Guitar Bridge and Neck Maintenance - Know How to keep Your Guitar in Shape?

Today we are down at the other end of the guitar, theminutes. Wipe any excess off with a dry cloth and
Bridge, and we have the same problem withcover the whole board in this way. Tune back up and
"string-slack" as it's called, as mentioned in the previousdon't forget to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the strings again. It will not
article on whammybars and Strats. It is a bit moretake long if they have been done before. This makes
difficult to get the graphite under the string here, sothe neck feel nice and smooth to the touch, and also
loosen the strings a bit one by one, pull aside, andbrings out the wood design. Improves general sliding
pencil the saddle itself, just under where the string lies.notes around, and feels so professional to play.Do not
After you finish one, tune it back up and move on tomess around with the guitar-neck regarding "Bowing or
the next one. Do not release the tension of all theConcave" problems unless you are experienced and
strings at once with a floating bridge, as you canfully confident of doing the job. Doing this wrong can
imagine this plays havoc with the tuning.Giddyup there...not only destroy your guitar tuning, but the your
If you notice a lot of strings breaking across the bridge,precious guitar itself! Any problems in this area I would
it's time to replace your bridge saddles. If your handy atstrongly advise you to see a guitar tech.Another huge
doing your own servicing, this is relatively easy. If not,factor to be considered in Staying-in-Guitar-Tune Land,
get them done in a good, reputable repair shop. It's notis your musical lug'oles or as they are more commonly
expensive, and after you have gone through breakingcalled, ears! Lose these and you can forget about
string after string every night, you will be so relieved,playing anything. (unless your as good as Beethoven...
not to have to worry about that anymore, that it isfair play to ya' if so).You know what they say "Ear
worth every cent! Now you can concentrate on yourToday, Gone Tomorrow". Use special ear-plugs at
playing instead. Yeh!Do not do the job yourself if yourrehearsals. Make sure they are audio ear-protectors.
not sure how to reset the saddles, distance, action andThere is more than one type. Oh while I think of it, get
string heights. If you set these wrong, this will playyourself a good guitar tuner that will last
HAVOC with your Guitar Tuning! You have beenyou.BEGINNERS GUITAR TUNING TIPS: For a
politely warned.If you use special replacement graphiteprofessional vibe on stage you need an Inline-tuner (a
saddles and a graphite nut this will improve thingsprivate tuner with headphones that only you can hear).
considerably. These are not much more expensiveThere is nothing worse than hearing someone on
than the normal ones and they really do make a hugestage giving it the old "doi, doi, doi, doirrng" before your
difference. As constantly stated before, when you dofirst number and during the gig. When two or three in
not have to worry about gear and equipmentthe band are doing it at the same time including
performance and breakdown, it's half the battle.Underpossibly the drummer, you have complete "amateur
the Bridge (that sounds familiar), you will see 6 screwshour". It doesn't exactly induce a gig-owner to book
lying flush along a metal plate. If you dip the bar you willyou again and it is not only amateurish but extremely
notice a little gap appearing underneath these, and youannoying to the punters.So look after your guitar bridge,
can lubricate under each one, with 3 in 1saddles, strings and nut on a regular basis and it will
sewing-machine oil. It is ideal for guitars and not tohelp keep tuning problems down to a minimum.
heavy.Next, we are onto the Guitar-Neck itself. WhileLearning the art of tuning can make a very important
this does not affect the tuning as such, it is the finaldifference to your playing, and is one of the hallmarks
piece in our Strat tip-top jigsaw. Once a month or so,of a professional. So it is well worth knowing how to
depending on how often you gig, loosen off 2 stringsget your guitar perfectly in tune and keeping it
at a time and pull them aside. Rub a small amount ofthere.***David O'Toole is a guitar player, music fan, and
almond oil into the neck and leave soaking for a fewmusician from Ireland.