Some guitarists just seem to have a problem with staying in a song, and that’s one of the most frustrating problems that a guitarist can face. It can also be of great value, depending on the situation. Here are a few tips for diagnosing why the guitar won’t play, and fixing the ax without breaking the bank.
1. Don’t be that tuner right away. I know, I know. They’re called “tuners” so you’re to blame for not tuning your ax, right? But while frets are a problem for some guitars, more often than not the problem isn’t with the neck or nut of the instrument, so don’t immediately order the top of the line for tutorials on your site. A guitar that works perfectly, or it could end up doing more harm than good.
2. Check that you have tied the guitar properly. Don’t skip this. Look at your strings on your guitar tuners. If the strings wrap around the tuner, or if the string in the tuner plus the string was inserted so light as to barely be in the tuner), many simply need to tune your guitar and use the correct amount of string.
To find the right amount of string to use when tuning a guitar, pull the string through the tuner hole, tighten it reasonably, and grab the string where it passes the guitar’s nearest tuner. That’s the amount of string you need to use. Beyond, and the string slips over itself, causing them to fall apart. Also, remember to always tune up to the mark, and never get depressed. A guitar tuner will hold up better as it ages.
3. Be sure to press the nut. If you hear a kind of grinding sound from the guitar when you tighten it, you may have a problem with the guitar nut. There may be holes in the nut due to the size of the strings used, and that can cause problems. Try to apply some graphite (for example from a mechanic’s brush) to the nut beforehand, not a lot, just a little, and if that doesn’t work, take your guitar to repair so that the holes in the nut are enlarged. It shouldn’t cost much, it’s actually one of the cheapest guitar repairs out there.
4. Structural issues. Other problems, such as a loose neck or bad wood, can cause a guitar to fall apart. If you’ve tried the tips above, and nothing seems to work, consider having your guitar evaluated by a professional guitar repair person. Try to avoid guitar stores and instead go to a local repair shop to get a better price and more often than not more experienced
Do you have any other tips for fixing a guitar that won’t last long? Post in our comments section below.
