I treat my guitar like Sh*t

CRGuitarMan · **Joined:** Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:46 pm **Posts:** 2041

I learned how to take care of my things by having my father's boot interact with my butt back when I was much younger. Leave a new toy in the yard overnight - wham, kick in the butt and then no new toy either.

Today I take excellent care of ALL my toys, tools, vehicles, etc. I HATE any nasty beat-up, dirt encrusted guitar and I think no better of their owners. Odds are their car is in as crappy shape as their guitar or worse.

I have BOUGHT a few really filthy guitars in my time - my Japanese 70s Yamaha SG-200 set-neck was by far the worst. It was so incredibly dirty that when the owner traded it in, the shop owner didn't even try to clean it up - just hung it up and then went and washed his hands. I bought that guitar for $45, took it home and spent hours (and I mean HOURS) cleaning it up, wondering all the while how anyone could let a guitar get in that condition? The body was bad, but the FRETS? Absolutely incredibly crudded up!

Once I had that Yamaha all cleaned up I played it for years in bands in Minnesota (usually took it and a Tele to all gigs) and I still own it and play it regularly today.

Oh, and that early 70s Electra wasn't much better... and what a beauty it is now.

You are what your guitar looks like.

Xhefri · **Posted:** Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:33 am

Funny what some people post—almost like FaceBook where people post something like "I just got up and cooked eggs for breakfast." That is just want everyone wants to know, right?

Sorry to hear this fellow hates changing strings. I buy a lot of guitars like his; dirty, mistreated, etc, and enjoy reconditioning them. To look at it after every part has been cleaned and polished, frets leveled and polished, body buffed out, and like WOW, so sweet. And it is fun. Changing strings is fun too if you know how to do it right (I mean get a system down). I can change strings in less than 10 minutes. It is fun!

zappa73 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:44 am

I don't enjoy changing strings - fender's locking tuners expedite the process. They are worth the investment - once the string is through the hole you just screw in the back and twist a couple times to get it in tune and bingo - all set.

I hate dead strings too - I try (in vain) to play fast arpeggios ala Randy Rhoads and EVH and it's 2x hard with stretched out strings. Bends are slow to return back to key...

I HIGHLY recommend fenders locking tuners. They came stock on my strat and I'm hooked.

Xhefri · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:15 am

zappa73 wrote:

I don't enjoy changing strings - fender's locking tuners expedite the process. They are worth the investment - once the string is through the hole you just screw in the back and twist a couple times to get it in tune and bingo - all set.

I HIGHLY recommend fenders locking tuners. They came stock on my strat and I'm hooked.

RE: String changes. If you have the right tools and do not mind breaking the rules, string changes can be fast and easy. I do it standing up at a carpeted work bench, but a sofa works well too. Holding the guitar in the right positions while doing each step also speeds things up.Here is what I use: Short handled side-wire cutters, a tuner crank, and a tuner.

1) I cut all the strings with the side-cutters right where the neck meets the body (I really do not care about all the change one string at a time hype). I then remove all the strings in seconds winding them into a tight loop to dispose of them so no one gets an eye poked out.

2) I pull 3 to 4 strings through the bridge and then one by one, staggering the progression from top to bottom, pull the string so it is 1.5 tuner lengths past the tuner peg I will be putting the string through and cut the string there. (With locking tuners I simply pull the prospective string through the tuner hole till the string is really tight, then tighten the lock nut and cut the string), crank the tuner with the crank till I get near pitch and then go to the next string.

3) I stagger tune the guitar with the tuner crank using a tuner. Then grab the strings and give them a good pull to stretch them and then re-tune by hand without the tuner crank.

The guitar is ready to play and stays in tune great. All this takes 5 minutes. I have a lot of guitars and buy strings in bulk (Ernie Ball).

shimmilou · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:36 am

+1 Xhefri, (and CRGuitarMan)

I would add, clean the fretboard while the strings are off, it only takes a minute. And cleaning while the strings are out of the way, leaves no excuse for nasty grime build-up at the frets.

