Care and maintenance of the strings
Care and Maintenance of a Classical Guitar
Strings should be replaced at least once every six months
Strings should be replaced at least once every six months
The sound of a guitar can change completely with new strings. To produce the tone that the guitar was originally designed for, the strings should be replaced once every three months if possible, and at the very least, once every six months. Those playing the guitar every day are advised to replace strings once per month, or even once per week. Professional guitarists replace their strings before every live performance.
Strings last longer if wiped down regularly
Strings last longer if wiped down regularly
There is a certain technique to ensure that new strings last a long time; wipe them down regularly.
Human fingers can leave a surprising amount of sweat and oil behind. The strings will start to rust quickly if this sweat and oil is not removed. Make a habit of wiping the strings down immediately after playing the guitar, rather than leaving the strings dirty. Special string cleaner is also available for the strings. They are packaged as easy-to-use, wet tissues. These cleaners are convenient for giving the guitar strings a quick wipe to remove any residual oil.
Loosen the strings when not playing for some time
Loosen the strings when not playing for some time
A problem often seen in guitars that have not been stored for years with the strings still tight is swelling of the back side of the bridge, or the entire bridge itself starting to lift off from the guitar. The guitar can still be played after some fine adjustments if the top has swollen slightly, however if the bridge has started to separate from the guitar, it will need to be repaired before installing new strings.
To prevent this type of damage, it is wise to loosen the strings a little if the guitar is not going to be played for some time. This refers to a period of more than two to three weeks. To loosen the strings, simply turn the tuning keys several times.
