How to Care for a Best Choice Products Guitar

Initial setup and first checks

When a Best Choice Products guitar arrives, it is a factory-built instrument that has traveled through shipping and storage. The first step is not to play it immediately but to give it a careful inspection. Check the neck relief by looking down the fretboard from the headstock toward the body: you want a very slight forward bow, not a back-bow or a severe curve. If the neck looks twisted or the truss rod adjustment is beyond your comfort level, refer to the guitar action and setup guide or take it to a technician.

Next, check the tuning machines. Turn each peg and confirm that it moves smoothly without excessive play. If a tuning machine feels loose, tighten the mounting screw on the back of the headstock. A Best Choice Products guitar may benefit from a small drop of light lubricant on the gear contact points, but avoid getting any oil on the finish. The tuning machines article covers the common types and how to maintain them.

Set the guitar up on a stand or hold it in playing position and look at the string height at the 12th fret. If the strings sit very high, you may need a truss rod adjustment or a saddle adjustment. If they buzz against the frets, the issue could be nut slots, saddle height, or neck relief. The action guide walks through these steps in detail. Most players can handle simple truss rod tweaks, but if the guitar needs a full setup, a professional can do it in one visit.

Daily cleaning and wiping

The single most important habit for any guitar is wiping it down after every playing session. Fingerprints, sweat, and skin oils dull the finish and accelerate fret and string wear. Keep a soft, dry, lint-free microfiber cloth with your guitar and wipe the body, neck, and strings after you finish playing. Do not use household cleaners, alcohol wipes, or furniture polish: these can strip the finish. For a satin-finished neck, extra care is needed, as some polishes create a glossy patch.

The fretboard is a separate surface. When you change strings, take the opportunity to clean the fretboard with a product made for guitar fingerboards. A lightly dampened cloth with a little mild soap is usually enough for a rosewood or pau ferro board. Maple fretboards are finished and should only be wiped with a dry or very slightly damp cloth.

Do not forget the hardware. Tuning machine buttons, bridge saddles, and strap buttons collect grime. A soft cloth wiped over these parts keeps them looking new. If you see tarnish on chrome or nickel parts, a guitar-safe metal polish applied sparingly and wiped off completely can restore the shine.

Humidity and temperature control

Acoustic guitars are made of wood, and wood responds to its environment. Best Choice Products acoustic guitars typically use laminated tonewoods, which are more resistant to humidity changes than solid wood, but they still react. The top can belly, the neck can bow, and the bridge can lift if the guitar is exposed to very dry or very humid air for long periods.

Keep the guitar in a room that stays between roughly 40 and 60 percent relative humidity. Avoid placing it near heating vents, radiators, air conditioners, or exterior walls that get cold. A sudden drop in humidity can cause the wood to shrink and the fret ends to poke out; a sudden rise can cause the top to swell. If you live in a dry climate or heat your home in winter, a room humidifier or a guitar humidifier inserted into the soundhole can help. The how to use a guitar humidifier article explains the options.

Temperature is just as important. Never leave a guitar in a car on a hot or cold day. High heat can soften the glue that holds the bridge and braces, and freezing cold can crack the finish. When you carry the guitar between environments, let it adjust gradually.

• Keep the guitar in its gig bag or case when you are not playing.
• Avoid direct sunlight, which can fade the finish and dry the wood.
• Use a hygrometer to monitor the room's humidity if you want a simple inexpensive gauge.
• If you travel with the guitar, keep it in the car cabin, never in the trunk.

String care and replacement

Strings wear out with playing. Over time they lose brightness, feel rough under the fingers, and go out of tune more quickly. How often you change them depends on how much you play and how acidic your sweat is. A good rule of thumb is every one to three months for regular players, or when the strings start to sound dull and feel rough. Coated strings last longer than uncoated ones and resist corrosion better.

Best Choice Products guitar kits typically come with light-gauge steel strings for acoustic models and light electric strings for electric models. When you replace them, use the same gauge unless you have a reason to change. Heavier strings increase tension, which can pull on the neck and bridge. Lighter strings feel easier but may buzz if the action is set for a heavier set. The guitar string gauge article explains how gauge affects feel and tone.

When you restring, take the opportunity to clean the fretboard and check the bridge. On acoustic guitars, inspect the bridge pins for cracks and make sure they seat snugly. On electric guitars, check the saddle screws and tremolo springs if the guitar has a tremolo. The how to restring an acoustic guitar guide walks through the process step by step.

Electronics and hardware care

If your Best Choice Products guitar is an electric or acoustic-electric model, it has electronics that need occasional attention. The output jack is the most common failure point: a loose jack causes crackling or intermittent sound. Tighten the nut that holds the jack in place if it feels loose.

The volume and tone knobs can get scratchy over time. This is usually dirt or oxidation on the potentiometer track. A quick spray of contact cleaner into the potentiometer, followed by turning the knob back and forth, often restores smooth operation. The how to clean guitar electronics article has the details. If a switch crackles, the same treatment works on the switch contacts.

Acoustic-electric Best Choice Products guitars use a battery for the preamp. Remove the battery when you store the guitar for a long period, and replace it when the sound gets weak or distorted.

Storage and regular inspection

How you store the guitar matters. Always keep it in a case or gig bag when you are not playing. This protects it from dust, pets, accidental knocks, and humidity changes. The hard case that comes with some Best Choice Products kits offers the best protection for travel, while a gig bag is fine for keeping dust off at home. The how to store guitars safely at home article has a full list of do's and don'ts.

Every few months, give the guitar a thorough inspection. Look at the bridge: on an acoustic guitar, the bridge should be glued flat to the top with no gaps at the edges. On an electric guitar, check that the bridge studs and screws are snug. Look at the neck joint for cracks, and check the headstock for any hairline fractures.

Finally, listen to the guitar. If you hear a rattle or buzz that was not there before, hunt it down. It could be a loose strap button, a rattling tuning machine, or a crack that has opened in the wood or glue joint. Early detection is easier and cheaper to fix than letting a small problem become a big one.

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Questions

How often should I clean my Best Choice Products guitar?

Wipe the body, neck, and strings with a dry microfiber cloth after every playing session. Clean the fretboard whenever you change strings, which is typically every one to three months depending on how often you play.

Do Best Choice Products guitars need a humidifier?

They are built with laminated tonewoods, which resist humidity changes better than solid wood, but they still benefit from stable conditions. If your home is very dry in winter or very humid in summer, a room humidifier or a guitar humidifier in the soundhole is a good idea. Aim for roughly 40 to 60 percent relative humidity.

Can I use household furniture polish on my Best Choice Products guitar?

No. Furniture polish and household cleaners can damage the finish. Use a dry microfiber cloth for daily wiping, and only use products made specifically for guitar finishes if you need to polish.

What strings should I use on a Best Choice Products acoustic guitar?

Use the gauge that came with the guitar, typically light or extra-light steel strings. Heavier strings increase tension and can pull on the neck. If you want longer life, consider coated strings.

My Best Choice Products guitar has a crack in the top. What should I do?

Take it to a guitar repair technician. A crack can often be glued and stabilized, but doing it wrong can make it worse.

How do I fix a scratchy volume knob on my Best Choice Products electric guitar?

Spray a small amount of contact cleaner into the body of the potentiometer and turn the knob back and forth several times. If the scratchiness persists, the potentiometer may need to be replaced.

Is it safe to adjust the truss rod on my Best Choice Products guitar?

Yes, if you follow the correct procedure and make small quarter-turn adjustments. If you are not comfortable, a technician can do it quickly.