Our advice for maintaining your guitar

Keeping your guitar in good condition is crucial to its longevity and playability. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to keep your guitar in tip-top shape:

Regular maintenance
1. String maintenance:
- Change the strings regularly: Depending on your playing frequency, change the strings when they lose their brilliance and intonation.
- Clean the strings: After playing, wipe the strings with a soft, dry cloth to remove oils and dirt.

2. Clean the guitar:
- Body and handle: Wipe them with a dry or slightly damp cloth.
- Neck: Clean occasionally with an oil or cleaner specially designed for the guitar.
- Hardware: Make sure that metal parts (such as mechanics) are free of dust and work perfectly.

3. Store your guitar correctly:
- Use a case: Store your guitar in a hard case when you're not using it.
- Humidity control: Maintain a relative humidity level of 45 to 55% to prevent the wood from warping or cracking.
- Avoid extreme temperatures: Store the guitar at a stable and moderate temperature.

4. Fret Maintenance:
- Polishing the frets: Periodically polish the frets with fine steel wool (always masking the fingerboard).
- Check for wear: Look for flats or indentations, which may indicate the need for fret leveling or replacement.
- Periodic maintenance

5. Adjust the Truss Rod:
- Check the straightness of the handle: Use a ruler or look down the handle to spot any curvature.
- Adjust if necessary: ​​Using a tension wrench, make small adjustments to straighten the handle (if in doubt, consult a professional).

6. Tuning the guitar:
- Adjust the action: Raise or lower the bridge to ensure the strings are at a comfortable height.
- Check intonation: Make sure the guitar is in tune across the entire neck and adjust the position of the nuts if necessary.
- Pickup Height: Adjust the pickup height to balance the volume across all strings.

7. Check and replace hardware:
- Tuning mechanisms: Make sure they work properly; lubricate them if necessary.
- The nut and bridge: Check that they are not worn and replace them if they have nicks or if the strings are too deep.
- Switches and potentiometers (for electric guitars): Clean them with a contact cleaner if they start to scratch or become unreliable.

8. Inspect the electronics (for electric guitars):
- Clean the contacts: Make sure the input jack and switches are clean and fully functional.
- Secure the wiring: Make sure all wires are soldered correctly and connections are secure.

9. Protect the finish:
- Cleaning: Use guitar polish and a soft cloth to maintain the finish.
- Avoid direct sunlight: Prolonged exposure may cause fading and damage the finish.
- Annual maintenance (or as needed)

10. Professional installation:
- Full Inspection: Have a professional luthier inspect your guitar for any hidden issues or necessary adjustments.
- Frets: Professionals can adjust, level and crown frets with precision.

11. Upgrade rooms:
- Improve pickups, tuners, etc. depending on your needs and the wear of the parts.
- Replace old parts: For example, rusty screws or tarnished parts.

12. Work on the head nut, bridge nut and bridge:
- Ensure the correct adaptation: A professional can ensure that these parts are not only functional, but that they also contribute to optimal sound transmission.

13. Review and adjustment:
- Feedback: Talk to a professional about any gameplay or sound issues.
- Adjust if necessary: ​​Depending on your playing style and needs.

Additional Tips:
- Handle your guitar with care: Always handle your guitar with care and ensure that it is properly placed on a stand when not in use.
- Transport it safely: Use a hard case for transport and make sure the guitar is safe in vehicles.

Proper maintenance requires a combination of regular personal care and periodic professional examinations to ensure that your guitar remains in peak playing condition for many years.