Taylor Guitars Cleaning and Maintenance Techniques: Part 1 | ELIXIR Strings

Rob Magargal at the Taylor Guitars repair facility shares some basic guitar maintenance. Learn how they restring acoustic guitars after cleaning. Part 1 of 2.

[matmanx]

How good is the camera work in this video!! You never notice it but you always see pertinent areas quickly and clearly. Well done to however filmed this.

[davidsecord]

As a physician, surgeon and luthier, I can tell you what to put on your guitar and what not to put on your guitar. When I finish working on a guitar for someone, one of the services I provide is to detail the body and fretboard. This is most easily accomplished with the strings off and with the following (to clean and refurbish the fretboard. I use something totally different for the finish of the guitar):

1. 0000 steel wool

2. Murphy's Wood Oil Soap

3. An old cotton towel

4. Pure Almond Oil

5. A clean cotton towel

With warm water and the Murphy's Wood Oil Soap, you lightly scrub (with the grain) with the steel wool. You can use brass, as it is softer, but finding it in a 0000 gauge is nearly impossible. Doing this with the old towel underneath the neck will catch the drips. Doing about 5 frets at a time and then wiping off the crud with the old cotton towel, you work your way up the neck. You'll find that rinsing the steel wool often (several times a fret) will help extricate the dirt and oils from your fingers and really clean it off the wood. Once the entire neck is done, a finish by carefully taking the steel wool across the fret wires to polish them as well. If you've done a good job of getting the crud off the fretboard, it should look uniform and dull, without dark areas or light areas. If this isn't the case, throw out the Murphy's Wood Oil mixture, mix up a new batch and do the fretboard again. You'll be amazed and disgusted as how dark the water is as you pour it down the drain.

Now, the good part. Take the clean cotton towel (or wash cloth) and put some Almond Oil on it. A little goes a long way. Go fret by fret, rubbing it in with the grain of the wood. By the time you get to the top of the neck, you'll have enough of it soak in that it is time to wipe off the excess. The neck will look as though it was new (maybe better). As Almond Oil is pure and a natural byproduct of processing almonds, it has no additives, no preservatives and is completely natural (unlike Lemon Oil, or Scott's Liquid Gold or other things which are petroleum based and will raise the grain of the wood and does more harm than good). Restring the guitar and you're ready to go. I'm a firm believer that absolutely nothing other than Almond Oil should be applied to the bare wood (fretboard and saddle) of a guitar or any fine wood.

[Xtremepp]

Best guitar care video I have seen yet. I really appreciate it!

[mrspolc]

Thanks so much! Really appreciated that you use general, affordable products that can be bought in bulk and that work effectively!
My first time using 0000 steel wool on the fretboard itself (not only the frets) and boiled linseed oil to hydrate. It totally makes sense, as this is what's is commonly used in furniture making and in oiling wooden tool handles - so why not guitars? It's just timber after all.
Thanks again!

[richardfolkman]

Thanks for sharing. With your suggestions, I believe even an old guitar would appreciate the attention! Thank you.

[JakeKokinsMusic]

Elixer strings are the best on the market for acoustic guitars, id love for you guys to make nylon strings too

[vincentmattiola]

first we're gonna remove the strings slowly with this high speed electric tuner unwinder.

[philipatoz]

Thanks so much! This is very practical, easy to follow instructions. And if routinely followed, it will keep your guitar looking great. But so many people wait until they've got layers of crud on the fretboard, as well as on the various crevices of the guitar. So easy to MAINTAIN a guitar's finish, as opposed to trying to have to radically clean it after long periods of buildup, and what the oils in your hands and string corrosion particles do to it.

[stevenmulkey]

So awesome...I think i want to work at Taylor Guitars now!

[mausmausmaus]

Could one use just some regular dishwashing soap thingy and water for cleaning the fretboard and back of the fretboard?

[michael_caz_nyc]

What is the exact make & Model of your String Winder please? I'd love to purchase one ( same as yours ). Seems like it works great. I just bought a New 414ce-R Taylor, and I've been watching all of your Tips and Maintenance videos. Great information.

[scloy]

... I was expecting the steel wool fragments to be picked up with a magnet... magnetizing a screwdriver works well... thanks for sharing your expertise .... :)

[souloftheage]

AFTER the tape was applied I'd wipe down the guitar, to remove any tape glue residue.

Someone mentioned using only drafting tape instead of masking tape. This blue tape-from 3M, I believe-comes off very easily. I used it quite a bit when painting homes. It's not very sticky. But it still has glue on it.
I'd also use a vacuum instead of a brush to remove those bits of metal after using XXXX steel wool, unless you have a shop like he has.

[JohnShalamskas]

Using a set of diagonal cutters as a tool for grasping the bridge pins is risky with bone pins. They can easily scratch or crack the brittle bone. There are cheap (under $5) plastic pin pullers that are a lot safer to use. Or you can use some cloth around the jaws of the diagonal cutter to protect the pin from the sharp edges.

[conanthedestroyer]

What about the cleaner, and or sealer, for the body of natural taylor guitars like for example the Mahogony GS mini?

[neoxavier]

I found linseed oil left a sheen gloss on the Pau Ferro fretboard, should I sand it down?

[wildizer]

steel wool? over the neck so it rubs on the fretboard? Will it not leave scratches? I thought you were supposed to tape the fretboard between frets to protect the fingerboard? Am missing something?

[niteshades_promise]

ive broken bridge pins pulling them. i have to put hand inside guitar and push them out. chops sticks make a great free fix in a pinch. i also broke a bass tunner from tightening it with out string tension. tunned it up and snap!🍻

[sweetwilliam]

Couple things I would add, keep your bridge pins in order, especially on older guitars. I use lemon oil on my guitar neck, unless you have a guitar with no finish applied, you’re actually waxing the finish, any good furnish will work. Waxing will help keep from scratched

[jorgegalizzi]

Hello, very good information. I have a question, how do you clean the body of a matte taylor guitar?
Many thanks!