How To Repair Acoustic Guitar Body

Cleaning your acoustic guitar is an often overlooked just important maintenance chore that volition aid yous to become the very best out of your instrument from both an aesthetic, tone, and playability perspective. In the following commodity, I'm going to cover how to clean an acoustic guitar the right way, the products, and tools that tin can help, forth with some essential maintenance tips to stop your guitar from getting into a mess in the first identify. And so if you are anything like me and want to keep your guitars in the very best of wellness stay tuned.

To go along your guitar make clean Always launder your hands before working on your guitar, then clean using warm h2o. If your guitar is proving difficult to clean effort Lighter fluid (Naptha). Information technology is an effective cleaning agent and won't harm Nitrocellulose or Polyurethane finishes. You should also consider using a fretboard conditioner subsequently cleaning to forestall the neck from drying out.

Preparation

The Workspace

Before getting started look for a space that you tin easily operate in without beingness cramped for room equally the probability of bumping the guitar or dropping something on it is much higher.

While this might audio obvious, don't think, you'll just be actress careful and this won't happen to you, it happens a lot more than y'all may realize.

Protecting the Guitar

There'due south cipher worse than going to the effort to maintain your guitar, only to scratch the surface or put a dent in the body or headstock in the process.

This is elementary to avert provided you lot clean the space y'all are working in eastward.g. remove any abrasive elements and brand sure you lot have a make clean piece of work mat or towel to place under the guitar.

Also, be sure to support the neck so the guitar doesn't have the capacity to slide effectually. You tin can buy neck rests from $xx at vendors such as stewmac.com or your local music store, or it's not all that difficult to make i yourself. If you don't accept a neck rest, you tin can also apply the neck support insert from a guitar instance if your case happens to accept one, or a guitar wall hanger can also serve this purpose provided it is stable.

You lot should besides ensure whatever cloth you use to clean the guitar is gratis of debris that could otherwise scratch the surface of the guitar. Take particular care if using rags also, the last thing y'all want to do is place your guitar downward on a rag that has been used with paint thinners.

Beginning the Cleaning Process

In one case you lot have settled on a workspace, information technology'southward fourth dimension to go to work.

The buildup of dirt, sweat and assorted grime on your guitar affects different parts of the guitar differently. With this in heed, I like to break upwards the job into iii specific tasks:

• Cleaning the Fretboard
• Cleaning the Finish (Trunk and rear of the neck)
• Cleaning the Hardware (Tuners)

We'll start with arguably the most important component of the guitar apropos playability, the fretboard.

How to make clean an acoustic guitar'southward fretboard

Chances are, particularly when dealing with acoustic guitars, that your fretboard will exist made from either Rosewood or Ebony, along with your bridge.

If this is the case, the timber volition be untreated e.k. there isn't a protective cease applied, and equally a result clay, sweat and grime can build upwardly over time resulting in damage (more on this soon).

A clean Rosewood fretboard

Rosewood is becoming less mutual due to export restrictions only many of the Rosewood alternatives e.g. engineered or composite materials will benefit from the same techniques used to clean rosewood.

If your guitar's fretboard is made from maple, it will be sealed with a protective finish and therefore will not exist as susceptible to drying out, however, it will still benefit from a clean, to improve playability.

Tools Required

• Clean rags
• Newspaper Towel
• Solvent (Lighter fluid due east.g. Naptha or Nix is all-time but is likewise combustible then take intendance)
• 0000 Steel wool (always use the finest grade available)
• Fretboard Conditioner

Fretboard Damage

Eccrine glands produce sweat, we accept these all over our trunk e.m. under the artillery, on the soles of our feet, and importantly, the palms of our hands. When our hands impact the fretboard, sweat (along with expressionless skin cells and other wonderful stuff) is transferred to the cervix of the guitar and accumulates near the fret wires. This residue also builds upon the strings and affects the tone of the guitar, not to mention the life of your strings.

Sweat is substantially water and sodium (along with a bunch of Proteins, Urea, and Ammonia ). As the moisture content evaporates the sodium (salt) remains and begins drying out the timber and corroding the metal fret wires.

This affects the timber'southward ability to aggrandize and contract as information technology normally would due to limited moisture content. This accelerates the deterioration of the timber and is known as dry out rot.

Dry rot, over fourth dimension, volition effect in loose frets as the timber most the fret wires deteriorates and in some cases may pb to dandy of the fretboard, resulting in expensive repair piece of work.

To accost this upshot, the fretboard needs to be kept clean from contaminants such every bit sweat. The fretboard should be conditioned to forbid the timber from drying out.

