The Zen of Guitar Maintenance?

[THX1123]

Not sure which forum to post in, so it goes here.

I find some kind of comfort and peace when I spend time leisurely working on my guitars. Sometimes I am fortunate to be able to spend an entire day if I need to. It is good medicine for me.

I'll check them and restring them if needed - some guitars get played frequently, some not as much...and I try to put them away clean and dry but sometimes I don't. I polish frets if needed, oil fretboards, tighten strap buttons and tuning machines, put some graphite in nuts and bridges, tweak a truss rod if needed. Lately I've been using Break-Free CLP on string trees and bridge parts. Anyone else use Break-Free CLP on guitars?

This isn't the same as when I'm setting guitars up for friends, or rewiring or soldering pickups and pots. It isn't the same as getting lost playing either, which for me is another whole "place to go."

There's something very "brain-off-in-a-good-way" about it. I know it took me some time to learn all the skills, and to be able to do them without "thinking," but it is now very relaxing and centering for me. It is something I do every 3-4 months, usually when the weather has changed.

Do any TDPRIers out there have a similar happy place/mellow zone they can get into doing this kind of stuff?

 

[6stringcowboy]

Yes. I find the smell of rosin core solder comforting, mostly because it reminds me that I'm doing something I love. Futzing with guitars is almost as good.

 

[Deeve]

Not sure which forum to post in, so it goes here.

I find some kind of comfort and peace when I spend time leisurely working on my guitars. Sometimes I am fortunate to be able to spend an entire day if I need to. It is good medicine for me.

I'll check them and restring them if needed - some guitars get played frequently, some not as much...and I try to put them way clean and dry but sometimes I don't. I polish frets if needed, oil fretboards, tighten strap buttons and tuning machines, put some graphite in nuts and bridges, tweak a truss rod if needed. Lately I've been using Break-Free CLP on string trees and bridge parts. Anyone else use Break-Free CLP on guitars?

This isn't the same as when I'm setting guitars up for friends, or rewiring or soldering pickups and pots. It isn't the same as getting lost playing either, which for me is another whole "place to go."

There's something very "brain-off-in-a-good-way" about it. I know it took me some time to learn all the skills, and to be able to do them without "thinking," but it is now very relaxing and centering for me. It is something I do every 3-4 months, usually when the weather has changed.

Do any TDPRIers out there have a similar happy place/mellow zone they can get into doing this kind of stuff?

Exactly this - I find the same thing when changing strings - never done in a hurry - always taking a sec to see how things are doing - kinda how we bathed our infant in the kitchen sink, slowly & lovingly. Can't do that anymore as she's almost 23 and moved into her own place...

 

[kuch]

ommm.....

 

[redhouse_ca]

Not sure which forum to post in, so it goes here.

I find some kind of comfort and peace when I spend time leisurely working on my guitars. Sometimes I am fortunate to be able to spend an entire day if I need to. It is good medicine for me.

I'll check them and restring them if needed - some guitars get played frequently, some not as much...and I try to put them away clean and dry but sometimes I don't. I polish frets if needed, oil fretboards, tighten strap buttons and tuning machines, put some graphite in nuts and bridges, tweak a truss rod if needed. Lately I've been using Break-Free CLP on string trees and bridge parts. Anyone else use Break-Free CLP on guitars?

This isn't the same as when I'm setting guitars up for friends, or rewiring or soldering pickups and pots. It isn't the same as getting lost playing either, which for me is another whole "place to go."

There's something very "brain-off-in-a-good-way" about it. I know it took me some time to learn all the skills, and to be able to do them without "thinking," but it is now very relaxing and centering for me. It is something I do every 3-4 months, usually when the weather has changed.

Do any TDPRIers out there have a similar happy place/mellow zone they can get into doing this kind of stuff?

I agree, I largely get the same feeling. Curiously, tho, have you ever started that was and then because of some hard to fix issue had the feeling go sour? It has happened to me and over time I leaned the obvious, that feeling is something I can chose to let go. I sometimes don't, cuz I'm riled up about one thing or another, but knowing it's optimal was nice thing for me to learn.

 

[Silent Otto]

same with bicycles

 

[THX1123]

I agree, I largely get the same feeling. Curiously, tho, have you ever started that was and then because of some hard to fix issue had the feeling go sour? It has happened to me and over time I leaned the obvious, that feeling is something I can chose to let go. I sometimes don't, cuz I'm riled up about one thing or another, but knowing it's optimal was nice thing for me to learn.

I have had things go sour and it becomes another whole experience. I'm with you, however. You can learn to let that "rage-quit" vibe go.

I couldn't get my '72 Tele Custom RI's electronics to work properly after swapping a pickup. I tested and tried everything. It had been worked on before I bought it, and was far from cleanly wired and soldered. There were taped solder jonts, weird improvised grounding wires, etc. It would ground in and out & when it worked and the signal didn't sound anywhere close to right.

As you say, I let it go and tried to look at the problem differently, look at it from a way that wouldn't make me frustrated. I decided to wire an entirely new harness for it with new pots and switch and upgraded wiring. I found great pleasure in making a cardboard pickguard jig and taking my time soldering it all up. The guitar worked perfectly the first time I popped the pickguard in. It felt really good.

 

[Tarkus60]

Yes I love tinkering with my guitars. I look forward to string change day. I also love buying cheaper guitars and replacing pickups,switches, bridges and so on.
I want to build a amp, but I think I will start with a pedal. I was a ET in the military for many years, but that was a long time ago.

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance is one of my all time favorite reads. It applies to anything.

I sometimes find myself enjoying washing dishes. Watching the soap suds and water coat, lather up and combine to help me clean the flatware.

Really a good way to approach any task.

 

[Happy Enchilada]

Any good hobby has the ability to transport you away from the doldrums of daily existence.
When I was fishing more and my eyes were better, tying flies did that for me.
Hard to think about anything else when you're doing detailed stuff like that.
Ditto for loading ammunition. I used to go out to the garage and get lost in that for hours.
Just the sound of the spaceheater. Very zen.
And if you don't wipe everything else out when you're loading shells, the results could be disastrous.
Don't want to overload or double load (in the case of pistols) and end up with a loud surprise.
After all, that's why we do this stuff, no?
Happy Guitar Zen Day!