Telemonster4 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 1:44 pm

mymindsok wrote:

Sounds like a drug problem.

+1!

Sounds like Eddie Van Halen

zappa73 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:03 pm

Nice Xhefri!

I may end up using that tactic.

Someone here on the board posted a really nice vintage re-issue strat.

Such a beautiful instrument. I inquired about the stability of the tuners and he thought they were great.

Down the line when my talent justifies it I will most likely get one of those reissues with the vintage tuners and use your approach.

adey · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:21 pm

shimmilou wrote:

+1 Xhefri, (and CRGuitarMan)

I would add, clean the fretboard while the strings are off, it only takes a minute. And cleaning while the strings are out of the way, leaves no excuse for nasty grime build-up at the frets.

Can't dispute the sentiment. But the downside of taking all the strings off a guitar with a floating trem, is an endless wrestle getting the damn thing back up to tune again when the new strings are on..

8bitdeath · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:53 pm

Quote:

I love my guitar. But I treat it like $@!&.

It's sittin there right now with a broken string.

I told myself I would change all the strings tonight and clean the fretboard, but instead I'm posting on a website. Strange huh?

It's dirty as $@!&. During the summer, I would put a ton of bugspray on and drink beer in the backyard. Then come inside and play the guitar. That Deepwoods OFF is ON my guitar. I tried rubbing it off with my fingers once, but it didn't really work. So I just kind of smoothed it out.

I smoke like a locamotive. The white pickguard is now yellow. It's got scape marks in the pickguard and the black paint I guess from strumming it too hard.

It's got a couple of dings in the body, but nothing too bad.

But you know, that $@!&* still loves me. And I love her.

2004 American Strat. Black, white pickguard, maple neck. 50th Anniversary neck plate.

Anyone else treat your guitar like $@!&?

I won't lie. I read this in my head with Rooster Cogburn's voice.

Grenade1 · **Joined:** Sat Jul 23, 2011 11:53 pm **Posts:** 41

Please step away from the computer.

Xhefri · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:16 pm

adey wrote:

shimmilou wrote:

+1 Xhefri, (and CRGuitarMan)

I would add, clean the fretboard while the strings are off, it only takes a minute. And cleaning while the strings are out of the way, leaves no excuse for nasty grime build-up at the frets.

Can't dispute the sentiment. But the downside of taking all the strings off a guitar with a floating trem, is an endless wrestle getting the damn thing back up to tune again when the new strings are on..

You know I have been told this but I have never had a problem when I tune the guitar up staggered Like top, bottom, 2nd, 5th, 3rd, 4th and then pull on them all move the trem bar up and down a few times and then re-tune. After that I ight have to tweak it a little but in no time she is back up and running and staying in tune (and that with a tremsetter as well, which can be a little more annoying)!

Blertles · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:39 am

Regarding tuning with a floating trem, it's a good idea to use business cards (or folded paper card in my case) placed in between the gap at the rear of the bridge before slackening the strings, thus the bridge is held in position still when the stings are completely slackened..

Once tuned again, getting the bridge to 'that position' again isn't so much of a drama

Xhefri · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:46 am

Blertles wrote:

Regarding tuning with a floating trem, it's a good idea to use business cards (or folded paper card in my case) placed in between the gap at the rear of the bridge before slackening the strings, thus the bridge is held in position still when the stings are completely slackened..

Once tuned again, getting the bridge to 'that position' again isn't so much of a drama

+1 This is a great idea when you take all the strings off, especially since the tremolo happen shift in the back far enough that sometimes getting the string ferrules out of the slot on the back plate is a pain.

CRGuitarMan · **Joined:** Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:46 pm **Posts:** 2041

jeffo46 wrote:

If you were to take care of your guitar in the 1st place, especially when it comes to changing the strings and keeping it clean, then doing those things on a regular basis are 2nd nature and aren't difficult at all. I have a term for people like you, but unfortunately this forum doesn't allow what I would actually like to say.

+1 Jeffo - you're a man after my own heart. Personally, I don't mind changing strings and when I do, I usually do 5-6 guitars at a time. Really.

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