It really is a matter of preference as to which one you want to use. If you’re looking for a sharp, crisp sound, then new strings are probably the way to go.

If you want a warmer, more mellow sound, then old strings are probably the way to go.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide which one is better. Just remember that if you want to keep that sharp sound, you need to change your strings about every three months. 

Thanks for reading!

But what makes guitars smell bad in the first place? And more importantly, how can you get rid of the smell for good?

Why Do My Guitar Strings Smell Bad?

Guitar strings can smell bad because of the materials they are made out of and the sweat from your hands. The oils from your fingers can easily get stuck in the strings and cause them to smell over time.

Sweat from your hands can degrade certain kinds of strings much faster than others. For example, steel guitar strings tend to break down relatively quickly because sweat causes them to rust.

Some guitar strings are more prone to smelling bad than others. For example, many people complain that they have problems with coated strings, which they say always tend to smell rather badly after playing for a while.

However, this is actually not true. Generally speaking, all types of guitar strings can start smelling bad over time if you leave them not cleaned every time.

Why Do My Guitar Strings Make My Hands Smell?

Guitars can make your hands smell because of the natural oils from your skin. Your natural skin oils come off during use, which means they will get stuck to anything you touch.

In this case, the guitar strings are the culprits because they absorb these oils over time, which can cause your hands to smell really bad the next time you play on your guitar.

When you play the guitar, these natural oils get transferred onto other objects around you as well. For example, the fretboard will also absorb some and can start smelling bad because of it.

How Do You Get The Smell Out of Guitar Strings?

You can get the smell out of your guitar strings by cleaning them with a name-brand guitar strings cleaner. Simply put some on a microfiber cloth and rub it in. Never use household cleaning products on your guitar this may damage your guitar.

While you’re at it, you might also want to clean your guitar fretboard. As the fretboard can also cause a bad smell.

Although cleaning your strings helps, the best and easiest way to get the smell out of your guitar strings is by just replacing them with some new ones.

It’s advised that you replace your guitar strings every 100 playing hours or around every 3-4 months if you haven’t been playing so much.

Once you replaced them, to make sure that every time you played on your guitar you clean de strings with a microfiber cloth, so they stay like new as long as possible.

Should I boil my guitar strings?

It’s ok to boil your guitar strings to clean them and to get the smell out, however, this won’t be as effective and safe as cleaning them with a cleaner that is made for that purpose.

Boiling your guitar strings too long or too often might have a negative effect on the sound and durability of your strings.

To boil the strings of your guitar, simply use a pot of water and put them inside. Put it on the stove for about 3-5 minutes.

After boiling your guitar strings, let them cool off for some time to prevent accidental burns then wipe them with a clean microfiber cloth and you’re ready to go.

Can you clean guitar strings with wipes?

Never use normal wipes or even worse, moisturized wipes for your guitar. Normal wipes cause fluff to get stuck in your strings, this will make your guitar strings sound flat.

Instead, like said earlier, use a microfiber cloth to clean your guitar strings.

Can I use hand sanitizer to clean my guitar strings?

No, never use hand sanitizer on your guitar strings. It might take off the coating of your strings and it contains alcohol that can damage your strings and fretboard.

Use a microfiber cloth instead to clean your guitar strings if you want to make sure they stay like new as long as possible.

Can you clean guitar strings with rubbing alcohol?

Never use alcohol on your guitar strings. Don’t even let it touch your strings to prevent any damage or other problems it may cause.

You can clean your guitar strings with a microfiber cloth and specially made cleaner instead, such as Dunlop 65 Ultimate Guitar String Cleaner.

Can you put lemon oil on guitar strings?

No, never put lemon oil on your guitar strings because it might do more harm than good. You will risk getting the coating of your strings off and making them dull.

Instead, as stated earlier use a microfiber cloth to clean your guitar strings, and don’t forget to apply some Dunlop 65 Ultimate Guitar String Cleaner afterward.

Why Does My Guitar Body Smell Bad?

Your guitar might smell bad is because of the wood that it’s made out of, which absorbs odors over time. It can also start smelling bad because of being in a humid environment for too long.

It has been said that a little bit of vanilla extract can help take away some of these smells, but it will not last very long before the odor comes back.

