For guitar players, guitar maintenance goes beyond the fact that it makes the instrument look presentable and even new. It also prolongs the life of the strings and preserves the original sound and tone the guitar produces among other things.

Such a notion, as a result, has then prompted guitarists to refinish or repaint their instruments as a way to take care of them. At one glance, painting or refinishing a guitar seems unproblematic. For how does mere paint can negatively affect a guitar music-wise?

It might sound silly for non-musicians—in fact, even for musicians too—but groups of amateur and professional guitar players seem to believe that paint and its color come with a negative on the guitar’s sound.

However, surprisingly, there’s a little science behind it.

Julio Cedano, Senior Chemist at Fender Custom Shop explained that paint colours have different tint loads and are applied differently, citing that some colors require larger amounts compared to others. And, thus, in essence, it is more of the paint’s thickness rather than the color itself.

Still confused? Read on.

Paint and Its Effects on Guitar’s Sound

Also known as the guitar’s finish, paint indeed affects the instrument. To what extent, however, is what experts are unsure about. In fact, it is quite difficult to quantify how much its impact is on the instrument, specifically on the sound and tone. 

That being said, for you to understand how things further, I made a separate explanation for each factor that explains the paint’s effects.

The Billy Corgan’s Claim

The idea that paint and its color have negative effects on a guitar’s sound started when Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins unveiled his signature model brand called Reverend. Based on his account, he confessed that throughout his career as a guitarist, a certain shade of paint sounds different. And that his “white” Reverend, he believes, sounds better. 

“I’ve found through the years that certain paints sound different, so the white Reverend, I think, sounds better,” he said.

As to why such a result could take place, there is little to zero rational explanation. 

On the flip side, the senior chemist at Fender custom shop Julio Cedano offered a little insight on how a paint color could possibly affect the sound a guitar produces. In his explanation, he talked about color correcting.

Color Correcting

In essence, paint color has varying chemical properties. These distinct differences then, according to Cedano, affects the amount of tint load needed to achieve the right shade wherein some colors require larger amounts compared to others. 

“Different colors have different tint loads and need to be applied differently, some in greater amounts than others—so it would be more about a thin vs. thin finish rather than the color itself.”

As a result, the amount of tint load or how thick the finish is could possibly hold back the richness and fullness of the sound the guitar produces. Unlike paint color with lesser tint application. Cedano also added that depending on the paint’s color, the finish’s pigment, resin, and other coalescing agents settle differently.

And, thus, affects the hardness, porosity, and density of the guitar’s body.

“The rationale behind the paint additives as dispersion, flow, viscosity control—these dispersion properties have a great impact on the mechanical properties as hardness and flexibility,” Cedano explained.

Guitar Finishes

Apart from Billy Corgan’s claim, there is a more rational explanation of how paint can alter the tone and overall sound of both an electric and acoustic guitar. However, rather than the color, it is the finishing product’s material. In fact, folks who believe paint have adverse effects on guitars says that it is all about the type of finish used in guitars.

That said, there are three popular types of finish manufacturers use to paint on guitars—the nitrocellulose, polyurethane, and polyester. Here’s how they differ from one another:

• Nitrocellulose finish. Also called nitro, nitrocellulose is the original electric guitar finish manufacturers in the U.S. used. Essentially, nitro as a guitar finish is popular among guitarists because it is best at preserving the natural resonance of the instrument compared to polyester and polyurethane. Durability-wise, it is superior as well as brands like Fender utilized the same nitrocellulose lacquer as those that are used in automobiles. In return, this protects the guitar from scratches and weathering. The only drawback about nitro is that, over time, it chips off and gets dull. The color develops a yellowish shade too as it contains no UV protection at that time.
• Polyurethane and polyester finishes. Due to nitrocellulose drawbacks, manufacturers eventually replaced it with polyester and polyurethane finishes. And the thing about these finishes is that, compared to nitro, they don’t fade even as time passes by. The finishes do not get easily scratched and chipped either. On the other hand, it did not match the nitrocellulose ability to preserve the natural resonance of a guitar. Hence, many tone purists do not prefer it. A lot of guitar players shunned away from using electric guitars with the said type of finishes too. On a good note, manufacturers developed more refined poly finishes in order to cover its drawbacks.

Final Thoughts

Keeping an instrument properly maintained is one of the many important things that musicians do and prioritize. It is because, music-wise, an unkept instrument often results in an altered tone, intonation, and even playability.

And a good example is guitars.