Step one) Wash your hands

Anytime you lot touch on a guitar ideally you should launder your hands kickoff. This volition reduce the corporeality of sweat and grime that would otherwise be transferred to the fretboard.

Step 2) Remove the Strings

Secondly, nosotros need to remove the strings. Generally, if cleaning a guitar you will besides perform a string change so there should be no need to take care with the strings, other than preventing the strings from scratching the body equally they are removed.

I like to simply loosen the tuning pegs then clip the strings near the bridge using pliers or a similar cutting tool. I'll and then apply the bridge pivot tool (usually found on a string winding tool) or gear up of pliers to advisedly lift the bridge pins out and remove the ball ends.

Once this is done, you can unwind the strings from the tuning pegs and discard them.

Step 3) Make clean the Fretboard

When cleaning the fretboard, I recommend using the bare minimum concerning cleaning products, at to the lowest degree to begin with due east.g. avoid using scrapers or solvents unless you have to.

I like to start by applying a very small amount of warm water to a rag. The moisture helps lift the grime. This is followed by wiping downward the area with a newspaper towel.

Paper towels are more than annoying than cloth and because of this are more effective at removing build-up. It volition also absorb the remaining moisture content on the surface of the fretboard.

Starting time by working on a small department of the neck at a time, before moving on.

Stride 4) Using Solvents and Scraping

If the crud on the fretboard is proving difficult to remove you may demand to use a solvent to loosen further then use a scraper to manually scrape the build-up of gunk and grime away.

This is oft the case if the cervix hasn't been cleaned previously, or the possessor of the guitar sweats prolifically.

Acceptable solvents to employ are:

• Saliva
• Lighter Fluid
• Guitar Polish
• Mineral Spirits

Lighter fluid is especially effective in my experience and won't bear on Nitrocellulose or Polyurethane finishes if you mistakenly get some on the body of the guitar.

Avoid these products
Do not under any circumstances apply common wood polishes or smash smoothen remover (acetone). Both products incorporate ingredients that may potentially damage the finish of your guitar.

In one case you have applied a small-scale amount of solvent to the fretboard, permit it sit for lx seconds, so it is absorbed sufficiently, then begin scraping abroad some of the heavier build-ups. Pay attending to build up close to the fret wires.

I utilise a dedicated scraping tool for this task but an onetime credit bill of fare in most cases volition also suffice. Be careful not to press too hard on the fretboard, every bit this tin upshot in dents.

Step 5) Polish the Frets

Once you are satisfied with your results from cleaning the fretboard you tin can move onto polishing the fret wires.

For this chore, nosotros demand to utilise fine-form steel wool (0000 form). When using steel wool, despite it being of a very fine form you should however move the steel wool in the same direction as the grain of the fretboard timber to prevent scratches.

Yous can also use a fretboard guard to protect the timber with even more surety. These are inexpensive and can exist purchased from specialist luthier supplies outlets.

Once you have rubbed the fret wires to a smoothen terminate consider post-obit upwardly with an eraser to remove whatsoever marks left behind by the steel wool.

You should ever be conscientious when using steel wool on a sealed maple neck. Any polishing of the neck itself volition result in your once glossy finish becoming a matte finish every bit the gloss is removed.

Once complete, advisedly remove whatever remaining fibers left over from the steel wool to prevent scratches. Steel wool tends to shed fibers fairly hands when used in this way. I often use a small vacuum to ensure all fibers are safely removed.

Pace half-dozen) Condition the Fretboard

If y'all have used a solvent to remove build-up on your fretboard I recommend using a fretboard conditioning product later on. Solvents tend to describe out the natural oils contained within the timber and over time this tin lead to cracks developing in the fretboard.

It'south also a good thought to use a fretboard conditioner even if you lot haven't used a solvent to clean the fretboard occasionally e.g. every half dozen months if y'all play regularly to prevent the timber drying out.

Y'all tin can more often than not find fretboard finishing oils (most are Linseed Oil-based) in your local music store or online. You won't require a slap-up deal each fourth dimension you apply it, so the canteen will typically terminal for years. Music nomad products due east.k. F-One Oil (every bit pictured to a higher place) do a good job.

To apply your fretboard conditioner, wipe a very small amount direct on the fretboard using a clean rag. Let it sit down for 1- 2 minutes and and so thoroughly remove all excess.

Yous can and so polish the fretboard in its entirety using a clean rag. And that's it chore done! Provided you followed the steps outlined in a higher place your fretboard should have taken on a new charter of life and will experience more comfy to play.

