Tagged Questions
3
votes
3answers
194 views
What is the best way to remove a broken bridge pin?
I decided to give my guitar a well deserved clean, but when I came to remove the low E string, the bridge pin was a bit stuck so I resorted to using pliers, which turns out to have been a very bad ...
7
votes
2answers
304 views
Right way of resting a guitar
While not using or after using, what is the right way of resting a guitar. If I lean it towards a wall, is it right to lean it with the strings facing the walls or otherwise? Is it fine to hang the ...
3
votes
1answer
377 views
Acoustic guitar damaged by impact. How to repair?
Introduction
My acoustic guitar has suffered damage at four locations. It still sounds very good, and it is more than twenty years old.
The damage done
The different damage locations are pictured ...
0
votes
2answers
317 views
How do I figure out whether my guitar tuning machine heads are failing on me?
What are the symptoms of low quality guitar machine heads? I know it can be the nut that's causing the problem, but besides that, how can I know whether changing the machine heads will help my guitar ...
3
votes
1answer
108 views
Should I take the weather into account when I replace guitar strings?
I have been told that the strings in a guitar should be replaced at least every six months (I know this can be subjective).
I have a classical guitar which has been several years with the same ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Best method to clean guitar?
After a month or two of playing, the strings will often have grime and skin oil stuck to the underside, and the frets will eventually start building up dirt. Add to that all the dust that accumulates ...
6
votes
4answers
984 views
Is grease good or bad for guitar strings?
I was once told that playing a guitar with greasy fingers was actually good for the strings. However, this seems a bit counter-intuitive. Is there any truth behind this claim?
6
votes
1answer
180 views
Is there a standard efficient method of cleaning / maintaining a guitar?
In terms of 'spring-cleaning' and maintaining guitars, and asking with regards to those of the acoustic variety, just to specify, however not to eliminate any differences should anyone care to ...
6
votes
4answers
4k views
how does one use or apply lemon oil ?
I have bought a classic guitar for my nephew who is starting classes. The vendor gave me as a gift a little vial of "lemon oil" (translated from the french) saying just quickly something like "it ...
6
votes
2answers
653 views
Insane amounts of fret buzzing on my lower strings
This may have been addressed before, but I can't really find a thread that targets this problem.
Whenever I play on my low B, E, or A string between open and fifth fret inclusive, it always buzzes ...
2
votes
2answers
81 views
Is it a bad idea to attach my strap just above the nut?
This question is mainly for my banjo but it seems to apply to my guitar as well. For me it is most comfortable to have the left end of the strap attached to just above the nut on the neck. Is this a ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
Will steel strings wear out my nickel frets ?
I have bought some coated strings because I wanted to try that out. After my purchase I noticed that the package says the uncoated strings are stainless steel.
Since my frets are made out of nickel ...
5
votes
4answers
32 views
Should I worry about this strap pin?
I recently bought a Fender Stratocaster that came stock with Schaller straplocks. This is great, because I pretty much always play standing. In shows, I jump around and do all the tricks in the book. ...
7
votes
0answers
111 views
How to properly store valuable guitars?
What are the general guidelines when storing a collectors, very nice guitar (special woods, etc.), or one you value greatly? You will find humidity control systems in place at stores with "acoustic ...
8
votes
2answers
280 views
Dealing with sharp fret ends
Continuing on my quest to subjugate this cheap bass I picked up in to the realm of "actually useful instrument" I've got a question about taming sharp fret ends. This bass, it has a lot of them. After ...
10
votes
7answers
666 views
How do I properly stretch my newly strung strings?
I came across this string stretcher device. It claims to properly and evenly stretch new strings and maintain tuning.
I never really made a point to properly stretch newly strung strings. Can anyone ...
4
votes
7answers
145 views
What to have in mind when traveling by plane with my guitar?
I have to travel by plane to another country in a few months, and I want to bring my guitar with me. I have doubts with what should I do to ensure that my guitar arrives safe and in perfect condition.
...
6
votes
3answers
4k views
Should a Floyd Rose bridge be parallel to the body of the guitar?
I've read before that a Floyd Rose bridge should be parallel to the body of the guitar.
This is an image of the bridge on my guitar:
You can see that the left side of the appears to be a little ...
23
votes
7answers
428 views
What tools should every guitarist have?
What tools should every guitarist have to do most small/medium projects for their guitars? (change strings, tuners, knobs, pickups)
4
votes
1answer
168 views
What are good oils to use on a neck that has been stripped of veneer?
I would like to strip the veneer off of the back side of a strat's neck - I'm guessing that, like furniture, I would need to lock in/out the moisture so that the neck won't warp. Any oils work better ...
5
votes
1answer
168 views
Should I replace unwound strings on my acoustic guitar as often as the wound ones?
The wound strings wear off quite fast, and start sounding dull even faster, so I replace them quite often. But whenever I do so, I replace the unwound strings as well, even though at that point, they ...
5
votes
2answers
268 views
Upgrade tuners or get a new guitar?
I have an Ibanez V70CE Acoustic-Electric guitar. While it was not expensive, I like the way it feels and it sounds just fine. The problem is it doesn't like to stay in tune. I always use high quality ...
7
votes
3answers
695 views
Factors in choosing a replacement saddle for an acoustic guitar.
I saw this in the comments section on the question "Do acoustic or classical guitars need to be set up?"
The saddle material makes a difference in the sound of an acoustic too.
I have a bit of a ...
6
votes
1answer
86 views
Strings stick to pickup poles when the tremolo is depressed.
Sometimes, when I depress the tremolo quite far, the strings magnetically stick to the pickup poles...
Is this normal? Is there a way I can prevent it, aside from not depressing the tremolo so far?
...
20
votes
6answers
2k views
Do guitar strings wear when not used?
Do strings wear because of the pressure applied to them or any other factor, or do they stay in quite the same shape as long as you don't use them?
27
votes
15answers
5k views
Changing the strings: one by one, or by taking all strings off at one time?
The title says it all. Should I change strings one by one, or take them all at once? Does this matter at all?
If I take all strings off, will it damage my neck in any way, because the pressure is ...
8
votes
6answers
152 views
How do you care for your guitar?
A guitar that is used regularly will sooner or later show signs of wear and tear. How do you best care for your guitar and make sure it stays as good as it is for as long as possible?
6
votes
4answers
168 views
What is a guitar truss rod?
What is the "truss rod" on a guitar? Do truss rods vary for an acoustic, electric, or classical guitar?
13
votes
8answers
1k views
What is intonation and how can I find out if my guitar has correct intonation?
What is intonation?
What is the best way to check my intonation and fix it if necessary?
30
votes
15answers
2k views
How often should I replace the strings on my guitar?
When and why should you replace your guitar strings?
5
votes
4answers
559 views
Do acoustic or classical guitars need to be set up?
Obviously acoustic and classical guitars don't have external pickups that need to be setup, but are there any other adjustments that need to be done on a regular basis? There doesn't seem to be a ...
8
votes
3answers
3k views
What's causing this buzzing sound on the high e string?
My Takamine acoustic has a tendency to buzz when I play the high e string fretted around frets 2 and 3. I figure it's something to do with the neck and tension rod. Are there any other parts of a ...