On the other hand, it is also crucial to learn the correct methods of cleaning and maintaining—from restringing to refinishing—a guitar. It is particularly true when repainting or refinishing an electric or acoustic guitar because, as mentioned, it could alter the original sound and resonance of the instrument.

That said, if you are a beginner—in fact, even if you are already a pro— it is still best and is highly recommended to consult a professional guitar maintenance person and let them do the job. It is wiser and better rather than putting your guitar at risk of losing its original tone and resonance.

How to remove or hide scratches on guitar? Some of the ways to remove or camouflage scratches on guitar are wet-sanding the area followed by polishing, buffing, using stickers or wood stain, filling out the scratches, or filing them down with a mild abrasive such as toothpaste.

For some guitarists, a little touch of scratch on the guitar is like a patina on an antique piece of metal work—it adds character and je ne sais quoi to the ax. It can even be an interesting conversation piece: Hey, see these angry white scratches here? Man, the three-day music festival was superb; I got these as remembrance…

But not everyone likes any kind of flaw on their guitar; they want to keep it untarnished, unblemished, unmarked. And if you are reading here, chances are you belong in this group.

Scratches on guitar can look unsightly, especially deep ones as they are noticeable even from a distance. If you are looking for ways to remove or hide scratches on your prized piece of stringed instrument, read on.

The Toothpaste Technique (Does it Work?)

Remember the time when people used toothpaste to remove scratches on CDs/VCDs/DVDs? While many swear this method works, others are unsure. But if you are willing to experiment, this technique may just be the easy remedy you are looking for.

This method is only good for shallow or surface scratches (the barely visible kind that is only noticeable at a certain angle or lighting). To do it, simply apply a dollop of toothpaste on a soft lint-free cloth and gently wipe the scratches with it. Wipe down the area with another cloth, inspect the scratches and see if the scratches get minimized. Repeat the process until you see an improvement.

How this works is, the toothpaste acts as a mild abrasive that may help level out scratches on your guitar.

Wet Sanding, Buffing, and Polishing

Wet sanding is a tried-and-tested method of removing scratches away on guitar. The technique involves sanding down the surface with an abrasive and water to remove any scratches, while the buffing and polishing steps help attain that smooth and glossy finish. The water (or any other liquid such as detergent or oil) helps remove any grit particles from the sandpaper left over from dry sanding.

• To do this, simply wet down a 1000-grit wet-sand paper (you can also start at 600-grit for lighter scuffs or 400-grit for deeper scratches).
• Start sanding down in one direction using light strokes to avoid damaging the surface; wipe the section from time to time to see how the scratches look.
• Take your time and do not rush! Keep sanding down the scratches gently until you barely see them; then you are ready to move to a finer grit.
• Switch the sanding direction as you switch grits. With every grit change, remember to get fresh liquid as well. Wipe frequently to see if the fine scratches from the previous grits are being removed.
• You’re ready to proceed to the next finer grit if you’re moving horizontally and you don’t see vertical scratches from the previous grit. Keep going until the area looks hazy.
• Use a high-quality guitar polish to buff the instrument. Wipe the guitar’s surface with a clean cotton cloth after spraying it with polish. After wiping away the polish, turn the cloth over and wipe the instrument again to remove any remaining polish.
• Very light scratches (the hairline kind) may respond with just a buffing of wax polish made from carnauba or any other wax; it also forms a protective barrier on your guitar surface.

Using Fillers to Level Out Deep Scratches

Another way is to fill a scratch with some paste-type fillers to even out the appearance of marks. Apply the filler material across the grain and level it with the surface. You may tint the filler with universal colorants or oil stains to match your guitar. Let the filler dry before buffing the instrument.

One caveat, though: filers usually shrink over time and leave a dip on the filled spot.

Slap on a Cool Sticker

Guitarists’ opinion about having stickers on a guitar is divided: some view it as lame, while others think it’s perfectly fine.

Billy Joe Armstrong, Joan Jett, Tom Morello, Paul McCartney, Metallica, and many others sported decals on their guitars; it’s not so bad, to be honest. It can even look tastefully awesome when done right!

Plus, stickers are really effective at hiding those nicks.

So, go ahead and cover the scratches; personalize your instrument with stickers that express your aesthetics or taste, or with personal meaning to you. Make it unique; turn that monotonous, regular guitar into your guitar! Put it on the guitar body (front or back, or both), put it on the headstock, and even on the fretboard.

Now, you might ask, but won’t stickers affect the sound of my guitar?

Many will say yes, they do, but the difference is negligible to a human ear.

In reality, it’s mostly just a misconception. When a guitar changes tone, you should really look into the strings or other guitar parts that may need adjustment; you might also want to check the amp settings if it’s correct.