Cleaning and workout the bridge
While the bridge is definitely part of the guitar body, every bit it is also likely synthetic from Rosewood or Ebony then it'due south a skilful idea to wipe down the bridge and utilize conditioner likewise. This prevents any issues with the structural integrity of the bridge which is important as the span must handle quite a bit of tension from the strings and is the terminal point of contact for the strings.

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How to clean the body of an acoustic guitar

Guitar finishes can get streaky and dirty over time. This is due to dirt, dust, sweat, and oils from your hands and arms becoming trapped under a thin layer of surface oil on the finish. Grit, including dead skin cells, will also begin to accumulate beneath the strings between the soundhole and the bridge and on the headstock beneath the strings.

This build-upward of clay and other abrasives increases the chances of the surface of the guitar becoming scratched when handled, and the longer it is left the more difficult it becomes to make clean.

Tools Required

• Microfibre cleaning cloth or clean polishing rags
• Newspaper towel
• Solvent (Lighter fluid east.k. Naptha, Zippo is best simply is also flammable and so accept intendance)
• Steel wool (fine grade e.g. 0000) if your guitar has a matte terminate
• Fine grade sandpaper (eastward.g. 600 grit wet and dry) if the neck has a gloss end

What finish is used on the body of the guitar?

Audio-visual guitars are more often than not finished using one of the post-obit types:

• Lacquer
  • Nitrocellulose lacquers (ordinarily referred to as Nitro)
  • Acrylic lacquer
  • Water-based Lacquer
• Polyurethane Varnish
  • Resin Varnish
  • Acrylic Varnish
  • Oil-based Varnish
• Shellac

Shellac is mostly used on loftier-terminate classical guitars. In almost cases, audio-visual guitars will be finished in Nitrocellulose Lacquer.

Although Polyurethane tends to dry harder and every bit a result offers better protection, many purists believe this affects the tone of an audio-visual guitar negatively compared to Nitro.

The list of finishes higher up is more than advisory than practical. If you lot can't identify the stop of your guitar, don't worry. It's all-time to avoid using mutual cleaning agents in whatever case except the few I have listed below which won't harm the finishes listed to a higher place.

Avoid common cleaning and polishing products

It is best to avoid using common cleaning and polishing products when cleaning the end of your guitar. The about common finishing product used on audio-visual guitars, Nitrocellulose Lacquer breaks down over time as the ingredients e.g. cellulose evaporates resulting in a thin and more delicate terminate. Like cleaning and conditioning the fretboard, beginning with the blank minimum e.thousand. a dry paper towel, and just move on to using a liquid product if required.

Adequate products include:

• Naptha, Zippo
• Saliva
• Deionized Water
• Warm Water
• Dedicated Guitar cleaning products due east.k. Colortone products sold past vendors such as StewMac.com
• Guitar Polish (avoid using abrasive automotive polishes)

Cleaning the body, much like cleaning the fretboard is a process. The steps below detail this process in the right club.

Pace 1) Inspect the Guitar
Before nosotros go virtually cleaning the end on your guitar body information technology is of import to inspect the guitar for any exposed timber. Moisture tin be captivated past the fibers of raw timber and tin can cause swelling.

Await for places where the finish may have worn through or is chipped. Obviously, be very careful near the soundhole and keep moisture well away from the internal cavity of the guitar torso.

If you are aware of or happen to notice exposed timber upon inspection exist sure to brand a note of the affected surface area and avoid moisture coming directly into contact.

Step two) Begin Cleaning

Bunch a clean, dry rag into a brawl about the size of your fist and begin polishing a minor section of the body, moving in a circular motility.

Inspect your efforts by first looking at the area you take worked on for any noticeable alter and compare the remaining expanse of the guitar y'all have nonetheless to shine.

Secondly, inspect the rag yous are using to see if any of the grime on the trunk of the guitar has been transferred to the rag. If none is present you may demand to consider something stronger, in the form of a liquid solvent. If however, you are seeing improvements in the stop go on this process for the unabridged trunk and rear of the cervix.

Step 3) Using Solvents
Attempt using warm water first by moistening the rag ball you have been using in the previous pace. Just be sure not to utilize excessive wet.

If afterward a 2nd inspection of the expanse and cleaning rag you lot are not seeing whatsoever of the clay and crud transfer to the rag you accept been using, you lot tin can try using Zip or Naptha which breaks downwardly oils and can exist more effective at removing dirt and grime if warm water is non sufficient.

