Instrument Hygiene
Keep your instruments in tip-top shape with these handy tips from Lewis Eady’s very own instrument specialists!
Y O U R P I A N O
- Michael Ashby (Lewis Eady Steinway Piano Technician)
Your piano will be exposed to dust and finger marks that occur with normal use and play. But you’ll be pleased to know that not a lot is required to keep it spick and span!
Wipe exterior surfaces with a clean piece of soft cloth lightly dampened with plain water or with a microfibre cloth. Please do not wax or polish your piano. This can lead to build-up, which can only be safely removed by trained professionals - at a hefty cost!
The top of your piano should remain clear of any objects, e.g. vases, picture frames, drinks.
Wipe your piano keys with a damp cloth that has been dipped in soapy water. Steer away from any chemicals as this will eventually soften the plastic and cause damage. If in doubt, don't use it and leave it to the experts - us!
Wash your hands thoroughly before and after playing the piano.
Between practice/players, remember to wipe down the piano keytops back to front. If using a spray or liquid bottle, dampen a disposable pad (e.g. cotton pad) or a soft cloth to wipe down the keys, and wipe down any excess liquids on the surfaces with a clean, dry towel or a piece of soft cloth. Please do not spray or pour the solution directly onto the keys.
The modern piano has gone through a fascinating evolution. No matter how much you want to crack open that piano and explore the intricate hammers, please don't!
Sources: steinway.com
Lewis Eady now offers piano tuning services across Auckland and Wellington
Y O U R G U I T A R
- Ed Castelow (Lewis Eady Retail Manager and Guitar Specialist)
Like anything, over time, your guitar or ukulele will need a bit of tender loving care. After all the times you've picked it up and put your hands all over it, a lot of grime, sweat, finger oils and biscuit crumbs have been left behind on the strings, the neck and the body. These things all corrode the strings, dulling the sound and in some cases, lead to strings breaking.
RESTRINGING
Old strings can be harder to play, and they just don't sound as good as a fresh set! If your guitar is being played daily, I'd recommend changing your guitar strings every 2-3 months. These days there are a few brands that make "long life strings" which are either coated or treated to last a good while longer. Elixir is one such brand - I've had some on one of my guitars for a good year before I changed them.
The plain nylon has a mellower tone to start with, so you won't notice them dulling down so quickly. Ukulele strings will last a bit longer and tend to stand up to a little more abuse.
Restringing a guitar is a relatively straightforward process, albeit a slightly fiddly one, so most people like to leave it up to the professionals. Did your strings break during the lockdown? We offer a same-day restringing service for $30.00 plus the price of your strings. If I'm free when you come in, I can do it on the spot for you in around 30 mins - just enough time for you to enjoy a coffee from our in-house cafe, NOTE.
FINGERBOARD
It's the perfect home for grime to build up. You may even notice the frets starting to change colour! There are various products that you can apply to your fingerboard to get rid of the muck. Dunlop has a great range of guitar cleaning products. Buffing the frets is something that can be done to clean up the frets, but I recommend leaving this to a professional.
Photo by Yurii Stupen on Unsplash
BODY
If your instrument has a gloss finish, you should be safe to use a spray-on guitar polish or cleaner. There are differing opinions on the net about using furniture polish (like Pledge) on your gloss finish instrument... I personally think that it's fine.
If your instrument has a matte finish, then steer clear of spraying anything on there at all because it will sink in and leave big old marks that will never come out! Only use a dry rag to remove any minor surface marks or dust. Don't let this turn you off buying a matte finished guitar or ukulele though. They still sound great and the distressed look is something that never gets old! Check out this video of Willie Nelson's guitar "Trigger" for a great example of a matte finished guitar that's been through the wringer:
Lewis Eady offers a same-day restringing service for $30.00 plus the price of your strings.
Included in the service is a fingerboard clean and fret buff. If you have a gloss finished guitar, I'll give the whole body a good ol' polish too. So bring that pride and joy of yours into 75 Great South Road, and I'll give it some love and attention. You'll be chiming in no time.