Stickers don’t have any substantial impact on how your guitar works unless you layer on heavy stickers all over the guitar body that can dull the vibrations of the tonewood.

A little reminder: when you decide to get rid of the stickers (maybe you’ve gotten tired of them or they don’t have the same meaning anymore), they might leave behind residues or markings that are hard to remove and can damage the guitar finish. A little bit of sticker removal liquid on a soft cloth can help remedy this problem.

Also, be wary that the guitar’s resale value (and even its pawnability) may get affected by the stickers. Unless, of course, you’re a rock god that many will fiercely try to outbid each other to be the next owner of your guitar.

Stickers are a great option, but then, proceed with caution.

Use a Wood Stain

It’s easy to see that hiding the scratches is easier than fixing them. Another way of fixing the scratches on the guitar is by concealing them with a wood stain.

You will need a wood stain that closely matches your guitar. You might have to mix and match the colors to get one that’s spot on.

Apply thin layers and allow them to dry completely between coats, then repeat with the top coat poly or oil sheen until you’re satisfied with the look. Some wood stain preparations already have sealer included in the formula, making the job easier.

Final Thoughts: When in Doubt, Leave the Job to Professionals

If you are not the adventurous kind or if you just want to make sure your guitar will not end up getting more damaged, letting the professionals deal with the job is, of course, always an excellent choice.

Besides, there are instances when a scratch repair may require special equipment and experience, especially for guitars with specific finishes.

It’s your guitar and it’s up to you to decide what to do with those scratches. If they bother you, then, by all means, fix it. But if you find beauty in imperfections, then you may let the scuffs be.

How long do guitar strings last? Generally, guitar strings should have a lifespan of about three months. However, this is only for average players. Professional musicians and those who use their guitar often might have to restring their guitar more frequently. Additionally, how you take care of them will also affect the strings’ life.

So, you’ve been playing your guitar for quite some time, and you’re unsure whether or not the strings are still in good condition. Sometimes, they might hurt your fingers. Other times, they might look worn down. Should you replace them as soon as possible?

Some people restring their guitars every two to three months. On the other hand, there are also those who don’t replace the strings until they break. What is the general rule of thumb when it comes to changing the strings?

In this article, we’ll teach you how long guitar strings last and the various factors that affect their lifespan.

The Lifespan of Guitar Strings

The thing is, your strings will keep vibrating and therefore produce sounds even if they’re old and beat up. This means you can keep using them until they break. However, as the quality of the strings diminishes, so does the quality of the sound.

So, how do you ensure that your strings are in their best shape? First, we have to look into the type of strings you use.

Roundwound Strings

Roundwound string is the most common type of guitar string there is. While it would still vary depending on the construction, material, and maintenance, roundwound strings often last an average of 3 months before the quality of the sound is affected. The same is still true even if you regularly wipe the strings free of dirt and dust.

Flatwound Strings

Flatwound strings are a bit more durable and resistant than roundwound strings. That’s because its construction and design prevent dirt, oil, and skin from accumulating on the strings. It’s not as bring sound as compared to roundwound strings. However, it’s more consistent with its sound. This means that the inevitable wear suffered by the strings will be less noticeable.

Coated Strings

Of all the different types of strings, coated ones are perhaps the most durable. That’s thanks to the layer of barrier that coats the strings, hence the name. This surface shield prevents your fingers from making direct contact with the metallic part of the string, therefore reducing its wear and tear. They’re also easier to clean than the other types of strings on this list.

When to Replace the Strings

If your strings have suffered the inevitable wear and tear after a while, you might be wondering if you should replace them immediately. This is almost always based on personal preference. However, if you need a quick guide, here are some signs that you might want to restring your instrument.

Broken Strings

Let’s start with the most obvious. You have to replace the strings when they’re broken. Sometimes, even if you’ve just replaced the strings, one or two will break, especially if you play the guitar heavily. You can replace the broken string only. However, it has to be the right string note. On the other hand, you can also replace the entire string even if only one string is broken if you want them to sound as a set.

Restoring the Original Tone

As we’ve mentioned, old strings will lose their sound quality because of dirt and debris. That’s why if you want to bring back your guitar’s original tone or make it sound brand new, you need to replace the old strings and let them retire.

Change in String Action

Aside from the sound, the action on the strings will also indicate if they are in need of replacement. If you notice that you often have to retune your guitar to a higher frequency, that’s often because the strings are losing their stretchability.

Try to obtain a general feel of the strings on your hands and see if they are somewhat loose. If that is the case, be sure to replace the strings immediately. In some cases, strings losing their stretchability leads to them snapping.

