Acoustic Guitar Care and Love

By: James Duclos

Acoustic guitars are not as needy as children, or girlfriends, but they do need a little attention and devotion once in a while. Since guitars are made of wood, they are very susceptible to temperature changes and moisture. This quick article will teach you about some of the things you can do to keep your guitar (and pocketbook) happy.

Climate

The most important aspect to consider when you own an expensive acoustic guitar is the climate it is in during playing and storage. Wood is made up of small fibers that can come apart if they are exposed to heat and moisture. One method of woodworking is steam bending. In order to make the curved sides of an acoustic guitar, the luthier places a piece of wood into a steam chamber and steams the wood to loosen up all of the fibers. Then, the luthier lays this steamed piece in a jig that holds it in shape while it cools, and the fibers reset themselves. Based on the methods used to make acoustic guitars, it is evident how planning a gig in a sauna would not be good for your guitar.

With these principles in mind, avoid keeping your guitar in your car on a summer day with the windows up. If you really have to stop at a friend’s house for a period of time, take your guitar inside and just explain the situation. If you must keep it in your car, roll down the windows so heat is not trapped inside – this is a last life–saving attempt for your guitar and should not be considered an acceptable thing to do, especially with acoustics!

If you are planning on purchasing an expensive guitar that is made of real wood, then it is advisable for you to put a few extra bucks into a humidifier. Taylor–made humidifiers are great if you will be living, or playing, in cold or dry conditions. A humidifier is a small plastic tube that slips into your sound hole and keeps your guitar from drying out and… cracking.

Storage

When you are not playing your guitar, you should keep it in a safe place. The safest place for a guitar is in the case. However, if you own a dang good–looking guitar, you will probably be tempted to store it in your living room to show it off.

You may be tempted to save those 12 dollars rather than investing in a guitar stand, but check this out. If you lean your guitar up against the wall, or corner, for long periods of time, your neck will begin to warp. With the neck under a great deal of tension from the strings already, it is not a good idea to put more strain on the neck by leaning it up against your wall. If you wish to display your guitar, the best way to store it is to hang it by the headstock on a wall or fixture. However, the happy medium is to purchase a guitar stand. Having your guitar on a stand will take away the hassle of dragging out your case all the time to play. When your guitar is on a stand, you are ready to just pick it up and strum away!

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