Top 10 Guitar Maintenance Tips for New Players
- 81guitarworks
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Whether you’re just starting your guitar journey or you’ve been playing for a little while, taking care of your instrument is one of the best habits you can build early on.Good maintenance keeps your guitar sounding better, playing easier, and lasting longer.
As a guitar repairer based in Lowestoft, working with musicians across Suffolk and Norwich, here are the 10 essential guitar care tips every new guitarist should know.
1. Keep Your Guitar in Tune
This sounds simple — but it’s the most consistent issue I see with new players.
A guitar that’s out of tune:
Sounds worse
Feels wrong
Is discouraging to practice
Use a clip-on tuner or a phone app. Tune your guitar every time you play. It also trains your ear over time.
2. Wipe Down Your Strings After Each Session
String corrosion is a huge problem near the Suffolk coast, including Lowestoft and Kessingland where salty air speeds up rust.
A quick wipe:
Extends string life
Keeps tone brighter
Prevents fingerboard grime
A microfiber cloth works best.
3. Change Strings Regularly
Most new players leave strings on far too long.
As a guide:
Beginners: every 2–3 months
Regular players: every 4–6 weeks
Gigging musicians: weekly or bi-weekly
Old strings cause tuning instability and a dull tone, old strings will also cause issues with intonation.
4. Store Your Guitar Properly
Avoid:
Radiators
Conservatories
Cold garages
Direct sunlight
Ideal storage:
A stand in a stable room
Or better: a hard case
This is especially important in Lowestoft and coastal Suffolk, where humidity swings are common.
5. Learn to Clean Your Fretboard
Over time, sweat and dust build up — especially around the first few frets.
Use:
Lemon oil (rosewood/ebony only!)
A soft cloth
A gentle clean during string changes
A clean fretboard feels smoother and helps strings last longer.
6. Understand Humidity
This is a big one — especially in Suffolk winters:
Below 40% humidity → wood dries, cracks, fret ends stick out
Above 60% humidity → wood swells, action rises, neck warps
Use a small room humidifier or a soundhole humidifier for acoustics.
If your guitar starts buzzing or frets feel sharp, it’s time for a check-up.
7. Avoid Over-Tightening the Truss Rod
New players sometimes try to “fix” buzzing by adjusting the truss rod themselves.
Small adjustments are fine if you know what you’re doing, but incorrect truss rod tension can cause:
Backbows
High action
Permanent neck damage
If you’re unsure, bring it in — setup work is one of the most common services I provide across Lowestoft and Suffolk.
8. Protect Your Guitar’s Finish
Avoid placing your guitar on:
Rough walls
Radiator pipes
Certain guitar stands with reactive foam
Wipe the body occasionally with:
A guitar polish
Or a clean, dry microfiber cloth
This keeps the finish healthy and helps your guitar keep its value.
9. Keep Your Electronics Clean
Especially for electric guitar players:
Scratchy pots
Cutting-out pickups
Crackly jacks
…are usually caused by dust, corrosion or loose solder joints.
If you live near the coast (Lowestoft, Pakefield, Gorleston), salty air speeds up corrosion, so regular cleaning is even more important.
If your electrics start crackling, it’s normally an easy fix.
10. Get a Professional Setup
A setup makes the biggest difference in how a guitar plays.
A proper setup includes:
Neck relief
Action height
Intonation
Nut slot height
Pickup balance
Fret condition
Most new players don’t realise how much easier their guitar could be to play.
If you're based in Lowestoft, Suffolk or Norwich, I can set up your guitar to match your playing style and make learning far more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts
Building good maintenance habits early will keep your guitar sounding great and help you progress faster.Whether you play acoustic, electric, or bass, these simple tips will keep your instrument performing at its best.
If you’re in Lowestoft, Beccles, Great Yarmouth, Norwich or anywhere in Suffolk, and your guitar needs:
✔ a setup
✔ new strings
✔ fretwork
✔ electronics repair
✔ cleaning or adjustment
—you’re always welcome at 81 Guitar Works.
To book in please email