User manual | Guitars - Wiltshire Music Connect

Looking after your child’s
Wiltshire Instrument
– for Parents/Carers
Guitars
As you know, we want to make instruments accessible to
children and young people in a way that supports their
participation and progression.
The instruments we can provide are serviceable and suitable for young musicians;
they are not all brand new, shiny and pristine. There are other places you can hire brand
new instruments but they cost a lot more!
We are trying to make this scheme self-sustaining – meaning that, over time, it should
become able to re-invest in stock and continue providing instruments for young people
regardless of any potential cuts in funding.
To make this work, we need those who use the scheme to support the ‘spirit’ in which
it’s being run and to try to help it run as smoothly as possible.
So, please look after your instrument and please READ THE GUIDANCE CAREFULLY and get
advice from your tutor if you are unsure of anything.
General information
As a condition of this scheme you are expected to ensure that your instrument is kept in working
order and in the condition in which you received it. Although the guitar comes ready strung you
will need to buy some more at some point as these get worn and will need replacing from time
to time. Electric guitars, and electric bass guitars come with a guitar lead with a jack plug on
each end to connect the guitar to an amplifier in order to create sound. Classical guitarists play
while they are in a seated posture. Electric guitarists and bass players might want to buy their
own guitar strap which fixes to the body of the instrument. All guitars come with their own carry
case – always use the case to transport the guitar safely.
NEVER, EVER plug an electric guitar or bass into anything other than an appropriate guitar
amplifier with the appropriate guitar lead.
ASK for help from your tutor if you need to.
TOP TIP: always plug the guitar lead into the GUITAR FIRST, then into the amplifier
(with the volume turned down).
www.wiltshiremusicconnect.org.uk [email protected]
@WiltsHub
www.wiltshiremusicconnect.org.uk [email protected]
@WiltsHub
Guitar maintenance
Classical, acoustic and electric guitars and basses need to be kept in dry conditions at fairly even
room-type temperatures. So they shouldn’t be stored in outside sheds where the temperature
might drop and rise with the weather, or near a radiator. Extreme temperatures can cause the
wood in guitars to warp and bend, and the string to expand and contract.
Parts of an Acoustic Guitar
Bridge
Head stock
Position markers
(generally white dots found on the fingerboard
and side of the neck on frets 3, 5, 7, 9, 12)
Saddle
Electric instruments MUST be kept away from any moisture or liquids, as contact with electricity
and liquids can be extremely dangerous.
Sound hole
Nut
Frets
Strings should not be wound too tight – as this can also cause damage to the guitar neck. Your
tutor will show you how to tune your guitar correctly.
Electric guitars only – using the Tremolo arm on your guitar:
The tremolo arm allows you to scoop up and down to notes, or to add vibrato sound. You do
not have to use it when playing the guitar, and to start with, you may not want to put the
arm on, as you’ll find it does effect the tuning dramatically if not used economically.
Cleaning
Capstan
Fretboard or fingerboard
is the top part (the whole thing
is generally called the neck)
To install the tremolo arm (sometimes referred to as a ‘whammy bar’ or ‘Vibrato Arm’),
you simply screw in the arm (found inside the gig bag) into the hole found on the Bridge.
Then once installed you push or pull the arm towards or away from the body of the guitar.
(Don’t overtighten the arm, and remove it before storing or transporting the instrument)
(or string post)
Tuners
Rosette
(or tuning keys,
machine heads
or tuning pegs)
Bridge pins
Pick guard
Body
When cleaning any guitar, you must loosen the strings so it makes it easier the access the
fretboard and the center of the body of the guitar. Use furniture polish sprayed onto a clean, dry
cloth to clean smears, dirt, and dirt build up from areas on the guitar. DO NOT spray the furniture
polish onto the guitar directly, and never into any switches or connectors.
Look out for any signs of wear in the hardware (metal work), wobbly screws, fraying strings etc.
If you do see anything, ask your tutor for advice.
Parts of an Electric Guitar
Pickups
You should aim to clean the guitar once every 4/6 weeks, and look to have the strings changed
on an electric guitar every 3 months. Wipe the strings off after every time you play.
Bridge
Strap button
Bridge
saddle
Changing the strings
To start with, if you are unsure about changing the strings on your guitar, please do speak to your
Associate Tutor first before attempting this. You can cause damage to your guitar should you do
this wrong.
Once you feel confident the first thing to do is to buy the correct set of strings for the type of
guitar you have. You can a set strings from many different producers in most music shops, or on
line in music shops and places like Amazon.
Fret Fingerboard
LOWER
BOUT
Tuning
keys
Nut
UPPER
BOUT
GUITAR
BODY
Tremolo cavity
(reverse side of guitar)
Once you have the correct strings, then take off the old strings from your guitar, clean the guitar,
and replace the strings with the new ones. For guidance ask your tutor, or use sites such as youtube
to help you.
Ideally you would change your strings every few months on an electric guitar, and every 6 months
on a classical. Although leaving this longer is fine, the guitar sounds at its best with newer strings.
12th fret marker/inlay
Output jack
Strap button
Pickup
selector
switch
Tremolo
arm
Pickguard
Tone control knobs
Volume
control
knob
String
tree
Truss
rod
Headstock

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