Regarding the nut, many will benefit
from a bit of regular lubrication. If
you sometimes hear that annoying
"tink" sound when tuning up, then you
probably have a string that is binding
at the nut. If the problem is serious,
then you might need a nut filing job
(which should probably be left to a
professional), but most likely a very
small drop of nut lube applied every so
often will fix the problem. There are oils
marketed specifically for this purpose,
but I have found that regular old 3-inone oil works as well as anything else.
THE BENEFITS
OF DIY
Though it might be tedious and
challenging at first, doing one's own
guitar setup work can be very rewarding.
The main reward is in money and time
saved, as most guitars require fairly
regular tweaks. Intonation can shift
over time, or if you switch to a different
size or brand of strings, and weather
and atmospheric humidity changes
can alter the relief of the neck. If you
have to make an appointment with a
guitar tech every time something like
this occurs, the bills and time spent can
add up. Doing it yourself also allows
for a greater degree of personalization,
letting you tinker and experiment until
your ideal guitar setup is achieved.
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