How
to Care for Acoustic
Guitars
A Clean
Acoustic Guitar is a Happy
Instrument
If you want
to keep your acoustic guitar for
many years, you'll want to take
care of it and store it properly.
Good instrument care will help it
keep the quality of sound you
long for and provide years of
enjoyment. Here are some basics
tips to consider.
Buy the
Right Accessories
The first
step to keeping your guitar in
good shape is to buy the
appropriate accessories. A guitar
case, when properly fitted, can
be your best friend when it comes
to care. The case will protect it
from being stepped on, kicked,
scratched, etc. when not in use.
A case also works great for
traveling.
If you play
often, find an acoustic guitar
stand that's very sturdy and the
proper size for your guitar.
Also, your guitar strap should
fit snugly without risk of coming
lose or breaking while playing.
This is extremely important
because the guitar can become
permanently damaged from one
accidental fall.
Acoustic
Guitar Storage
Tips
When not
using your guitar, store it in a
safe area at room temperature.
Avoid extreme heat and sunlight;
the wood can become cracked,
warped, or brittle when exposed
to these elements for very long.
When this
happens, the bridge may separate
from the body and the guitar will
be completely useless. High heat
can also cause the glue to
loosen.
 - Photo by
Bob Pardue - All
Rights
Reserved
- www.lifestyle-pic.com
|
It's
Not the Heat - It's the
Humidity
Use
a humidifier in the room
if you live in a very
hot, dry climate.
Never
expose the guitar to
very high humidity if
possible, but some
humidity is better than
none at all.
|
It's
desirable to store it in a room
where the humidity is stabilized.
Use an enclosed guitar case to
slowly introduce the instrument
to an extreme change in the
temperature, such as when going
from an air conditioned room to
the outdoors on a hot summer
day.
Also, never
store your guitar by hanging it
on a wall or by leaving it lying
around on furniture. Don't lean
it against a wall, even while in
its case. Because of its shape, a
guitar can topple
easily.
|
|
Clean
Your Acoustic Guitar
Often
Another
crucial area of guitar
care is regular
cleaning. Wipe down the
body and neck after use
to keep the wood looking
shiny and new.
Clean
and dry drink spills
immediately.
|
Also, clean
the strings often by wiping them
with a soft cloth. This helps
eliminate oils from your
fingertips that can accumulate on
the strings. Wiping the strings
can extend their use. There are
also guitar maintenance kits to
assist with cleaning.
Guitar
Waxing
You can
polish your guitar’s wood
areas with solutions such as
Martin Guitar Polish. Avoid the
polishes made of heavy paste wax
though because they can cause wax
buildup.
Hint:
Wash your hands thoroughly
before playing to reduce the
amount of oil and
dirt.
Handling
Acoustic Guitars
When
carrying your guitar or when
getting ready to play, always
hold it by the neck. If you
squeeze the body or top area,
this can damage the sound board
bracing. Handle it with care and
always look before making sudden
turns when holding the instrument
in the playing position -
remember the long neck is
sticking out!
Most
acoustic guitars require minimal
maintenance, but these small
tasks can add many years to your
favorite instrument thus saving
you heartbreak and
money!
This article
about taking care of your
accoustic guitar is presented by
Music
Playground.
Have some fun and learn to read
music FREE by visiting
www.largemart.com/read-music
today...
|
