We all know that feeling when your guitar just doesn't feel quite right.
Maybe the strings feel a little too high, there's a strange buzz coming from somewhere, or it just doesn't sound the way it used to. Sometimes you can put your finger on what's wrong straight away. Other times, you just know something isn't quite right.
That's where a guitar MOT can help.
Just like your car, your guitar can benefit from a proper once-over every now and again. And if it's an instrument you play regularly, a little bit of maintenance can make a big difference to how it feels, sounds and plays.
So, what is a guitar MOT?
A guitar MOT is basically giving your guitar a proper once-over to make sure everything is looking, feeling and sounding as it should.
We’ll go through the guitar and check all the important bits, from the neck and frets to the action, intonation and general hardware. We’ll make sure things like the nut, bridge, saddles and machine heads are all doing what they should be and that nothing has started to work itself loose.
If it’s an electric, we’ll check the pickups, controls, switches and jack too. Got active electronics? We’ll check the battery while we’re at it.
But it’s not just about looking at the guitar.
We’ll actually pick it up and play it, because sometimes you can spot a problem straight away once you’ve got it in your hands. A bit of fret buzz, a strange rattle, a note that doesn’t sound quite right… these are all things that can tell us there’s something worth looking at.
The aim is simple: make sure your guitar is feeling good, playing properly and ready for you to enjoy again.
Is something feeling a bit off?
There are a few signs that your guitar might be due a little TLC.
You might notice fret buzz, dead notes, rattles or strange noises. Maybe the action feels different from how you remember it, or the guitar has become harder to play.
It could even be something really simple.
Guitars are played, moved around, stored, taken to gigs and generally given a pretty busy life. Over time, things can naturally move or wear, and even small changes can affect how an instrument feels.
Sometimes a small adjustment is all that's needed to get things feeling right again.
What about acoustic guitars?
Acoustic guitars get the same sort of attention.
We'll check the bridge, saddle, action and general condition of the guitar, as well as looking for anything that might need attention.
Again, it's not about pulling the whole guitar apart for the sake of it. It's about checking the things that matter and making sure your guitar is playing as it should.
And if we spot something that needs a bit more work, we'll always let you know before carrying out anything beyond the usual adjustments.
You don't have to wait until there's a problem
One of the biggest reasons to have a guitar MOT is simply to keep on top of things.
You don't have to wait until your guitar is barely playable before giving it some attention.
If it's your main guitar and you're playing it all the time, regular checks can help keep it feeling good. If you've got a guitar that's been sitting in its case for a while, an MOT can be a good way of making sure everything is still as it should be before you start playing it again.
And if you've had the same guitar for years and genuinely can't remember the last time it had a proper check...
Well, it might be time.
Give your guitar a little TLC
Your guitar doesn't need to be brand new to deserve a bit of attention.
Whether it's the guitar you take to every gig, the one you've had for years, or the one that's been sat in the corner waiting for its comeback, keeping it in good shape can make playing it that much more enjoyable.
Sometimes all it takes is a few small adjustments to make an old favourite feel like a completely different guitar.
So, if yours is feeling a bit off, sounding a little strange, or you simply can't remember the last time it had a proper check, pop it in and let us give it the once-over.
You never know... it might just come back playing better than ever.
Austin Guitars: The Barn, Shevington's Lane, Liverpool L33 1XA