You should try to keep your guitar stored in a case when you are not playing it, to help prevent your guitar from getting any smelly.

Conclusion

Guitar strings start smelling bad because of the sweat that gets in them.

While there are a few ways to clean and get the smell out of your guitar strings, the best and easiest way is by just replacing them with some new ones.

It’s advised that you replace your guitar strings every 100 playing hours or around every 3-4 months if you haven’t been playing so much.

Clean them off with a microfiber cloth every time you use your guitar and you’re good to go!

Thanks for reading!

This article is specifically related to guitar oil. So, whether it is the process of finishing your guitar or cleaning and maintaining your guitar. You will need a specific type of oil. Such as Tung oil, Danish oil, Gunstock oil, etc. We will briefly discuss what oil to use for your guitar body

Most people use household oil such as coconut, olive, vinegar, or lemon oil to maintain or clean their guitars. However, these types of oil are not beneficial for the guitar body.

It will cause damage to your guitar, and you will not be able to recover it at any cost. After reading this article you will be able to know what oil to use for your guitar body.

We are discussing both aspects i.e. oil to use for unfinished guitars and oil to use for maintenance. So, let’s start with unfinished guitars first.

Oil to Use When Your Guitar Body is Unfinished

If you have an unfinished guitar. It includes different steps to make it complete. Normally, an unfinished guitar should be refinished and oiled before being lacquered.

Before you use any oil on your guitar make sure to level out any marks or dents with wood filler and then sand and clean your guitar first before applying oil. Here are some oils you can use on your unfinished guitar:

Tung Oil

One of the commonly used oils for the unfinished guitar body is using Tung oil. Sometimes it is called china wood oil.

It is obtained from the nut of the Tung tree. When the oil is applied to the guitar body, it leaves a transparent coat on the body. Tung oil is mostly used for protecting the wood surface from humidity and weather effects.

Tung oil consists of 82% Alpha-eleostearic acid, 8.5 % Linoleic acid, 5.5 % Palmitic acid, and 4% Oleic acid. Due to the low viscosity properties, the oil penetrates through the small pores of the wood and protects the wood from all types of external factors like humidity or UV light.

For an unfinished guitar, you will need to apply two to three coats of Tung oil. Each coat needs to be applied with a gap of two to three days.

KOA Oil (Poly Stain)

Koa oil is commonly used in Hawaii for making ornaments, furniture, and other applications.

It can also be used on your unfinished guitar if you want a very dark look, kind of like koa wood.

Catalyzed Lacquer

Lacquers are one of the famous and mostly used wood finishing products. If you are working with Unfinish Guitars. Lacquer is the best option to go with.

One of the best things that lacquers have is that they are inexpensive, durable, and dry quickly. Different types of lacquers are Nitrocellulose lacquer, acrylic lacquer, and catalyzed lacquer.

Catalyzed lacquer offers better water, chemical, and abrasion resistance. If we talk about the combination it is made of urea-formaldehyde or urea melamine and an alkyd. Catalyzed comes in two types.  

• pre-catalyzed lacquer: In this type, components are premixed by the manufacturer.
• Post-catalyzed lacquer: In this type of catalyzed lacquers mixing is done via a proper ratio. 

Of course, you can also use lacquer after you’ve oiled your body first as an extra finish.

Oil to Use For Maintenance

Besides using oil for unfinished guitars, different types of oils are also used for the maintenance of guitars.

Guitar maintenance includes cleaning of fingerboard/fretboard.

It is important to wipe out your guitar neck after every session and to do maintenance on the guitar after at least after six months.

Otherwise, you have the chance that the wood dries out and there is a risk of your fretboard cracking.

Clean Your Fretboard First

If you have a filthy fretboard and there is sweat or dirt on the wood, It is time to clean it up. To keep your fretboard clean, it is necessary to clean your guitar with a soft cotton towel after every session.

Every type of fretboard wood has its own cleaning routine, that you can find here.

Find a feasible place like a kitchen table or anything else, put the guitar on it, and start cleaning.

Gorgomyte (Also cleans fretboard)

To clean your fretboard and oil it at the same time you can use Gorgomyte. It is one of the best cleaning products for guitar fretboards.

