Getting started

[Chimera]

ok, I got my MIK Zakk Wylde bullseye yesterday. From the seller's description it was used for about a month then abandoned. The strings are rusty (especially the highest 3) and obviously need to be changed. I've only ever changed strings on a guitar once and that was on a Jackson copy with a floyd rose and locking nut - it seems like the LP will be a lot simpler. The question is, do you guys remove all the strings at once, or one at a time? The hardware and frets could definitely do with cleaning and it would be easier with all of the strings off, but I'm worried about something happening to the neck if all of the tension is gone. Also the action seems very high, is that simple to adjust? I see there are thumb wheels on the bridge but couldn't seem to make them turn...do I just use a screw driver instead? Or should I just bite the bullet and take it to a guitar store and have them set it up?

Thanks!

Grahame

[Sportrider24]

Take all the strings off at once and clean. Changing strings on a LP is much easier than a axe with a floyd rose. Yes a flat head screw driver is all you need to lower the action. Try doing it yourself first and if you are not happy with the results, then take it somewhere. I have no problems adjusting the action on my Bennett LP but had to take my Jackson with floyd rose to someone to adjust.

[Knarbens]

Welcome to the forum Chimera!
Well, I remove all strings at one time. That's just the best way to polish my frets and clean the fretboard and stuff! Your neck woun't become damaged unless you woun't keep the guitar unstrung for a long time (same with a stringed guitar - when you don't play it and the guitar stands in you rooms corner for months - the action can become higher because the neck is going to bow...).

When your strings are removed, you can easily turn the thumb wheels on the bridge (or at least loose them a bit). I never tried the way with the screwdriver you mentioned...
Good luck!

[Sinmastah]

I don't really know if not having tension on the neck is that bad. My LP was made in 06, and the headstock cracked off during shipment from late 06, and strings were finally put on around june of 08, and the neck didn't warp or anything.

[Knarbens]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

I don't really know if not having tension on the neck is that bad. My LP was made in 06, and the headstock cracked off during shipment from late 06, and strings were finally put on around june of 08, and the neck didn't warp or anything.

Maybe! But the guitar neck needs to be bent a little because the strings need there place to swing. Next to the strings there's the trussrod! You're right! But I think that a unstrung guitar neck will straighten hisself again...

[Sinmastah]

Not sure, I bet when it broke though, GC straightened out the neck completely though.

[Chimera]

Thanks for the help guys. I think I'm going to try taking them all off tonight and give it a good clean. What's good for cleaning gold hardware?

[GrouchyDog]

Welcome!

Take them all off, clean everything good, restring & take it to a luthier for a proper setup. Having all the strings off for a little while won't hurt, it'll settle back in. The setup will be money well-spent on a new-to-you axe.

When you take off the last string, keep hold of the tailpiece so it doesn't fall off and scratch the finish.

[mopar redneck]

Oil the fret board. Puts a nice purty color to it and it's good to keep it oiled anyways. I do it everytime I change strings.

[Knarbens]

Originally Posted by mopar redneck

Oil the fret board. Puts a nice purty color to it and it's good to keep it oiled anyways. I do it everytime I change strings.

I do the same plus I polish my frets! - To me it feels so much better to play a clean guitar! The strings woun't become dirty so fast and bending strings is a lot smoother on shiny frets! Look at this: The first pic is how my Orville arrived and the following are after I cleaned it!

[Chimera]

I ran out at lunchtime to the local guitar shop (very small place) to see what they had. They didn't have much in the way of cleaners, something called Dr Duck's Ax Wax that seems to be a cleaner/polisher, and they had something by Planet Wave for polishing frets. What do you use for oiling the fretboard? I think I read lemon oil in Roman's uber-setup thread up top.

[mopar redneck]

Well I got this Buy Gibson Luthier s Choice 3-Pack Cleaner online at Musician's Friend
Only because I got it for free. I do like it though.

[Knarbens]

These Planet Wave Fret Polishing system you saw in the shop is exactly what I use to polish my frets! Yeah, lemon oil is the right stuff for your fretboard!

[surfer777]

So what is the best way to clean the fretboard? Mine is getting dirty, what do you suggest?

[lpplayer]

Originally Posted by surfer777

So what is the best way to clean the fretboard? Mine is getting dirty, what do you suggest?

About once a year or so, I clean the board this way:

If there is not a great deal of crud, I use 0000 grade steel wool. I buff the board and the frets all at once. This will remove any dirt on the board and polish up the frets nicely. I tape off the pickups when doing this so that I dont have steel wool particles all over them. When this is done, I use lemon oil on the board- very sparingly. I let it soak for about 20 minutes, then wipe off the excess.

Sometimes there is caked dirt on the board. Lemon oil can soften it up, or even spit does a good job! I have used a razor on the board to scrape off caked dirt, but this takes some caution so that you are not marring the board.

[jodymauk]

I use DR. stringfellows lem (lemon) oil.I put a dot of oil on each fret,work it in to the wood. and wipe away the rest.....also make a mental note(if you remove the bridge) what way the adjustment screws are facing (to the neck or the stop bar) putting it on backwards will screw up your intonation...i clean the board every other string change,,and after every time i play i wipe the strings down with rubbing alcohol,,(this will cut down the build up of "gunk" on the fretboard,and will prolong string life)...........

[lpplayer]

Originally Posted by Chimera

Or should I just bite the bullet and take it to a guitar store and have them set it up?

A one time setup at a shop on a used guitar may not be a bad idea, but if you don't know how to do setups yourself it would be a good idea to learn. While some things you may not want to get into, adjusting action, intonation, or even neck relief is relatively easy to do, and it beats paying someone to do it. Plus, you can fine tune your guitar to the way you like it, and with experience you will begin to realize when your guitar no longer "feels" right, and some adjustments will be in order.

Congrats on your guitar!

[Chimera]

ok so last night I adjusted the action with the old strings on as practice. Then I removed all the strings and cleaned the gold hardware with a soft cloth. I used some of the Dr Ducks stuff I found at the guitar store on the fretboard, just rubbed it in, let it sit for a few minutes and buffed it out. Then came the Planet Waves fret polish kit, I spent about an hour really polishing the frets up using the provided template and cloths, tons of dirt came off! Then I did another fretboard treatment and polished the rest of the body. Restrung it with new strings (wasn't too bad, definitely easier than with a floyd) and tuned it and it sounds and feels so much better. I have the action a little low on the high e side, the last 2 frets on the high e are sounding the same note so I'll adjust that again later. I'm really happy I took the time to do it, it's definitely a sense of accomplishment when the guitar is still playable when you're done Thanks for all the help guys.