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Stretch the strings by pulling the string from the end of the neck, then tune it. 8.

These old instruments could be trash or treasure you just dont know.

To find out the age and value of a guitar can take a lot of research, and may require you to bring in an expert.

Start by cleaning the guitar and bringing it back to playable condition, if possible.

Carefully wipe the finish of the guitar with a soft, damp cloth.

You can use a special microfiber guitar cloth, available wherever guitars are sold, but an old cotton T-shirt works just fine.

Try to figure out whether youre dealing with something oil-based or water-based, as that could determine how you can best get it off.

Dampen your cloth, and try not to get too much moisture on the guitar itself.

If you notice the finish starting to flake off, take the guitar to a luthier (someone who builds and fixes guitars) to get it cleaned, rather than trying to do it yourself.

Once youve cleaned the surface of the body of the guitar, examine the finish for scratches.

Depending on the age of the guitar and how it was used, there also may be wear or cracks in the body.

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Take the guitar to a guitar repair shop and talk to a luthier a professional who builds, restores, and repairs guitars.

They will be able to help you choose the best method to clean the guitar.

A non-abrasive cream or paste polish works well if a guitar has built-up grime of unknown origin, or if light cleaners dont seem to have any effect.These polishes also may even out small scratches in the guitars finish.

Loosen or remove the strings (youll probably want to replace them anyway) so you can clean the fingerboard and frets.

If you use an oil or polish on the fingerboard, spray it on the cloth first not directly on your guitar.

Take care not to scrub too hard you might scratch or damage the fingerboard.

Both acoustic and electric guitars have metal parts that may be tarnished or dirty on an old guitar.

Clean and polish these parts carefully, taking note of any parts that are missing or broken.

Generally, the guitar must be in playable condition, but before you start replacing hardware, you should have a better understanding of the age and value of the guitar.

A vintage guitar likely has old strings on it, if all the strings are even still there.

Give it a new set of quality strings so you can properly evaluate the sound of the instrument.

A friend who plays guitar may be willing to help you out for free.

Stretch the strings by pulling the string from the end of the neck, then tune it.

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