It was first time introduced by luthier Jimmy Johns. While using Gorgmyte, there is no need to mask off your bord during the cleaning process. The product can be used for different types of fingerboards.

Using Gorgomyte for cleaning your fretboard will give your guitar a shiny look. So stop using steel wool, start using Gorgomyte.

Gunstock Oil

Gunstock oil is also referred to as true oil. It is known for the properties it has like no color change or staining, it also dries fast.

Due to long-lasting durability, grain enhancing properties, and ease of application it is commonly used for unfinished guitars as well as guitar maintenance.

If we talk about the ingredients, Gunstock oil or true oil is made of boiled linseed oil, mineral spirits, and oil varnish. Applying multiple coats on the guitar neck makes it beautiful and charming. For the second coat, It is recommended to wait for twenty-four hours after applying the first coat.

Sources:

Killer Guitar Rigs – Tru Oil Vs Tung Oil Vs Lacquer – battle of the naturals

What I’m talking about here, specifically, is cleaning the fretboard – that is, the wooden face of the neck where the frets are, the bit under the strings that has the metal frets going across it.

In this article, I’m going over the best ways to clean, nourish and polish your guitar fretboard depending on the type of wood of the guitar.

Reasons why you should keep your fretboard clean:

• To keep the wood in good condition – it’s a natural substance, so may need a little TLC to prevent cracks and dryness
• To minimize corrosion – all that gunk on the wood will start to harm it and sweaty frets are not the best idea either
• To make it look its best – clean polished wood looks better right?
• To improve string contact with the frets (as they will be cleaned as well) – the cleaner they are, the more “solid” the contact from the string will be, improving sound and sustain

A great time to clean your fretboard is when you are changing the strings. I always do this, and this means I just need to give it a quick clean up and polish as it never gets a chance to get really dirty. If you clean the fretboard each time you change the strings, it will require less cleaning, it will be quicker to do and it will keep the wood and finish in superb condition.

Identify the kind of Fretboard wood (very important)

What we’re looking for here, is to know whether it is a Maple/finished fretboard, or one that is unfinished (which will generally be some form of Rosewood, Ebony, or other exotic wood species.

• Maple is light-colored wood and is frequently finished with a glossy coating of some type.
• Rosewood is much darker.
• Ebony is very dark to black in color.

I will show you some examples here, but if you are in any doubt, skip the extra activities in the section that is specific to Rosewood, Ebony, and other exotic woods.

Even better, check your documentation or on the web to be quite sure you know what type of wood and whether the fretboard is finished (often, the neck is finished, but not the fretboard. This is extremely rare for Maple though, the fretboard will usually be finished unless it’s roasted maple).

Examples of Maple Fretboards

Here is a Fender Stratocaster that has a maple fretboard that is finished (see the light color and glossy appearance?

Fender American Stratocaster Plus:

And here is a Fender Telecaster that also has a finished Maple fretboard

Fender American Telecaster Deluxe:

This one is a bit different, it is a roasted maple (which makes it look slightly more like caramel) that is finished with gunstock oil (still Maple, so stick to the Maple approach for cleaning)

Limited Edition Blueberry Burst John Petrucci Signature:

Examples of Ebony and Rosewood Fretboards

Here is a Ebony fretboard example

Ernie Ball Musicman John Petrucci JPXI:

And here are some Rosewood example’s

Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 – 1993 Vintage:

Finally, this is another Rosewood fretboard (it’s actually called Kingwood, but that is just a very specific species of Rosewood)

Duvell elite kingwood 6:

Cleaning For All Wood Type Fretboards 

(if your fretboard has massive amounts of gunk)

Sometimes, a fretboard can be so mucky that you can physically scrape stuff off with your fingernail! – gross… This might be true if you’ve never cleaned your fretboard or because you might have purchased a used guitar that has never been cleaned. The reason doesn’t matter, getting it cleaned up is the point!

What you’re looking to do here, is to scrape the worst off without damaging the fretboard or frets. Use something like an old credit card or a flexible guitar pick. The idea is something that is slightly bendy, hard enough to scrape but not hard enough to scratch.

