How To Keep Everything As Almost New As You Got It

Well to start things off alot of people experince things such as losing picks, cables not working due to guitarists/bassists leaving the cable in the jack, blown out speakers, broken strings due to hard playing etc, and putting the guitar/bass up against the amplifer coming back and its on the floor, neck all cracked and destoryed.

Well those are some examples of the terrible things guitarist's and bassist's do on a regular basis, and when this bad event does occur, they forget it happened and everything starts all over again.

Pick Organizing: I know it's hard, but try your best not to lose your picks, when your done playing, put them in a place such as a cup or a coffe mug for instance. That way you can save money on a vet bill considering your dog eats guitar picks, or just put them in a cup or mug as stated before, an put the cup or any other thing you may use next to your amp or guitars. Picks are almost always lost, nothing you can really do, but hey, thats a small tip for some people who keep going to guitar center or sam ash every weekend for new picks and such.

Take Your Cable Out Of Your Guitar! Alot of people i talked to through the years keep their cables in there guitar while playing, and stand the guitar/bass up against the amp, not knowing the damage your doing to the guitar input jack and the cable itself. I even made this mistake alot of times, making trips to the music store and letting them fix it for you is not always fun, so please take all cables out of the input jacks. Hang your cables up somewere when your done, this can also reduce the cable from becoming tangled and distorted.

Dont Turn The Volume All The Way Up: Unless your Steve Vai or Mark Tremonti, not everyone wants to hear you playing. And obviously not to burn or blow the speaker(s) out. Put it at a level which you can hear it perfectly, not loud enough to blow peoples ears off.

Put Your Guitar On A Stand When Done Playing: Or for some hang it back on the wall. This is the most obvious one, but dont put your Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul against the amp, i know, i know, it will only be a few seconds till you play again, but it can be that fast till you see a nice crack in the neck or another horrfic sight. If your playing, and want to stop for only a short time, lay it down on a bed, carpet, or support it with a pillow at the headstock, and a pillow at the end of the body.

Don't Keep Strings On For 8 Months At A Time: Unless you have strings made from God, try your best not to keep them on for a while. Its not good for the neck, and obviously the guitar/bass will sound terrible, and future tuning problems may occur. When the first time your strings sound " dull " or not as bright as you got them, either clean them, boil them in water, or best of all change them! Now for us bassist's, its not always fun considering bass strings are more expensive then guitar strings.

Clean Your Guitar/bass Every So Often: Title says it all, clean your instrument! Residue and build up can get near the nut and in the frets producing a terrible sound. Stores sell guitar polish, fretboard cleaner, and other " methods " of cleaning. Try cleaning it only as much as you can, the fretboard can get annoying because you have to take all the strings off, and such. But hey, deal with it, it will sound better than it did 20 minutes ago!

Have A Sturdy Strap: A short portion of this article, but might be one of the most important, have a sturdy strap, i've seen people, kids, adults in general, who had weak un-reliable straps, which always fell and you guess what happens when they fall. Not a fun experince or not a nice sight at all.

Sure, some people get a strap designed by Joe Satriani, with sturdyness and very cool graphics. But some people buy straps beacuse of looks, not beacuse of how reliable they will be. So please try straps on your guitar/bass and see how they work!

This article is very basic, and consists of alot of common sense. But theres always people who dont take care of their instruments as well as they should be, and i would like to dedicate this whole entire article to them. Hope it helped some people in ways of maintaing a " healthy" rig.

Thanks,

-BassSurfer.

Comments

dont claim positions

[Mike_Moore]

that mug tip sounds real, i'm always loseing picks and always finding myself looking around the house for something to fill in as a pick

[curtis loew]

that was a good article

[U-Mass]

Good article, it tells some of the things I had to learn on my own (The hard way). They need to go into greater detail of guitar maintenance in the instruction books that come in new guitars.

And when it comes to guitar picks, I have this small leather pouch meant just for them on a keychain that I bought at the music store. These can hold about 8 picks and cost only about $3.00. A must for any scatterbrained guitarist such as myself!

