How To

How to Recondition a Solid Body Electric Guitar

How to Recondition a Solid Body Electric Guitar

I Did This Rate: (2 Ratings)

Reconditioning your solid-body electric guitar can add years of playing to the guitar's life. Most aspects of guitar reconditioning can be done by anyone. Certain things, such as replacing frets and adjusting the neck require more skill and should probably be done by an experienced professional. Use these tips to recondition a solid body electric guitar.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Do the Body and Electronics

Step1
Remove all strings. Remove the cover from the front of the guitar, if it has one.
Step2
Unscrew the keeper ring on the plug for the amp chord.
Step3
Loosen and remove the volume and tone knobs from the guitar.
Step4
Observe the wire configuration and remember it. If necessary, sketch the layout so you can put everything back properly.
Step5
Remove the pickups, controls and amp plug.
Step6
Clean the guitar body, the pickups, wires and plug.
Step7
Replace the pickups, plug and controls. You can instead install new components if you wish.

Redo the Head, Neck, Bridge and Tailpiece

Step1
Remove the string tuners, clean them and lubricate them.
Step2
Clean the head, neck and fret board. Apply fret-board oil to the fret board per the manufacturer's instruction.
Step3
Clean the bridge and tailpiece. You can apply a bit of silicon lubricant via a rag to these parts if they are made from metal.
Step4
Replace the tuners.
Step5
Using a clean cloth, wipe down the whole guitar.
Step6
Restring and tune the guitar.

Tips & Warnings

  • Older and less expensive guitars can often be made to sound much better by replacing old, cheap pickups with new, hi-tech pickups.

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eHow Article: How to Recondition a Solid Body Electric Guitar

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