Keep your guitar in tip-top shape with these 5 guitar tune up tips.

The Nut

We’re not talking of a full reset of the nut here, but a small amount of filing and some lubricant can go a long way.

Grab the smallest nut file you have and smooth the bottom of each string slot. This re-seating of the slot will help the string sit level and reduce friction as the string moves back and forth. Then, rub some graphite or other nut lubricant in the slot to keep things smooth.

Fretboard Clean

Ever noticed that your car drives much better after it has been washed? The same applies to your guitar. Keep it fresh with a quick fretboard clean.

A general cleaner/polisher will do fine for the back of the neck and a finished maple fretboard. Lemon oil is recommended on a rosewood board to not only clean but nourish the wood.

Electronics Check

Crackling pots and pickups. Loose jack sockets. Temperamental switches. All of these things are a real annoyance. But they don’t have to be.

Switching out parts is fairly straightforward (a soldering iron is required, and make sure to wire the parts the same way they came out!) but, sometimes a little re-soldering of the connections will clear a lot of the issues up. A jack and pot tightener is another useful tool to have on-hand.

Moving Parts

If it’s metal and moves: lubricate it.

Any vibrato tailpiece, tremolo bridge, or even machine heads if you have access to the gearing, can all do with a little lubricant from time to time. It’ll keep everything operating smoothly.

String Change

No question, a guitar plays best after a string change. A fresh set of strings will do wonders to the feel and sound of your guitar. Your brand of choice and the amount you play will determine the frequency of changes, just make sure (unlike me) you do actually change them.

Whilst you’re at it, you can take the guitar tune up that bit further with a small amount of setup changes: truss rod adjustment, intonation, string height, etc.