[brandnewjunkie]

Good tips, lots of simple things that most people really don't think about. Also lemon oil is great for cleaning/preserving the fretboard.

[Desk Jocky]

Good article.... i have learned all these things over time. People who are new to guitar should read this.

[Goldec]

What the ****? I have never lost a pick in my whole life!
Other than that, very good article!

[detroitrulez]

Good article. I hate to admit that I'm a repeat offender of keeping the cable plugged in all the time. I'm only taking off points on my rating because I hate that you're probably right.

[TheRattle§nake]

detroitrulez wrote:

Good article. I hate to admit that I'm a repeat offender of keeping the cable plugged in all the time. I'm only taking off points on my rating because I hate that you're probably right.

me 2

[TagRingo]

Cool article.

I've had the same strings on my bass since december 24th, 2004. And I do the cable thing.

HOWEVER, I cut the bottom off a water bottle, and it makes a fine pick container. So at least i did something right. Anyway good job.

[eternalrecluse]

Wow, some fascinating tips here. "Clean your guitar", eh? Who'd have thunk it.

[Scurvyband]

I always noticed how I lose my picks and they never re-appear... I suppose a mug is the best way to keep from losing them in the 1st place... I also liked the idea of boiling your strings.
Nice article, thanx man.

[Godderz_24]

so that's my my cables broke... haha shit... could have saved myself 20 quid or so there...

[Godderz_24]

thats why* :S

[downcast_lg]

"Unless you have strings made from God" lol... Nice article, helpful hints to be sure.

[hoobariffer87]

I was going to rate this article low until I read it, thinking that it'd be short proclamation from Captain Obvious about being nice to your expensive toys.
However, you had a lot of good things in there (not sure if leaving strings on is actually bad for the guitar itself, though). A lot of guitarists don't follow this common sense; especially cleaning the fretboard. Whenever I play someone else's guitar, the thing is always horribly dry, sticky, and just unenjoyable. Good article.

[Randy_Rhoads4]

what i do for picks is i just slide it underneath the strings on my guitar, that way it doesnt get lost and its right there when you want to play.

[smidy]

I keep my picks on the floor or under my sofa cushions.

[Music_Junkie420]

they have things you can stick on your guitar that hold about 5-10 picks, that is if you don't mind sticking it on your guitar

[caucasian_ninja]

Ugh, nothing worse than grime on the fretboard. Sounds horrible, leaves residue on your fingers, ruins that manicure... erm.. yeah. But really, a lot of this was just common sense, but some, like the cable thing was really good to learn. And I wonder why my cables stop working...

Anyways, thanks for the good article!

[muse-ik]

hey, great article, i find that a good trick for keeping picks is getting one of those candy tins, the little rectangular or circular ones that snap closed, cuz then you can take it anywhere with you, and it holds alot of picks.
thx for the tip with cleaning the fretboard, i thought that touching it with oils or polish or stuff was bad for it.

[Mikeoman]

Man, I'm cruel to my guitar. Good thing its a new model though( The one I got has been out for a year and a half I think, and I got it just a year ago... surprised something really bad hasn't happened to it)... sometimes I clean it with a damp cloth. There isn't a lot of grime on my fretboard, I try to keep me hands clean, and the bodys alright( Few cracks though... I must say I've bumped the thing more than a few times)... I gots a little problem with the neck though. When it meets the body on my guitar, it rises a bit... shouldn't be happening...

Usually I take the cable out of the guitar and put the guitar on a stand, but the other end is in the amp. Probably not a good thing, might try to fix me habit.

Strings for me are a real bad habit. I haven't changed the low E string for a year! Usually I change a string when it breaks. Oh well, I'm usually strapped for cash. I gotta be more responsible with my money and buy a set of strings.

As for the pick thing, I keep all my picks in this little candy tin type thing with a picture of Angus Young on it that I got at this little craft sale. Cost about 10 bucks, and I think I got about 32 picks in there right now, half of which are unusable. Oh well, I wanna fill that thing full of picks! I don't know why, I'm just crazy...