Replacing them beforehand helps avoid accidents or injuries.

Vibrance

We all have our own preferences when it comes to a guitar’s vibrance. Some want their guitars sounding bright, while others prefer the slightly dampened effect. Different types of strings provide different tones and vibrance.

If you don’t enjoy how your strings currently sound, try replacing them with a different type or brand until you’ve found the one that suits your taste.

How to Prolong Your Guitar String’s Lifespan

The good news is that you don’t have to just sit around and wait for your strings to wear down. There are various things you can do to extend their lifespan. Here are some maintenance tips for taking care of your guitar’s strings.

Clean Hands

The first thing you want to make sure of is that you have clean hands when playing your guitar. While oil from your skin is inevitable, there’s something you can do about the dirt you transfer to your strings. Cleaning your hands before playing the guitar will prevent other elements from clinging to the strings.

Regular Wipe Down

Whether you regularly play the guitar or not is not an issue here. Providing your guitar with a general wipe-down is of the utmost importance. This will prevent dust, dirt, oil, and moisture from mixing up and accumulating on the strings.

Storage

Lastly, make sure that you have proper storage for your guitar. If you don’t regularly use it, invest in a soft or hard case to protect it from harmful elements in the environment. Keeping it in a safe spot where there’s a lesser chance of people bumping into it is also helpful. Due to the tension on the strings, your guitar falling down to the floor might cause them to snap, or worse, break the body and neck.

Conclusion

The strings are the most high-maintenance part of your guitar. They need constant care to ensure that they produce the best quality of sound and maximize your guitar’s potential. Be sure to visit this article once in a while if you ever need help with restringing your guitar.

Many budding musicians choose to foray into music by becoming proficient guitarists before studying any other instruments. After familiarizing yourself with the parts of your instrument and the basics of guitar playing, such as how the state of your guitar strings affects the tone, you might be wondering whether or not you should loosen the strings on your guitar when you’re not playing.

Should I loosen my guitar strings when not playing? Speaking in general and concise terms, it is not necessary to loosen guitar string when not playing. The neck of your guitar is specifically built to withstand the appropriate range of string tension that’s created while you tune your guitar, and guitars are specifically built for their tune to remain intact whether they’re being played, stored in a case, or displayed on your wall.

Consider the Brand and Build of Your Guitar

While loosening your guitar strings when you aren’t playing is generally considered to be unnecessary, the quality of your guitar plays a key part in determining what effects normal string tension will have over time. Tuned strings do place consistent strain on the neck of the guitar, after all, so the quality of the instrument is integral to its ability to withstand that tension.

When you’re first choosing your guitar, always try to opt for a genuine brand rather than a knock-off. For example, you’ll get very different results from a USA-made Fender Stratocaster guitar than you can reasonably expect from an imitation that was cheaply produced overseas.

All guitars are built to withstand a certain range of tension, and the tones of imitation guitars may even sound passably similar, but the quality of the wood can decrease dramatically once you stray from name-brand guitars.

Good guitar brands generally craft their instruments from solid wood, rather than laminated wood or plywood. Generally speaking, solid wood is more susceptible to changes in humidity and the surrounding temperature, while laminated wood is stronger and more resistant to dramatic variation in atmospheric conditions.

Laminated wood guitars might be a good choice for a travel instrument due to their resilience, but a solid wood guitar will offer you a far better tone. Just like a fine Bourbon, the tone of a solid wood guitar should improve over time. In order to let the tone and resonance develop, you shouldn’t loosen the guitar’s strings when you aren’t playing. Tune your instrument, and let it rest.

Does the Gauge of Your Guitar Strings Make a Difference?

Absolutely! The gauge of your guitar strings is a key factor in the amount of tension that they create when you adjust the tune, and selecting the optimal gauge will increase your instrument’s longevity. Strings with heavier gauges create greater tension when they’re tuned and can have major effects on tone and playability. String gauge can be a major contributor to your musical playing style, too.

Most rock guitarists prefer lighter gauges, around .009 – .042, since they frequently bend the strings for varying expressions while playing. Jazz guitar players often pick heavier gauges like .012 – .052, since they tend to prioritize a nice, fat tone over the ability to bend strings. If you prefer versatility and like to play various different styles of music, you might want to opt for a .010 or .011 set gauge for your instrument.

As you might expect, the ideal gauge of your guitar strings will also depend on the specific type of guitar you’re working with. Your off-brand replica that you use for traveling isn’t going to handle heavier string gauges as well as your name-brand solid wood guitar will.

