GUITAR CARE TIPS
CLEANING AND POLISHING YOUR Gruene Guitar
A good instrument is an investment and, like anything else it will need some care and maintenance.
Age old questions:
“How do I clean and polish my guitar?”,
“How often should I clean my guitar?” and
“How do I clean the fingerboard?”.
The best way to clean your guitar is to keep it clean by washing your hands before you pick it up and by storing it in its case when not in use. Because playing a guitar with damp fingers is a real disaster, make sure you have dry clean hands. Guitars are often exposed to environmental elements that are often out of our control.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR Gruene?
It is recommend wiping down your guitar after you are done playing it for the day and every time you play it. No matter how careful you are your guitar will need to be cleaned periodically when fingerprints and other gunk build up.
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GUITAR?
This part is pretty straightforward. You can simply take a soft cloth and gently wipe the guitar down on all sides, up the neck, and even go over the strings and the tuning machines. We ship with every new Gruene a polishing cloth or you can also use a soft t-shirt or similar soft material. You want to wipe it down anywhere that your body touched the finish because you want to wipe off any of your skin oils that may have transferred to the guitar.
If you really want to give your guitar some extra care, purchase a detailing kit from one of the many makers of kits.
HOW TO POLISH YOUR GUITAR
Some people like to use polish on their guitar to give it some extra shine. But keep in mind that the guitar’s finish is porous so you don’t want to use a harsh polish with a lot of chemicals because you could do more harm than good.
If you have purchased a Gruene Guitar in matte/satin finish you must use a cleaner and polish component made for Satin or Matte finish. Certain models of Gruene Guitars have a Matte finish on the neck, it natural for those necks to develop a glossy look after playing, that is normal ok. It shows you and your guitar are buds.
Never use any polisher or cleaner that has abrasives.
HOW TO CLEAN THE FRETBOARD
When it comes to cleaning the fingerboard, it’s best to clean it when you are changing your strings, because you will have easy access to it. There are some products that slide between the strings and the fretboard if you want to give it a once over more often. But with the strings off, you can take a soft clean cloth and wipe off the fingerboard and frets.
You can also condition your fingerboard and bridge. There are products made specifically for fret boards and bridge. You should only have to do so once or twice a year, of course that depends on the humidity, just to make sure that wood stays moist with a oil based product designed for the fretboard and bridge, so it doesn’t crack over time. You can also check with your local guitar retailer for their recommended products and follow the instructions on the package.