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Clean the instrument after each use, making sure to wipe the fingerboard and strings, as well as any of the plated parts
with a soft dry cloth. Polish gloss finishes with a non-silicone based guitar polish. For satin finishes, use only a soft dry
polishing cloth.
When not playing the instrument, keep it tuned to pitch and in its case with a hygrometer to monitor the humidity. If you
plan to store the instrument for a long period of time, loosen the strings a bit to relieve the tension, but do not remove
them.
The natural oils in Rosewood and Ebony fingerboards may dry out over time, depending on the climate where you live
and how diligently you maintain the instrument. Rough, exposed fret edges (sometimes called fret-sprout), are evidence
of an overly dry and shrunken fingerboard. The wood will contract as it dries out, but as the frets are inert, you will feel
the fret edges begin to protrude past the edge of the fingerboard.
It is a good idea to give your thirsty fingerboard a “drink” of conditioning oil periodically to preserve its integrity and natu-
ral beauty. Remove the strings first; then apply the oil to a clean lint free cloth. Rub the oil into the wood, let it soak in,
and then wipe to dry any excess oil. If you cannot bring the fingerboard back to its original shape, it may be necessary to
have the fret edges filed by a professional luthier.
Wooden and plastic endpins are “press-fit”, not glued into the body of the guitar, so that compensation of the disparate
materials of the body and endpin can occur. Over time, with changes in temperature and humidity and the expan-
sion and contraction of the woods of the guitar, the shifting weight of the instrument and the friction of the strap may
General Maintenance
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Set-up