What do i need to do to keep my guitar in good condition?

Hello, Taylor! Congratulations on your purchase of a terrific instrument! If you have not already done it, make sure the truss rod, intonation, action, and bridge orientation is set properly and consistent with your playing style (for details, see a href="http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster.php" rel="nofollow"http://www.fender.com/support/stratocast…/a ). The care and feeding of your guitar is actually pretty simple, and really only involves a little time and a dash of common sense. For the first part, each time you finish playing the instrument, wipe down the neck, body, and any bridge parts that come in contact with your palm with a microfiber cloth. I do not advise wiping down the string surfaces, because the cloth can leave particles in the strings which can deaden the tone. Between one and two months replace your strings, use a quality polish (see a href="http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Clayton-Pro-Shine-Guitar-Polish-Bottle?sku=481869" rel="nofollow"http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/p…/a , for example) on the body and neck, and put a drop of light lubricant into each slot of the nut and on each tremolo bridge pivot point. Every six months apply a fretboard dressing, like Guitar Honey ( a href="http://www.gerlitzusa.com/prd_honey.html" rel="nofollow"http://www.gerlitzusa.com/prd_honey.html/a ) to the rosewood (if you have the exposed maple fretboard, just use the guitar polish), let it sit for a minute, and wipe off the excess with a soft cloth. It is easier to accomplish this task if you remove all the strings; just make sure to place a folded piece of heavy paper between the rear of the bridge plate and the body to keep the bridge embly and springs in place. This is a perfect time to polish the pickguard with a product like Mother’s California Gold Scratch Remover (see a href="http://www.autobarn.net/motcalgolscr.html" rel="nofollow"http://www.autobarn.net/motcalgolscr.htm…/a ), readily available at auto parts stores), which will minimize light pick scratches and discoloration, plus restore gloss to the surface. Check to make sure all the tuner bushings and string tree retainers are tight, and remove the backplate to see that the tremolo springs are correctly seated. For the common sense part, keep the guitar protected in a gig bag or case when not playing, and avoid exposing it to any abrupt changes in temperature or humidity, by allowing it to acclimate to any new environments before being removed. Finally, some folks consider nicks and scratches to be badges of honor; however, if you want to keep the instrument looking like new, turn your belt buckle to the side and remove any clothing studs that will come in contact with the body. Be careful about wearing rings that can dig into the back of the neck. This all may sound like a lot, but it will become second nature in a very short period of time! Best regards, Dana