Proper care of your Hagstrom instrument is basically a matter of common sense. It requires very little time and energy to keep your guitar in proper condition, and your efforts will pay off in the years to come.

It's important to take good care of your guitar to ensure that it continues to perform at its best. The following instructions are provided for cleaning and oiling the fretboard of your Hagstrom instrument.

Regularly wiping the fingerboard and strings clean after each playing session is a good practice, as it can help to remove dirt and perspiration acids that can build up and shorten the lifespan of the strings. When oiling the fretboard, we recommend the use of Paraffin oil or Fret Butter™ by DMI Guitar Labs.

• Using Paraffin oil:
  Remove the old strings. Using a soft, lint-free cloth, apply a small amount of oil to the fretboard, and gently rub it in around the first fret area, working your way through each fret to the top of the fretboard. Allow the oil to sit for a minute, then wipe it dry with a clean cloth. For stubborn grime and dirt, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush to help remove it. After the oiling application, your guitar can be strung with new strings.

• Using DMI Guitar Labs – Fret Butter™: Your Hagstrom Guitar was pre-treated with Fret Butter™” prior to leaving our factory. If you choose to use Fret Butter™, by first removing the old strings, simply apply it to the fretboard using the supplied penetrated cloth, and gently apply the solution to the entire length of the neck. Allow the Fret Butter™ to penetrate into the fretboard for approximately one minute. Then remove any excess solution and built-up grime by rubbing a clean terry cloth up and down along the entire length of the fretboard. You can also rub each individual fret perpendicularly with the terry cloth to clean the surface of each of the frets for an amazing feel and shine for your next performance.

It's important to note that the use of Lemon oil is not recommended, as it could negatively affect the fret slots (resulting in uneven frets) and even miscolor your fretboard over time. By following these instructions, you can help to maintain the longevity and quality of your Hagstrom instrument.

Plating of hardware

Perspiration acid from your fingers and hands can also dull the beauty of the metal plating of the hardware on your instrument. While you are wiping the fingerboard and strings, it is advised to also wipe off the hardware at the same time using a clean cloth.

Care of Gloss Finishes

The high-quality polyester clear coat finish of your instrument can be cleaned as necessary using a number of different guitar care finish products on the market. The Polyester that we use is very durable and will provide you with years of high gloss shine.

Care of Satin Finishes

As Satin finishes can tend to become glossy over time (mainly due to people cleaning their instrument in the same manner as a gloss finish), it is important to clean and treat Satin finishes differently than Gloss finished instruments. There are a number of common household sponges available on the market (commonly available at hardware stores) such as “Magic Eraser Stain Remover pads” that are perfect to clean your Hagstrom guitar that has a Satin finish. Simply by wiping these pads over the satin finish will clean any dirt and debris from your instrument, but will also bring back the guitars original look just at the time that it was shipped from our factory line.

The tuning machines on your guitar require no maintenance, as each tuners worm gear and thread are sealed at the back of the tuner. Tuner button tension can be adjusted using a small Philips screwdriver if buttons feel loose over time. Only apply slight 1/16 turn movements (with extreme sensitivity and caution) so return to a firm tuning ease and smoothness of each tuner. Again, use extreme caution as to not damage the Hagstrom button. If you are unsure of this method, always consult a professional guitar technician for such adjustments.