Your Six Month Check-up

We go to the doctor for a check-up to make sure nothing is wrong. We take our car to mechanic for a tune-up. We also take our pets to a veterinarian for a check-up. We do this to maintain our health, the health of our pet and performance of our vehicles.

Just like the above examples we should do the same for our fine guitars. You should take your guitar to a reputable luthier or guitar technician at the very least once per year. I recommend every six month because of changes that occur throughout the year. The following thing is a list of the items that I check during the six months checkup.

Before I remove the stings I look carefully at the instrument just to see if it looks right nothing obvious being wrong. The nut and saddle should be checked. I have had guitars come in with chips out of the nuts so bad that the string would not stay in the slots. I have also had them with the saddle having groove in them. Both of these can affect the sound and playability of the instrument as well the ability to stay in tune.

Also at this time the tuning keys are checked making sure the posts and knobs are tight. Check for fret wear and relief in the neck which is essential for good playability. If it has electronics in it listen for the annoying wire rattling around inside. Make a note of the action. If it need correcting that will be done later. Now it is time to remove the strings.

A thorough inspection inside of the guitar to look for damage to braces, bridge plate, neck block and heal block. Repairs can be simple if caught early before they can cause other damage that is more difficult to fix.

The frets and fret board are cleaned and conditioned. The body and neck are cleaned to remove dirt and oils on the instrument making it better to play. Now is the time to make any corrections to the nut, saddle and action.

If equipped with electronics replace the battery and check the output jack to insure that it is tight. Replace the strings.

This check-up is well worth the investment to ensure that your guitar sounds and plays the best that is possible.

If it is a guitar that I built I like to play it and think about how great it sounds and think about how it will sound several year from now. Please give your guitar the care that it deserves for the years of service it can give you.

James Howard