For laminated wood guitars, observe how the neck responds to the tension in the guitar strings over the course of a few months and keep an eye out for any strain. You might be able to chase the perfect tone more effectively with heavier strings, but the life of your replica guitar is likely to suffer as a result. You don’t want to put your instrument under unnecessary strain–chasing down that perfect tone can be a lifelong pursuit anyway!

What’s the Proper Way to Replace Guitar Strings?

While we’re on the subject of guitar strings and tension, let’s go over some pro tips for changing out your strings for new ones. The first thing to keep in mind is that you don’t want to change all six strings on your guitar at once. Instead, change them out one at a time in order to minimize the changes in the tension placed upon the guitar’s neck. You’ve put a lot of work into maintaining the optimal tension for a pristine tone, and you don’t want to interfere with that now! However, there are different opinions on this as stated in this Q&A forum on stack exchange.

Many musicians recommend starting with the lightest string first and will advise you to clean beneath each string with a damp microfiber cloth as you work your way across the fretboard. Turn the tuning pegs slowly to loosen the strings gently, and research the brand and model of your instrument to determine whether your new strings should be oriented in a way that’s specific to your particular guitar.

When you replace the old string with a new one, only wrap the new string around the tuning peg 2-3 times–especially if you frequently use tremolo when you play. This will result in a better tone and make it easier to fine-tune your instrument. Another good tip to keep in mind if you play a lot of gigs is to always have a peg winder stashed with your gear–that way you can replace a string quickly if it breaks mid-show.

To finish off the process of upgrading the strings on your guitar, strum and play it a few times to let the strings stretch, and adjust the pegs as many times as is necessary for the tune to stabilize. Add the finishing touch with a product such as GHS FastFrets mineral oil to bring out the best in your guitar strings. In the event that you’ve run out of FastFrets or want to try a cheaper alternative, some musicians say that olive oil works just as well!

You can also follow through this video by Fender to replace your string. 

Guitar Maintenance to Perform While Changing Your Strings

While we briefly mentioned earlier that it’s a good idea to clean beneath the guitar strings while you change them out, you could probably make use of a few more details. For instance, once you use a damp cloth to clean away most of the dust and dirt that’s accumulated over time, some sturdier grime might still remain–what then?

Make sure that you avoid succumbing to the temptation to spray or pour anything on your guitar in order to loosen grime–your cleaning cloth should be damp, not wet. To dislodge stubborn dirt, you can use an old toothbrush to gently scrub around the grooves of the fretboard, as well as the areas around the bridge and tuning pegs. Some people also recommend using a piece of waxed dental floss to clean the hard-to-reach parts of each guitar’s nut before winding on a new string.

While you’re replacing the strings on your guitar, you should take the opportunity to check the alignment of your guitar’s neck and make sure that it isn’t too bent. Some guitar players actually prefer the sound created by a slight bend in the neck, but most prefer for the guitar’s neck to remain as straight as possible in order to avoid unnecessary strain on their instrument.

Check Your Guitar Neck’s Alignment with a Truss Rod

When you reach the middle two strings of your guitar during your string replacement routine, check to see if there’s a truss rod located on the headstock. If there is, it’s likely covered by a metal or plastic plate that’s secured in place with a pair of screws. If you have a steel-string acoustic or electric guitar, then your truss rod will be located inside the neck.

You may want to adjust the truss rod after putting in your new strings in order to make sure the neck of your guitar stays as straight as you want it. This is especially handy for reinforcing the neck if you’re increasing the gauge of your guitar’s strings and the resulting tension has intensified.

This useful truss rod is the main reason that you don’t need to loosen your guitar strings in between playing sessions–it serves to stabilize and support the neck of your guitar 24/7, no matter where you store it.

Just a side note: Keep in mind that classical and nylon string guitars should be capable of handling a normal amount of string tension with or without a truss rod. However, the tuning might change somewhat over time as a result of the nylon strings responding to humidity in the atmosphere, so additional adjustment might be necessary before you play if it’s been a while.

What Other Instruments are Fine Without Having the Strings Loosened?

If you’re still skeptical at the idea of letting your guitar sit around without having had the tension in its strings relaxed, consider the classic piano. While many people immediately think of a piano’s keys rather than its strings, piano notes are all produced with strings–and there are far too many for loosening them in between uses to be practical!

Upright and Grand pianos are built to handle constant string tension without needing to be loosened, and guitars can handle consistent string tension as well. Don’t worry about loosening your guitar strings when you’re not playing–simply tune and maintain your instruments regularly and store them with respect, and you’ll be good to go!

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