For a musician, the instrument is his or her lifeline. Whether you are a pro or just a hobbyist, you know how well an instrument should work. Like all other tools, musical instruments do need some sort of repair and maintenance to work at peak effectiveness. In this post, we discuss various reasons why regular instrument repair and maintenance mean so much in making your tools of the trade work optimally.
Why Regular Maintenance Is Essential
Regular maintenance will keep your instrument in good condition and working properly. Just like a car needs regular oil changes and tire rotations, so too does your musical instrument need care and attention regularly. Most minor issues can be stopped from ballooning into major ones that may call for costly repairs through regular maintenance. Besides, it can extend the life of your instrument and give you time to play it over the years.
Common Maintenance Tasks in Instrument Repairs
The specific maintenance activities you will have for your instrument are based on what instrument you use. Still, some common maintenance tasks you are likely to do include:
- Cleaning: There is a need to ensure that your instrument is clean, not only for appearance purposes but also for performance. In fact, dust, dirt, and grime easily build up on your instrument and may affect its performance in terms of sound quality and playability.
- Replacing strings: Strings eventually either break or lose their tone. Replacing them on a regular basis keeps your instrument sounding its best.
- Tuning: Very important, since it ensures that your instrument stays in tune and sounds well.
Why Instrument Repairs Are Necessary
No matter how well one takes care of their instrument, it will always reach a point where repairs are needed. This may be due to normal wear and tear or a specific problem such as a broken string or crack in the body. Poor attention to these problems will eventually blow up into bigger ones which can cause you to fork out more money for repair or reduce your instrument to a worthless item.
Common Instrument Repair Tasks include:
- Replacing broken parts: If something on your instrument breaks, then it will have to be replaced. This could include anything from a broken guitar string to a cracked violin bridge.
- Cracks: Cracks in your instrument’s body affect its sound quality and playability. The reason being, the sooner such cracks get repaired, the lesser damage your instrument is likely to sustain.
- Action adjustment: The action refers to the strings’ height from the fretboard. If the action becomes too high or too low, it might affect how your instrument can be played.
When to Seek an Instrument Repair Professional to Help
Some maintenance tasks you can perform yourself, but often you will find there are other situations in which you do need to seek out a professional. For example, if you happen not to feel comfortable adjusting the action on your guitar or restringing your violin, then it is best left to a professional. Apart from comfort, some repairs involve specialized tools or knowledge that you may lack.
It is very important to find a qualified instrument repair technician in order to take care of your instrument. Look for someone who has experience with your type of instrument and a good reputation in the community. You can also ask other musicians or your local music store for referrals.
Taking good care of your musical instrument is a huge part of being a musician. Keep in mind that periodic maintenance and repair are in order for your instrument to serve you at its best and last for years longer. Keep in mind basic maintenance, immediate repairs when needed, and when necessary, seek professional help. With proper care and attention, your instrument will continue to serve you well and bring joy and inspiration to your music for many years ahead.
ON-Stage Rentals can help with your instrument repair needs. Contact us at: 626-339-7100 or email us