What’s the point of applying grease?

This time, I would like to talk about using grease for guitar maintenance.
Grease plays a variety of roles in machines that have gears and bearings since it improves the sealing of parts, prevents water and dust infiltration, reduces friction, and eases the effects of temperature increase.
The same can be said for guitars. Friction occurs in various places before you would even know it.
Reducing this friction can extend the lifespan of the parts and the original specs of the guitar can play up to its full capacity.
So, here is a brief explanation of the unexpectedly important role of grease.

Advantages of Applying Grease (1) Improving Tuning Stability

First of all, what are the benefits of applying grease to guitar parts?
The area where you will see the most benefit is, without a doubt, tuning stability. This is probably the easiest result to see.
It’s true that all guitars will gain improved tuning stability, but the effect is especially noticeable for guitars equipped with tremolo units such as synchronized tremolos, Floyd Rose tremolos, and Bigsby tremolos.
This may be a little off topic, but Fender guitars with synchronized tremolos float off the body by default, except for some artist models.
Some of you may have your own guitars with this setup, or you may have seen other people’s guitars with this setup and have some doubts.
The reason for this is that when the tremolo function is used (arm down), loose strings won’t be able to return to their original position and the strings will go sharp.
The strings going sharp can be caused by a variety of factors, including the material of the nut, the shape of the nut groove, the strings, the saddle, the spring, and the tremolo unit adjustment, so it is nearly impossible to eliminate this issue without a skilled guitar tech or repairman.
Therefore, Fender says, “The bridge is designed to be floating, so after using it you should return the arm into the ‘up’ position.”
However, this issue can be alleviated by applying grease to the appropriate places.

Advantages of Applying Grease (2) Prolonging the Lifespan of the Parts

As mentioned earlier, adding a coat of grease can extend the life of parts.
For example, applying grease on the nut reduces the nut’s wear by decreasing friction caused by winding and arming the strings.
The saddle is plated, but the plating wears off when it comes in contact with the strings, and when sweat or other forms of moisture gets in it, rust can form.
Rust makes it difficult to keep the tuning stable and makes the strings break easily.
In the case of some higher end guitars, the plating is removed for the adjustment of the saddle groove, so it is very important to apply grease in order to maintain these delicate adjustments.
Here is what I have to say about the benefits of greasing.

Where to Apply Grease

The next question is where and how to apply grease.

Nut

It is no exaggeration to say that the nut is the most important part.
First, clean the groove properly with an interdental brush.
Next, take a small amount of grease with a toothpick or something with a fine tip and apply it to the nut.
Finally, remove excess grease with a cotton swab and you’re done.
The key point is that the amount of grease should not be too much, but you need just enough to get a good layer of coating.
If the amount is too much, dust and other impurities are likely to stick to excess grease, so I personally recommend using only a small amount of grease.
Even a small amount will have a positive effect if applied properly.

String Guide

After removing the string guide, apply grease to the part where the strings touch using the same procedure for the nut and then attach the side parts.

Saddle

Apply grease to the part where the strings ride on the saddle.

Bridge Attachment

This depends on the type of bridge, but it is sufficient enough to apply grease to the areas where the metal rubs against each other.
For a 6-point synchronized tremolo bridge, you should apply grease to the bottom of the mounting screws and the mounting holes of the unit. For a stud anchor type, apply it to the grooves of the studs and the knife-edges.

String Holes

This is also the part where the strings and bridge touch, so I think it’s better to apply some grease here.

As a precaution, do not apply grease to the locking area of a Floyd Rose type or any other type that locks the strings by holding them in place. This is the part where you want to hold the strings firmly in place. Applying grease to this part will cause the strings to come out. Grease should be applied to the part where you want to reduce resistance, not to the part where you want to stay in place by applying resistance.

Springs

Apply grease to the looped end of the spring that hooks onto the hanger.
It is difficult to apply grease to the elastic part, so use a light coat of silicone spray or a lubricant such as Finger-Ease here.

Do not apply grease to the area where it hooks onto the inertia block. If it is not hooked tightly here, it may cause the spring to fall off.

Hangers and Hanger Screws

For hangers, apply grease to the area where the spring catches and the hole where the screw head catches.
For hanger screws, apply grease under the screw head.

Please make sure to apply the grease correctly in the above areas by using the directed amount and usage. The tuning stability of your guitar will be much better and the life of the parts will be extended.
Also, in the picture I’m using a guitar with a tremolo bridge, but grease can be applied in the same areas and will also work well on guitars and basses with Tune-o-matic bridges.

Finally, what types of greases are available for guitars?
Here are the most popular products that are available for purchase at Sound House.

Fernandes / StewMac Guitar Grease

Big Bends / Nut Sauce Lil-Luber

D’Addario / PW-LBK-01 LubriKit Friction Remover

Super-Vee / Super Glide

There are a wide variety of products available, but I think it is best to choose one based on your own guitar specifications, reviews by users, and information on the official website of the manufacturer.
Personally, I think using any grease is more important than worrying about which grease to buy.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post on guitar grease.
I hope that those of you who read this article will actually try it out and that your guitar life will be better in the future.
I would like to repeat this one last time. The most important thing to remember is to apply the minimum amount of grease where it is needed.
Come again to the Sound House Staff Blog.
Goodbye.