Whenever I look in music stores’ used-equipment sections, or in second-hand shops specializing in used musical equipment, I often marvel at what rotten condition a lot of gear is in. I mean, it’s absolutely terrible. And it cuts across the entire spectrum of equipment. Guitars look like they were chewed by beavers before being thrown under the wheels of a semi. I see amps that I’d want to fumigate before bringing them into my house, stomp boxes that look like they were stomped to death, and rack gear that looks like props from a James Bond movie–after J.B. nuked the bad guys’ secret scientific hideout.
Wear and tear are part of anything, from a CD player to a set of snow tires. Depending on a product’s intended purpose, audience, and price, it may be built to handle abuse, or it may start to look bad as soon as it leaves the showroom. Most musicians expect bright, shiny-looking gear when they buy it brand-new. But even if it’s physically tough, its beauty may be easily tarnished, and just about every scratch shows. That brings down its value, should you ever want to sell or trade it. Worse, though, hard knocks, negligent treatment, and a lack of overall maintenance can make your gear noisy, temperamental, or even unusable.
Now, even if your attitude is punk, thrash, or similarly abusive, that’s fine. But like anyone else playing music, your instrument–and everything it’s connected to–has to be working right if you want your sound to be right. So, spit blood, throw dead chickens–continue doing whatever you’ve been doing, as long as you don’t blame me or Guitar Shop. However, still treat your equipment nicely.
Yes, a little upkeep can do wonders. Since it’s a new year, it’s a good time to establish good habits. Here are some ideas for keeping your equipment looking good and working well.
Amps. If your amp’s covered in Tolex or some other type of vinyl, clean it off with a little water, or a little gentle soap and water (check your manual, assuming you have it). Dry it off with a soft cloth. If it’s covered in carpeting, vacuum it and pull out any splinters, bits of junk, etc. Check the corners. If they’re metal and have sharp edges, replace them; they could cut into something–or someone–else. Ouch! If there’s a tear in the covering, glue it with Duco cement or Super Glue, so that it doesn’t rip further if it gets snagged on something. If the grillecloth is shredded, you can either spend the bucks to have it replaced professionally, or you can buy grille cloth (rarely the same as the original, by the way) and replace it yourself. If you do it yourself, make sure you get grille cloth, and not standard cloth, which will suck up volume and treble. Vacuum out the inside once in a while and get rid of the dust, cat hair, and other crud. Make sure the tubes are tight in their sockets, too. If you have a cover for your amp, use it religiously (even if you never take your amp out of your bedroom). It keeps dust and other gunk from accumulating on and in it, and if you’re moving your amp, it’s better for the cover to get scratched than for the amp to get whacked.
Rack gear. Keep this stuff clean. Always. A lot of rack gear isn’t meant to go outside of the studio, so you may already be pushing its limits if you take it out for gigs. If it’s mounted in a rack, make sure it’s screwed in tight. If the mounting screws are loose, the weight of the equipment itself can bend the rack "ears," strip the screws, or cause other havoc. Regularly clean the front panel with a soft cloth. Turn every knob once in a while, too, even if you don’t usually turn them. This keeps gunk from accumulating in some pots and making them scratchy.
Stomp boxes. Yeah, they’re made to be stepped on, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need occasional TLC. Make sure any switches or pots are tight and that the battery connector (if there is one) is in good shape. If an AC adapter powers your stomp boxes or other gear, make sure it’s in good shape and that its wires aren’t cut, frayed, or chipped. If a rubber footswitch pad is coming loose, reglue it with rubber cement or a similar glue.
Guitars. The one piece of our gear that we use all the time, a guitar often gets no care, except when something breaks or goes out of adjustment. Wipe your strings after each time you play, and even between songs, if possible. Your sweat is nasty stuff, and it can range from "a little corrosive" to "Alien molecular acid baaaaad." And while you’re at it, wipe off the pickups and bridge parts. Use a cotton swab once in a while to get some of the gunk out of the parts, too. And give everything a thorough cleaning whenever you change your strings (not when one breaks during a gig, though!). Make sure your volume and tone pots are tight enough; never overtighten them, though, because you can crack the finish. Likewise check that the output jack and any switches are held firmly in place. If your guitar is misbehaving for any inexplicable reason, get it into the shop for a pro’s evaluation and perhaps servicing.
Cases. Every one of us stashes all sorts of junk in our guitar cases. Why? Who knows? But even if you keep things in the case’s storage compartment, they can still come tumbling out, perhaps on top of your guitar. If you keep any small things in there, such as picks or Allen wrenches, put them in a little zip-lock bag first. And anything bigger, such as a whammy bar, should be wrapped in a soft cloth or in Bubble-Pak. If something doesn’t need to be in the case, stash it elsewhere. Take care of the case itself, and clean its outside according to what the manufacturer suggests. Vinyl or Tolex can be cleaned with water or gentle soap and water. If the interior is plush-lined, then vacuum it out once in a while. Dirt, sand, or other abrasives can scratch your guitar just as a result of putting the axe in or taking it out of the case.
Cords.If you’ve ever sat in a dark house because the power was abruptly shut off by a storm, it’s usually because a single wire was brought down. Just one wire. And that’s all that’s between you and your amp–one wire. Buy the best cords you can afford, and then keep them in good shape. Never yank them out of an amp, never toss them in a big tangle into a box, and wipe them with a damp cloth once in a while to keep the insulation looking good and to prevent friction when you pull them around mic stands, over stage obstacles, etc.
Remember: Treat your gear right, and it will treat you right. Mistreating your stuff begs for trouble, and it usually comes when you can afford it least: when you’re playing a gig.