5 Tiers of Guitar Care: Where Do You Rank?

I’m pretty confident in my guitar care skills: aside from changing strings and adjusting the truss rod, I can swap pickups and even create custom wiring. Heck, I’ve even built two guitars, with the help of some great teachers, that I still use to this day.

But the more I thought about it, the more I wondered: how much of guitar maintenance do I really know? That curiosity led me to dive deeper and create this list of the 5 tiers of guitar care. In this video, we’ll explore each tier, and by the end, you’ll know exactly where you stand—and I’ll share where I rank too.”

Tier 1: Basic Maintenance (Beginner)

– Tuning (using a tuner or tuning by ear before each session)

– String changing (replacing strings as needed)

– Polishing the fretboard (light cleaning)

– Wiping down the guitar after playing (removing sweat and grime from the body and strings)

Tier 2: Regular Care (Intermediate)

– Cleaning and conditioning the fretboard (using a fretboard conditioner and cloth)

– Pickup height adjustment (optimizing output level)

– Checking and tightening hardware (tuning pegs, strap buttons)

Tier 3: Performance Optimizing (Advanced)

– Intonation adjustment (ensuring proper pitch across the fretboard)

– Truss rod adjustments (fixing neck relief for optimal playability)

– Pickup swaps (for tone customization)

– Adjusting bridge saddle height (fine-tuning action for personal feel)

Tier 4: Deep Maintenance (Expert)

– Full setup (action, intonation, truss rod, and pickup adjustments in a single session)

– Fret polishing (cleaning and shining frets for smoother play)

– Replacing nut or saddles (upgrading materials like bone or graphite for better sustain)

– Electronics cleaning (removing dust or corrosion from pots and switches)

– Full rewiring or electronics overhauls (custom mods, new wiring)

Tier 5: Master Luthier (Pro-Level)

– Fret leveling and crowning (refining frets for optimal action and intonation)

– Refretting (replacing worn-out frets)

– Neck resets (major structural adjustments for older or warped guitars)

Where Do I Rank?

I thought answering this question would be difficult, but once I actually listed everything out like we did here, it was easier than I expected. I’ve successfully completed all the tasks in tiers 1-3 countless times, which means I can confidently place myself in the Advanced tier.

Building two guitars at guitar-building courses taught me so much—not only about what it takes to make a playable guitar, but also how to maintain them, make necessary adjustments, and fix things when they break.

Over the years, I’ve also learned when to leave things to the experts, and that’s why I can’t, in good conscience, place myself in tier 5.

I don’t yet have the skills or tools for tasks like proper fret levelling, especially at home. Maybe one day, I’ll have a workshop where I can take the time to learn these skills. But until then, I’m placing myself solidly in tier 4.

Where Do you rank?

Now that you know where I rank, I want to hear from you!

What guitar maintenance skills do you have, and where would you rank yourself? Let me know in the comments and share your story of how you developed those skills!