Ukuleles- Caring for Your Ukulele

By Scott E. Hutton


As all musicians know, instruments need typical care and maintenance. Weather as well as other environmental elements have an effect on the condition of a Ukulele. Considering that they're created of wood humidity affects the condition with the instrument as it loses or absorbs moisture.

Too dry as well as the wood may possibly crack or shrivel. Too moist along with the wood could swell or warp. For this reason, the instrument requirements cleaned and inspected frequently. Occasionally this indicates keeping them in a case with a humidifier or taking them out to dry. Modifications in weather may also impact tuning and cause the neck to warp.

Cleaning and caring for your instrument is the very same as caring for a guitar. Clean and care for your Ukulele often. The same brand of polishes, cleaners and fret board oils used for guitars may also be utilised to clean a uke. The body and also the fret board are created of differing supplies and require diverse sort of cleaners. Never ever use the same one on both surfaces. Cleaning and polishing protects the instrument against the sweat and salt produced by the player's skin. Sweat can deteriorate the wood finish and corrode the fret wires. It also collects on the wood surface causing it to hold on to dirt and dust.

Take care when cleaning around dings, blemishes, cracks or dents. If cleaning fluid gets into them, it may cause the wood to swell and make those blemishes worse. If the ukulele shows some small scratches or surface marks, it is possible to use a clear nail polish to seal them. This method needs the use of a little brush and a steady hand. Wax is very good to utilize for sealing cracks in the wood. You are able to use a guitar wax as it will also keep moisture out. One strategy to stop scratches when cleaning will be the use of a microfiber towel.

Never ever use ammonia based cleaners on your instrument. These kinds of cleaners aren't made for wood and dry the surface out causing it to warp or crack. Ammonia will also deteriorate strings and dull the ukulele's finish. Household cleaning products like furniture oils aren't good cleaning products too. They leave a residue that attracts dirt and dust allowing it to collect on the instrument. By no means use straight lemon oil to clean the fret board as it is a solvent. Nonetheless, you will find fret board oils that contain lemon oil, but not at a high sufficient concentration to hurt the instrument.




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