You’ve just bought your dream bass and it feels and sounds amazing. Every time you play it you come up with a new idea. So how do you make sure that this wonderful instrument stays in great shape? Maintenance and care are important if you want to keep your bass in top condition.

The basics – Keep your instrument clean. Wash your hands before you play, wipe the bass down when you are done, and don’t leave it out to gather dust. Keep it in a high quality case when you are not using it. Also, you can clean and polish the instrument every once in awhile – about every six months or every other string change, whichever interval is shorter. How often you change strings will depend on how much you play and how much sweat and dirt you transfer to the bass. Keep in mind that your body leaves dirt and oils all over the instrument and these can corrode electronics and frets as much as strings. Keeping the instrument clean really is your best bet for longevity.

If your bass has a rosewood or ebony fingerboard, use some fretboard conditioner when you change the strings. This will help keep the fingerboard from drying out, which can cause fret sprout. You can use 0000 steel wool or a toothbrush to get the grime off of the board. If the fingerboard is finished, as in a maple board, you can just polish it along with the rest of the instrument, but you still need to get all that dead skin and gunk off the frets. No steel wool on finished boards, however!

Most of the rest of your maintenance will only be performed if you notice a change in how your bass feels or sounds. If the pots start to get scratchy you can start by blowing them out with compressed air. If that does not work there are cleaning solutions that work better. I usually spray directly into the pot from behind, not into the shaft. 3-in1 oil is good if and when your tuning keys become hard to turn. If you are keeping your bass clean and the machines are high quality, this is not a common issue.

Your intonation will change with the weather. You may need to adjust the string height and intonation when the seasons change, and of course you will need to adjust the truss rod at that time as well. Remember that a little tweak goes a long way. First adjust the truss rod, then the saddle height if needed, and last adjust the intonation. If the 12th fret note is sharp compared to the 12th fret harmonic, you will need to lengthen the string. If it is flat you will need to shorten the string.

So, enjoy that new bass, keep it clean, and adjust the action and intonation when needed. If you take care of it, your instrument can last a lifetime.