Step 4) Smoothen the Guitar
Once you have removed much of the dirt and grime on the guitar body you can polish the guitar. Bear in mind, polishing with any type of polishing compound will bear on the finish, and may cause it to soften over the course of a number of years every bit the product is absorbed into the end.

With this in heed, I would recommend a dry polish first and see if you can achieve a good result without using a polishing compound.

Start past polishing the surface using a tight circular motion and and so remove any excess with an boosted make clean rag, in much the same way as yous would smooth a motorcar. Continue inspecting the rag for the transfer of grime and dirt.

Step 5) Using a polishing product
I use polishing compounds to clean my guitars only very rarely. Generally, it is the balmy heat (exist conscientious if using a buffing motorcar for example equally excessive heat can damage guitar finishes) generated by the polishing movement that will tend to assistance remove much of the grime found on the torso of the guitar. That'due south right, rather than a dedicated polishing chemical compound it mostly comes downwards to good one-time elbow grease.

If you do happen to use any form of guitar polishing compound first by polishing a small department of the guitar on a less prominent section and exist certain to follow the manufacturer's instructions advisedly.

Step 6) Addressing the rear of the neck
Ensuring the rear of your guitar neck is smoothen and silky aids playability, especially chord transitions and fast runs up and downwardly the neck.

A build-upwards of grime will cause the neck to feel 'sticky' due to the excessive build-up itself or the resulting damage to the finish as a event of the build-upwards.

If but addressing the rear of the neck it is advised to clean using a modest amount of warm water followed past boosted solvents as required.

Just since we have already cleaned the body including the rear of the cervix we can skip this step and move right to reducing the friction on the back of the neck using fine form steel wool, or depending on the stop very fine form sandpaper. Be careful, however, every bit we need to avoid sanding through the cease and exposing the raw timber of the neck.

Matte Finish
If your neck has a matte finish (not-glossy finish) it is best to use fine-grade steel wool and gently rub the rear of the cervix in the direction of the grain, repeatedly testing until it feels shine and silky and optimal for moving quickly over the neck.

Gloss Finish
If your guitar utilizes a gloss finish, utilise very fine-grade sandpaper eastward.g. 600grit moisture and dry out sandpaper. Just like using steel wool, sand with the grain, and regularly check your progress to avoid sand throughs.

Once you have completed this step y'all have completed cleaning the guitar torso. That leaves us just one final step, cleaning the hardware.

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How to Clean Acoustic Guitar Hardware

Cleaning the hardware on your acoustic guitar, (dissimilar an electric guitar) is really just a case of cleaning the tuning pegs both at the front (spool and buttons) and the rear housing (if the tuners do non utilize exposed gears).

Why you should go on your tuners clean

Despite this being a pocket-sized job, information technology's an of import one equally maintenance of your tuning keys will keep them in practiced working order longer and ensure the guitar maintains tuning stability over time. Depending on the country of your tuners, this may simply require a wipe down with a clean rag. However, y'all can as well employ a metal polish (brass polish if your tuners are made from brass) which volition leave a protecting coating, preventing dust and other build-ups, at least in the short term.

Step 1) Wipe the tuners down using a dry rag
To remove grit and other particles, simply wipe the tuners downward using a dry out rag. In most cases, this will suffice and your tuners will look greatly improved.

Step two) (If required) Brush any debris from the gears
If the gears are exposed you may need to utilise an former toothbrush or specialized cleaning brush to remove any dust that would otherwise affect the gears.

Footstep iii) Apply a metal smooth
Add a small amount of metal polish (or brass shine if your tuners are made from brass) and smoothen the spool, push button, and housing of the tuners. While yous should take care to avoid getting whatsoever smoothen on the headstock, in reality, provided yous remove information technology speedily information technology won't have a detrimental effect on the guitar's finish.

Once completed, you tin put on a fresh new set up of strings and the unabridged chore will exist completed. Congratulations, you lot have only given your audio-visual guitar a professional clean which will ensure it looks great, plays cracking, and sounds bang-up for much longer.

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Summary

Cleaning your acoustic guitar may non be the almost enjoyable way to spend fourth dimension with your favorite musical instrument simply it's a chore you should consider doing a couple of times per year or based on your ain observations concerning grime and build-up y'all discover the fretboard and body. Go along in mind this is not just about aesthetics, you can meliorate the playability of your guitar and reduce the possibility of requiring expensive repair downwards in the hereafter.

Source: https://theacousticguitarist.com/how-to-clean-an-acoustic-guitar/

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