[Captain Chaos]

This article needs to be spell checked.

[xX Maverick Xx]

god offered to make strings for me, but i said no because there was a catch, i could only play christian music with them.

[WiKiD]

i like to keep my picks in a nice clean ashtray (no, don't put ur cigarette ashes in it, unless you want cancer on your fingers!)... either way, i almost always NEVER lose picks and they are not a deep dish to reach in when i need them. cheers

[burndttoast]

I've heard that leaving strings off would actually mess up your neck or truss rod or something like that.

[Aftertime]

i have a blob of blue tac on my amp and have 3~4 different size/thickness picks sticking out of it
got the idea when watching some live dvds, they have it on their mic stand lol

[Miek]

i used to always lose picks but now i just put them inbetween the strings, that way as soon as you pick up the guitar you cant miss it, i cant believe no one else has mentioned that?

[MetallicaNRoses]

hell half the time i lose my picks while i'm just sitting around playingand after a while i'm just like what the hell did i do with my picks

[pigeonkicker]

nice article

[Let it Happen]

xX Maverick Xx wrote:

god offered to make strings for me, but i said no because there was a catch, i could only play christian music with them.

HAHA! that was hilarious... i need to add that to my sig... anyway, sweet article! but i don't know if that whole "don't keep your strings on for too long cuz it'll **** with you neck" thing is true...sounds like first class bullshit to me.

[mikeman]

How could keeping a cable in your input jack damage your input jack when constantly taking it in and out is easily going to cause more wear and tear?

[caughtinamosh]

the "don't keep your strings on for 8 months at a time" one is strangely appropriate for me, as that's exactly how long i've been using the same strings

[westo]

mikeman wrote:

How could keeping a cable in your input jack damage your input jack when constantly taking it in and out is easily going to cause more wear and tear?

thats what i always thought

[DaveGilmour1189]

you kinda stated the obvious.

[Mark Jumper]

I play in a church band and rehearse every Wednesday night for two hours and play for 30 minutes on Sunday mornings. We play a wide variety of contemporary Christian music. I change strings on my Ibanez AR300 every two weeks like clockwork and take my guitar for a setup job every three months. We only use top of the line cords and gear at the church. I've learned that if you want your gear and instruments to stay in good condition and undamaged you have to be diligent. My guitar is always in the hardcase except for practice at the house, practice at the church and on Sunday mornings. My input jack gets used a lot, but that just part of the gig. I have it removed at the shop every 6 months for inspection and re-installation. Maintaining gear (instruments, amps, cords, mic's, etc.) in good shape makes band members more confident about what they are doing.

[guitarpunk21]

i've had my strings on for 7 months now.
wait hold on. Yup 7 and half.
Is that a crime?

[bassmonkey16]

And when it comes to guitar picks, I have this small leather pouch meant just for them on a keychain that I bought at the music store. These can hold about 8 picks and cost only about $3.00. A must for any scatterbrained guitarist such as myself!

sucker, you had to pay!
its great beinga regular customer, they gave me that when i first looked at it.

anyways, decent article. honestly, imo, you can tell a lot about the guitarists playing ability just looking at his instrument. one who is truly serious will have his instrument in the best possible shape, be it a squire or a les paul. someone who plays crap and plays LIKE crap often has a scratched, dirty, unmaintained guitar. now this is not true in all cases, hell hendrix's guitar had a serious tuning problem that he never fixed, but seriously girls, maintain your gear. treat it like crap, ti will come back to you sometime or another

[JustinYap]

I keep my picks in my wallet.. And yet I still lose em... But somehow, after a couple of weeks later, they pop up in the most random places.. (I found one of em in one my shoes once... almost broke it..)

[[Creative Name]]

I rarely lose picks I keep them between the strings of the guitar. Leaving the cable in the jack doesn't do damage unless you have the guitar kind of leaning on the cable input, then it bends it and ****s it up. I replace my strings every 2 months and clean my guitar while the strings are off.