This also means, don’t put loads of pressure on or use a corner. Scrape in the direction of the neck length (with the grain of the wood), and just try to remove the worst with this method. This is not the final clean-up and polish.

How To Clean And Polish A Maple Wood Fretboard?

Once you’ve got any major gunk off, you now need to get the fretboard and frets really, really clean. Honestly, the best way of doing this is to use Naptha or Mineral Spirits and some kitchen towels or lint-free cloths.

Do not use ethanol/alcohol as this is too harsh. Make sure that you’re not close to a fire (or smoking) whilst you are doing this and it’s probably best to do this outdoors.

Just put some Naptha or mineral spirit on your cloth and rub away the dirt, frequently changing cloths or parts of the cloth, these should then be thrown away after use as you won’t be using them again. Be sure to get right into the fret edges with this (both sides), you can use your fingernail behind the cloth to get into that corner or dig out your old credit card or guitar pick again.

Finally, use your guitar polish of choice to give the whole fretboard and the frets a really good shine. Apply the polish and use a clean kitchen towel or cloth to buff it up. Be sure to buff both in the direction of the neck for the fretboard as well as along the frets to make them gleam!

Note, for roasted maple necks use the same method, and once in a while apply a new coat of gunstock oil if you are confident that it was used originally to seal the neck (some of Musicman signature guitars have this). You may also want to use the finest wire wool (0000) to gently polish the fretboard prior to applying new coats of gunstock oil.

If you do use 0000 finest wire wool, I strongly advise covering the guitar pickups with some painter’s tape to avoid micro-particles of the wire wool being captured by the magnetic poles of the pickups.

How To Clean And Polish Rosewood and Ebony Fretboards?

The main difference here is that these types of fretboards are unfinished (so there is no protection on the wood) and have an exposed grain. Ebony, especially, does need particular care as it has a tendency to dry out over time.

Clean up

You can use a combination of Naptha or Mineral oil on a kitchen towel or lint-free cloths, finest wire wool (0000) to really remove all the dirt. Again if you do use 0000 finest wire wool, I strongly advise covering the guitar pickups with some painter’s tape to avoid micro-particles of the wire wool being captured by the magnetic poles of the pickups.

Be sure to rub in the direction of the wood grain and get right into those fret edges as much as possible, pretty much like what you do with Maple fretboards, the only difference here is that you might need to use the finest wire wool to clean out the grain of the wood a little.

Nourishing and polishing

You need to nourish the oh-so-precious wood.

For most Rosewoods, this is something you need to do every 6 months to a year depending on the age of your guitar and the climate; for Ebony, you may need to do this more often – I’d say, go for every 4 to 6 months for Ebony.

Basically, you are wanting to avoid the fretboard wood from drying out too much and cracking, so really hot and dry climates are where you need to be very careful, more so with Ebony as it can be prone to shrinking if it gets too dry.

For this, use Lemon oil or equivalent, get out the kitchen towel again, and rub a little in the direction of the wood grain all over the fretboard and leave for an hour or so to soak in. Once soaked in, get a cloth and polish up the fretboard as well as the frets (don’t use any additional polish here, you don’t need it).

I use, and highly recommend, a product called: Gorgomyte, which basically does everything in one hit for Rosewood or Ebony fretboards. You cut off a piece about 2 by 2 inches (5cm) and use it to clean and nourish your fretboard in one go! So, no need for Naptha/Mineral-spirit, cloths, wire wool, or anything, just a small square of the miracle

Gorgomyte.

It has a gentle abrasive that really cleans up the wood grain and then leaves a nourishing oil on the fretboard that you wipe off later and polish. It comes with instructions of course, but just follow the grain with it rubbing firmly, leave for an hour and polish up with a cloth, simple as that. It really is a brilliant product.

I use this on all my Rosewood and Ebony fretboards and it really does a job on them.

In Conclusion

• Clean the fretboard regularly, I suggest every time you change your strings
• There is an extra step for unfinished fretboards (Rosewood, Ebony, etc). Nourish the wood, don’t forget to try Gorgomyte.
• Roasted maple may need gunstock oil as appropriate.

I hope you’ve found my article on cleaning a guitar fretboard useful and informative, cheers.