How do I care for and clean my electric guitar or bass?

Electric guitars and basses are great instruments that never cease to amaze us with their unique sound. To ensure that we can continue to enjoy their fantastic sounds in the future, the right care and cleaning is essential. This is the only way we can guarantee the longevity and tonal quality of these wonderful instruments. Here is a comprehensive guide that will show you how to properly care for your instrument and get every note out of it!

Materials & tools:

Microfibre cloth or soft cotton cloth
Guitar cleaner or special guitar polish

Know-how
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Preparation:

Place the guitar or the bass on a stable and soft surface to avoid scratches
Make sure you are working in a well-lit area
Have your tools ready to hand
Loosen or remove the strings of your instrument

The body

Regularly cleaning the body of your string instrument will preserve its shine and protect the finish from wear and tear. With the right care, your guitar will always be in top condition. Here you can find out how to clean the body quickly and effectively.

Care & cleaning products

Only use cleaners that are suitable for guitars and basses so as not to damage the varnish and wood. If your guitar has a nitro lacquer finish, be particularly careful with cleaners, as this is more sensitive and requires special care.

Spray the cleaner onto the cloth

Guitar cleaner should be sprayed onto a cloth and not directly onto the instrument to prevent liquid from soaking into the electronics or fine cracks and causing damage.

Wiping the body

Wipe the entire body carefully and in straight movements from the inside to the outside. You should not wipe your electric guitar or your bass in a circular motion, as this can damage the varnish.

The fretboard

Cleaning the fretboard is important to remove dirt and maintain the wood. This keeps the playing feel pleasant and the sound quality intact. Here you can find out how to properly care for the fretboard.

Oiling the fretboard

Apply some fretboard oil to the entire fretboard. It cares for the wood and prevents it from drying out. Pay attention to the nature of the fretboard, because not every wood can be oiled! Fretboards made of rosewood, ebony and other untreated, open-pored woods can and should be oiled regularly. Fretboards made of varnished maple or other sealed woods, on the other hand, should not be oiled.

Work in the oil

Rub the oil evenly into the fretboard. Leave the oil to work in for a few minutes and then wipe off any excess oil with a dry cloth.

Cleaning the fretboard

Clean the fretboard and neck completely with the microfiber cloth to remove dirt and fingerprints.

Further cleaning tips:

Clean strings regularly: Wipe the strings after playing to remove sweat and dirt and prolong their life.
Clean potentiometers: Use contact cleaner to clean crackling potentiometers. Spray sparingly and move the knobs to remove dirt.
Polish bridge and hardware: Clean and polish metal parts carefully to prevent rust and keep the mechanics in good condition.
Check electronics: Look for loose cables or screws in the electronics and tighten them carefully if necessary.

Optimal protection and care for your instrument!

If you love your electric guitar and your bass, you should take good care of them. To get you started right away, we have put together the most important cleaning and care products for you here.