[Supadude]

Joe Satriani's straps are wonderful!
The leather is sturdy and you get a pickholder!
The best thing is to clean the fretboard when you change strings every other month!
You can also wipe off your strings after each time you play it!

[5thhorseman]

STRAP LOCKS. A big solution to the strap problem.

[gregorisgod]

Reasonable, albeit obvious advice.

As he said ^ STRAP LOCKS! Not duct tape or nothing or whatever.

A few grammatical errors throughout (When will people learn how and when to use apostrophes) but overall, does what it says on the tin.

[Kutanmoogle]

JustinYap wrote:

I keep my picks in my wallet.. And yet I still lose em... But somehow, after a couple of weeks later, they pop up in the most random places.. (I found one of em in one my shoes once... almost broke it..)

Heh, yeah, I keep my picks in pickholders on the back of the headstocks of my guitars, yet I still manage to find picks between keyboard keys, in tubes of Pringles etc.

[astrocreep71]

i change my strings every three months, when I do, I use Murphy's oil soap to clean the guitar. Been doing that for about 6 years now. I have 11 guitars and have never had a problem with it. Also(a point that needs to be reinterated) when you are not playing your guitar, put it in a case. At least cover it up, and keep it from the environment. This will preserve your strings. And wash your hands before you play. Not that difficult and should already be a habit.

[spikymann]

great tips, thanks.

[McCartyE.T.]

i change my string every month no matter matter what
Dean Markley makes strings that last for 2 to3 years and itll still sound new after that.
the thing about the cable, that happened to me too

and one more thing: detune your guitar after your after your done playing!! its will damage your neck if you leave it tuned for a long time

[eternalrecluse]

McCartyE.T. wrote:

Dean Markley makes strings that last for 2 to3 years and itll still sound new after that.

Any strings can last that long; it all depends on how often you play. I use Dean Markley blue steel strings (supposedly "longer life") and I normally have to change every 2-4 weeks depending on how much I practice.

[Cal UK]

Good article some simple but effective ideas.

[TeenBite]

Good tips, but poorly written and sometimes hard to understand because of it. Your ideas are good, but you should get someone to re-write for you.

[demiphoenix]

i need to replace my strings, but i'm a pooooor guitarist... i've had the same strings on this puppy since i bought it...

[imapunkforlife]

i lose picks when theyre in my hand...i play in the dark infront of the computer a lot...i drop them and when i turn the light on theyre gone...altho the cats little box is getting quite colorful XD

[Glen'sHeroicAct]

If your playing, and want to stop for only a short time, lay it down on a bed, carpet, or support it with a pillow at the headstock, and a pillow at the end of the body.

yea that's better than leaning it against the amp, but that can also be dangerous. much more than the guitar falling a short ways. happened to me once, and a friend of mine, that we set the guitar on the carpet for just a minute to do something, (i went for a sandwich and my friend took a piss) and guess what... stupid family members ended up walking into the room really quick, didnt notice the guitar, and guess what... my neck got sat on and broke. my friend's guitar got stepped on. lucky it was his body so it didnt get broken. but nonetheless, the floor or couch probably isnt the best place to set the guitar, even for a minute or two.

[scrambler_66]

You know you're a guitar player if you've lost more picks in your couch than you have coins.

I sold my (fake) Strat and got a Jackson Warrior, and the tail of the body sticks out so much further, that everytime I turn around I whack it into something. Poor bass player...

[Vortex_uk]

Someone hasnt made the point of KEEPING GUITARS AWAY FROM HEAT (such as radiators) other wise you get a bend in the neck (otherwise known as warping) and screws it all up

[The Demiurge]

ive lost 4 picks in the last 3 and a half years ive kept 1 for 3 years and 1 i caught of a band when he acidentaly caught his guitar with it and it went flying is still in my wallet but i kinda melted it trying to play master of puppest double speed it was great ive changed my strings 1nce in 3 years and i aint gonna wait that long again and my room is freezing cos me guitar lives next to the radiator so i turned it off and my pick up switcher thing needs a bit of card and only works on the second bottem setting how would i fix that or should i go to the shop

[TheEntertainer]

d mac my man youve out done your big bed again. this article is great. for all u readers this kid is hilarious and retarded so keep that in mind while reading this sweet article.

