How to care for and maintain your .strandberg* instrument
In this article, we will guide you through the process of maintaining and caring for your .strandberg* guitar or bass. By following these steps, you can help ensure your instrument plays and looks great as long as possible.
We will cover the following aspects of guitar maintenance: |
How to store your .strandberg* safely
Safe storage
To keep your guitar or bass safe when it’s not being played, it is generally advised to store it in its gig bag. If you want to keep it on a stand or on a wall hanger, it’s critical to make sure that the room’s climate is closely monitored, as changes in temperature and humidity can cause issues with the setup or even result in warped and cracked wood.
Climate control
Although having a protective finish, the wood in our guitars and basses is still subject to changes in both temperature and humidity. Dramatic leaps in humidity or temperature can result in sharp fret edges, cracks or warped parts. Besides from making sure that your instrument is not left in the heat or cold for too long, investing in a humidification system (or de-humidification system if your climate is very humid) is the best thing you can do to keep your instrument healthy and in great playing condition.
The general rule of thumb is to keep the relative humidity at a constant 40% - 50%.
How to clean and maintain your .strandberg*
Daily cleaning and maintenance
Most of our instruments are provided with a satin finish, and the oil in your skin will eventually polish the matte sheen to a gloss where the finish comes in contact with your skin. Therefore, it is highly advised to stick to a general routine of always washing your hands before playing, and to do a quick wipe down of the instrument with a microfiber cloth when you're finished. This will also prevent any build up of dirt and dust, simplifying the process when it’s time to do a more thorough maintenance and cleaning.
How to clean the finish
Most of our guitars have a satin finish. If you need to do a more thorough cleaning of the finish, first make sure to remove any dust or debris from the surface to avoid scratching the finish. Then, go ahead and wipe the surface with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. It’s not necessary to use any guitar cleaning product, but if you prefer to use one, make sure that it is not oil-based or abrasive as it will most likely ruin the satin finish.
For a guitar that are finished with a glossy finish, you can safely use any guitar polish of your choice, as long as it's not oil-based.
If you are uncertain of what products you can use, please contact our customer support for guidance.
How to clean and condition the fretboard
Another good habit is to give your fretboard some care whenever changing strings by just wiping it down with a soft cloth. How to care for your fretboard is determined by what kind of wood it’s made of, and if it’s finished or unfinished.
Maple fretboards
All our Maple fretboards are finished with the same satin finish as the body and neck, so you should not use any oil-based fretboard cleaning or conditioning product, such as lemon oil, since it will polish the satin finish to an uneven gloss. Instead, care for the finish of the Maple fretboard in the same way as the body’s finish, using a damp cloth if it’s needed to remove any dirt.
Richlite fretboards
Richlite is a durable material requiring no special conditioning or cleaning products. To clean your Richlite fretboard, just wipe it down with a soft cloth.
Unfinished fretboards
Fretboards made of Rosewood, Pao Ferro or Ebony do not have a protective finish, so it is recommended to condition the fretboard by oiling it once or twice a year. This will give the wood some extra protection from changes in climate and of course also make it look and feel smooth. There are several suitable fretboard cleaning and conditioning products on the market, so please use the one you prefer.
The general procedure is to first make sure that the fretboard is clean and then apply a generous amount of fretboard oil with a cloth. Let it soak in for a minute or two before wiping off the excess with another clean cloth, and you're done.
How to care for the hardware
How to clean and care for the electronics
The potentiometers and switches used in our instruments are of high quality, but they are still prone to oxidization and can eventually break down if not cared for properly. If you experience crackling noises when using a potentiometer or switch, please go ahead and clean it with an appropriate contact cleaner, available in any electronics store. Just apply a small amount of contact cleaner to the switch or potentiometer and then flip or turn it back and forth a few times. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, please contact our customer support and we’ll assist you further.