5 Places on the Guitar ＆ Bass Where Problems are Likely to Occur

In this issue, I would like to introduce the parts of guitars and basses that are prone to issues that I have found through daily maintenance, and how to correct them!

1. Warped neck

If you feel that your guitar or bass is harder to play than before, check the neck first!

Sound House has a detailed page about how to adjust the neck!

⇒ Sound House's page on how to adjust the neck is here! How to Adjust Neck - Guitar

When adjusting the neck, use an Allen wrench or a pipe wrench, but it’s important to use the correct size tool for the instrument!

If you use a tool with the incorrect size, the hole may become too tight and the screw may not turn.

Pay particular attention to inches and millimeters!

2. Loose & Defective jacks

Jacks are the nuts that tend to loosen easily because of the shield being pulled out and inserted.

It is not uncommon to find a loose jack in the guitar of a student whose amp is making noise during a lesson.

In such cases, I tighten the loose nut, but if I tighten it as it is, the jack will rotate inside the body and in the worst case scenario, break the wire.

Remove the jack plate and tighten the nut while holding the jack.

When fixing a loose jack, you should also check the inside of the jack for dirt.

If it is dirty with dust or rust, the sound may not come out, so clean it with a contact cleaner and spray it with contact restoration liquid.

⇒ List of contact restoration liquids

Can't I just use a contact restoring agent?

Contact restoring agent alone does not sufficiently clean the contacts, and it is easy for dust and other contaminants to adhere to the sprayed area.
Although there are restoring agent that contain cleaning ingredients, I personally recommend using a contact cleaner to clean and degrease the contacts, and then use the contact restoring agent spray.

If no sound comes out after tightening & cleaning the nut, the jack itself may be defective.

You can use pliers to fix the spring, but I recommend replacing it with a jack that has more contact points and holding power!

⇒ Pure Tone Jack List

3. Loosening of strap pins

Strap pins receive vibrations directly from the body and are prone to unintentional loosening.

If the strap pin moves when turned by hand, it is loose and should be tightened with a screwdriver.

Be careful not to tighten it too tightly, otherwise the paint may crack or the screw holes may become unusable.

You may be thinking that you are using a locking pin, so you are not worried!

Even with lock pins, the screws on the body side will loosen, especially the nuts on the strap pin side.

Check the lock pins regularly to avoid the possibility that the screws loosen and the instrument falls out of the lock pin!

4. PU sinking

Guitars with pickguard mounts or escutcheon mounts tend to loosen the PU height adjustment screws in the downward direction.

I personally think that humbuckers in particular tend to loosen more easily.

If the height of the PU is lowered, the sound will not come out as well, and in the worst case, the screw or spring may sink into the body and become lost, so check the height of the PU regularly.

If the PU rattles when you press down on it with your hand, it is likely that there is too much play and the PU can easily drop.

This is also highly recommended as it prevents feedback by making it harder to move!
(This method was introduced by Joe Satriani.)

＜ I also have a sponge in this guitar. ＞

5. Loose Pots & Rattling Noise

If the nut that secures the pot is loose when played, the pot will move, placing a load on the contact between the wiring and the pot. If left in this condition, solder cracks or broken wires may occur, so if it is loose, tighten it. If this is the case, as with the jack, close the nut while holding the pot from the backside.

If you hear a grinding noise when you move the pot, the contacts inside the pot are dirty, so use a contact cleaner or a restoring agent to clean them.

Recommended Maintenance Goods

Ibanez / MTZ11

This is an excellent item that allows you to do maintenance on the go!

It's foldable and compact, so it's very portable!

ESP / MS-10 MULTI SPANNER

This is an excellent tool for tightening various nuts.

If you have one in your case, you can use it for instruments, effects pedals, amplifiers, and many other things.

DR / Stringlife Liquid Polymer

This is a coating for strings, but it also has lubricating and anti-mildew effects, and can be used on nuts and saddles.

When it is best to leave it to the professionals

While the cases I have just described are relatively easy to fix, there are some cases that are not.

If an amateur tries to fix them, they may not be fixed properly, so leave them to a professional repairer.

Neck twisting/waving/high rise/rod tightness

There are cases where the neck is supposed to be adjusted, but you may feel clogging or difficulty in playing at a particular point.

In such a case, I recommend you take the instrument to a repair store because the neck may be twisted/wavy/high/rod tightness.

Floating/worn/burr on the frets

As you play the guitar, the frets may be shaved, or they may float or burr due to dryness or other factors.

Fret correction requires a high level of skill and should be left to a professional.

Cracked Body & Broken Neck

Body cracks and necks can break due to dropping or impact.

Repair cost will be expensive, but if the wood is not properly glued, the neck may break again, so please leave it to the professionals.

What do you think?

Let's enjoy your musical life by keeping your instrument in the best condition through daily maintenance!

⇒ Sound House’s Tora no Maki! Guitar Beginner's Course

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