Checked.

[doive]

Stops trying to balacne open coke can on trem arm while playing

[bene8754]

xX Maverick Xx wrote:

god offered to make strings for me, but i said no because there was a catch, i could only play christian music with them.

hjahahahhahahhahah

[Donkey Fly]

When you say boil strings , do you mean when they are on the guitar?

[Donkey Fly]

Kutanmoogle wrote:

JustinYap wrote:

I keep my picks in my wallet.. And yet I still lose em... But somehow, after a couple of weeks later, they pop up in the most random places.. (I found one of em in one my shoes once... almost broke it..)


Heh, yeah, I keep my picks in pickholders on the back of the headstocks of my guitars, yet I still manage to find picks between keyboard keys, in tubes of Pringles etc.

I found one i lost weeks ago outside a mates house which is like 2 miles from mine lol

[jekyll64]

You NEVER lose your Pick,and always now where it is,if you use this www.neckpleck.com
Jekyll

[Lgndkllr777]

Ha my dad's friend who used to play guitar and drums taught me that trick with the picks... it really is a good trick!

[Dunjma]

i've never once changed my strings on my guitar and it sounds fine ( and the guitar and strings are older than i am)
in all the time that i've played the guitar i have only lost one pick. i dont understand how people can lose their picks ( let alone find them in their shoe!)

[BassSurfer]

Dunjma wrote:

i've never once changed my strings on my guitar and it sounds fine ( and the guitar and strings are older than i am)

well your just luckey, alot of people lose picks by the way.....
in all the time that i've played the guitar i have only lost one pick. i dont understand how people can lose their picks ( let alone find them in their shoe!)

[guilty]

i've never once changed my strings on my guitar and it sounds fine ( and the guitar and strings are older than i am)
in all the time that i've played the guitar i have only lost one pick. i dont understand how people can lose their picks ( let alone find them in their shoe!)

That's sounds bad, you never change them? I suggest that you immediately change them.. New strings are always good, you know..

[Etni3s]

Dunjma wrote:

i've never once changed my strings on my guitar and it sounds fine ( and the guitar and strings are older than i am)

unless you are 6 months old i'd suggest you change them soon. you'll notice a remarkable improvement in your sound.

[SillyRabbit]

Dude, I lose so many picks. One time i was playing and I was done so I went to put my pick away it hit something and landed on the side of my bed where theres shitloads of garbage from over the years, cause u cant get back there. LOL

[the_guitar_hero]

hey, im new to playing guitar, but i practice a lot. after about a month and a half my pick broke. am i using it wrong or do picks eventually break?

[the_guitar_hero]

oh, and somebody e-mail me or private message or some thing plz. thx

[inignought]

jesus built my hotrod and wound my strings i keep them on for at least 18 months play at least an hour a day and never have tuning or tone issues

[JPageZeppelin]

Mike_Moore wrote:

that mug tip sounds real, i'm always loseing picks and always finding myself looking around the house for something to fill in as a pick

yes in 7th grade i made a little clay jar thing and i keep them all in there and never really lost one except maybe one or two but yea thats what i do it works good

[droptuned17]

can i use lemon oil on my ibanez GRG170DX? it has shark tooth inlays.any suggestion would be helpful...tnx

[philipp122]

OK, I have a question in regards to the string part: is it bad to remove all of your strings at once? I've had some peole ay yes, while others say it's bad to leave them on all the time.

Other than that, great article, 9/10.

[DougM]

Good article, sure it was a lot of common sense but hey there are a lot of us that don't have much common sense. Thanks for pointing out the little things we forget.

[maclondon91]

very good articali think the idea with the cup for the picks, i started doing that and havent lost a pick yet, but all in all very nicely put good artical

[izzizz]

about the boiling thing. should i like really boil it till the water becomes very hot?