Hey forumites,

Do you wash your hands before playing everytime? Do you wipe down your strings after playing everytime?

Do you try to but often forget/couldnt be bothered?

Can playing with dirty fingers or never wiping down your guitar cause any damage to a guitar in the long term (not strings, but the whole guitar)?

I generally dont, and didnt think it was much of a problem until I was excoriated by a friend for it. He says it will cause fret corrosion, which I thought was impossible.

Now Im self conscious and wondering what others think. Apologies for the lameness of this topic.

Who thinks of these topics?

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I religiously wipe down My Guitars, strings and all every day. If there in a case I don't. until I play them. Normally I use an old Cotton T shirt, and guitar polish. Don't believe a word I said. I'm GUILTY
----Danny,

Not lame at all Tobi. Clean hands help. Cleaning your guitar on a regular basis helps more. I do wash my hands most of the time before I play but it is not always possible. I do wipe down my guitar most of the time after playing but not always. I always clean my guitar when I get home from a gig or practice, and I do a thorough clean and polish when I change strings.
I have had the "privilege" of cleaning some guitars at a music shop I worked at part time from regularly gigging musicians who only touched their guitar to play it. Nasty build up on the back of the neck, under the saddles, along the frets and they wondered why the d*mn thing didn't sound right or play well. Yes long term uncleanliness can damage components of the guitar but generally nothing that can't be fixed or replaced. Some people like to pay extra for that abuse they call it reliced...

I wipe down my rigs regularly... Especially after eating barbeque!

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

I wipe mine down after each time I play em. Once a week I take em off their hangers and wipe em down, tune em and check the intonation to keep them ready just in case inspiration strikes and I feel like playing.

FWIW

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

1. Wash my hands before picking up my guitar.
2. Play the crap out of it.
3. Wipe it down really good with a microfiber cloth then put it away.
4. Once every 3 to 4 weeks or as needed change strings. Also lube any contact points where strings touch metal. Apply graphite to the nut. Check intonation and adjust as needed.
5. As needed, apply polish
6. Once every 3 to 6 months (as needed) apply lemmon oil to my rosewood necks.
7. Once every year or 2 have a professional setup and replace any worn parts.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Thanks for the reply tdan.

You have actually experienced how bad it can get. Im scared straight

The guy who posted the question....

Upon initial purchase I clean it all over and condition fingerboard. Now it is mine. I keep it in the case when not playing.

After that:

I almost always wash hands before playing. Just cuz I don't like strings getting sticky.
I would never clean it again. Hopefully my sweat and natural oils will burn away the finish over time to really make it mine and show my relicing footprint.
I almost never wipe strings.
I condition fingerboard when it gets dry/or string change. Whichever comes first.

The only axe that is showing any signs of relicing from me with this regimin is my 61Amervintage pbass. Some black discoloration on side of neck at the 16th fret where I plant my thumb when I play. Also lotsa dings on back but not sue from what. Buttons? Usually my shirt hamgs over my belt buckle. Could be from laying it on the stage between sets as I never use a stand on stage. It likes to fall off of certain stands.

I've had my blue flower bass longer, and have logged the most playing time on it I think. But still no signs of relicing.

I always wipe and wash

i take off my ring and wash my hands before i play always. I have a very nice soft cloth that i wipe down my guitars with both before and after i play. I try to care for my equipment as best i can with general maintenance, care and cleaning. i mean i play my stuff it is not like they are museum pieces but i bought the best equipment i could afford so i take care of it. I don't have tons of money just to buy new stuff and even if i did i wouldn't because to me it is more important to care for what you have than it is to replace it due to misuse. I love my guitars and amps, i want them to be around with me a long time.

i'm lazy with cleaning. i haven't done any maintenance on my guitar for 3 months

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riley

I barely even change strings unless one breaks. My guitar maintenance is rather lacking.... Should probably work on that...

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Well duh ...

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