Fretted Instrument Accessories & Parts

Fretted Instrument Accessories & Parts for Sale

Musicians can personalize and modify fretted instruments through accessories, parts and pickups, helping to fine-tune playability and maintain long-term performance. Some products are installed directly onto an instrument to alter its sound or functionality, while others are designed to support daily playing, transport and care.

DIY-minded guitar and bass players and builders will find everything they need to hot-rod their instrument or craft the perfect partscaster — from Fender guitars that make great mod platforms to a wide selection of aftermarket parts.

Common Types of Fretted Instrument Accessories & Parts

If you play fretted instruments, you know that some accessories and parts are essential on creative and practical levels — helping shape your tone, protect your gear and elevate your comfort level.

Essential Guitar & Bass Parts

• Pickups and Hardware Upgrades: Pickups, bridges and other replaceable parts allow musicians to repair or modify their fretted instruments in addition to tweaking and refining their instruments’ tone and response. If you play electric guitar or bass, you may want to swap out your stock pickups for others that better fit your personal style. If you play acoustic instruments, you might consider an attachable pickup for amplification and recording.
  
  Other common guitar and bass replacement or upgrade parts include:
  
  Tuning machines (tuners): Swap these for easier tuning and better tuning stability. Options include vintage-style tuners, locking tuners and more.
  
  Bridges or saddles: Electric players replace the bridge on their guitar to improve intonation and sustain. On acoustic guitars, upgrading the saddle, especially from plastic to bone, is a popular way to improve tone, clarity and projection.
  
  Nut: Upgrading to a bone, synthetic bone, graphite or metal nut can improve tuning stability and first-fret action, provided the slots are cut properly. Nuts on new guitars are sometimes poorly cut. Often they can be adjusted, but replacement may be needed if the slots are too deep or the nut is damaged.
  
  Pickguard: A simple pickguard swap can dramatically change the appearance of a guitar or bass, in addition to offering protection from pick scrapes.
  
  Strap buttons: Ensuring your instrument is equipped with large, well-attached strap buttons can help you protect your investment from costly damage. Even better, strap locks provide peace of mind on stage and in rehearsal.
• Playing and Performance Accessories: A wide range of items can impact comfort and technique on a guitar. Parts and accessories like straps, capos, conventional picks (or plectrums) and finger/thumb picks all shape the playing experience, helping musicians adapt to different musical styles, tunings and physical positions.
• Care, Protection and Maintenance: Protective accessories, including humidifiers and cleaning tools, help preserve the integrity of tonewoods and keep fretted instruments in top working order. It all depends on your particular gear. For example, due to their materials, construction and finishes, acoustic instruments are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.

Shop Fretted Instrument Accessories & Parts

At Music & Arts, you can explore a wide selection of parts and accessories designed for guitars, basses and other fretted instruments. Shop online or consult the expert associates at your closest Music & Arts location.

Fretted Instrument Accessories & Parts Buying FAQs

What accessories are essential for guitar and bass players?

The list is as long as you want it to be. For example, you may eventually want to dive into the world of effects pedals and other tone-shaping devices. But here’s the basic starter pack: an electronic tuner to help keep your fretted instruments in tune; cables to connect your guitar or bass to an amplifier, PA system or audio interface; a high-quality strap to help avoid shoulder strain; a gig bag or case for safe transport; a dependable floor stand for easy access during rehearsals and practice sessions; extra strings; and plenty of spare picks. (Rule of thumb: You will always need an extra pick, especially when you least expect to.)

For more insight, check out our comprehensive guitar accessories buying guide.

How do replacement pickups affect guitar tone?

Swapping out pickups can dramatically change your experience on fretted instruments. In a classic electric-guitar example, single-coils are known to create a brighter, snappier sound compared to warmer, thicker humbuckers. “Active” pickups require a battery to provide higher output and more sustain with less noise; “passive” pickups, like those found in most Fender, Gibson and PRS guitars, do not require a battery. There are many elements at play in every pickup, including the type of magnets used, the overall output level, coil winding and more. The good news is that most pickups have an ideal application. It’s all about deciding which works best for you.

How do I choose the right accessories for my playing style?

It depends on a handful of factors, including your primary instrument, main genres and the intensity with which you attack the strings. If you mostly play delicate jazz guitar, your priorities might be different than if you focus on virtuoso bluegrass banjo or aggressive metal bass. Picks are not a one-size-fits-all situation, so it’s best to consider your preferred type (traditional flatpick, fingers, thumb) and thickness.

Do you play a heavy electric guitar? Do you stand or sit on stage? Those questions might affect the type of strap you purchase. Some players utilize capos on their guitars to keep their preferred chord fingerings in different keys, but your music might not call for one.

What maintenance accessories help extend the life of fretted instruments?

There’s no harm in being overly proactive, but most musicians get along just fine with a handful of basic accessories. A microfiber cloth is crucial for wiping down your instrument after playing, eliminating any sweat and oils that may have built up. If you plan to change your own strings, you may benefit from owning a high-quality string winder/cutter, which will save some time and possible frustration. Other popular choices include humidity monitors, instrument brushes, instrument-specific polishes and tool kits for potential repairs and adjustments.

For more on how to properly care for your guitar, check out our comprehensive guitar maintenance guide for beginners.