Identity, Social Media and David Bowie

To keep an acoustic guitar in optimum condition doesn’t really require as much work as it does common sense. If you follow these easy tips, there is no reason your acoustic guitar should give you any problems for many years.

Storage

Where (and how) you store your guitar is the single most important factor in keeping your guitar in good condition. Being made from timber, guitars absorb moisture from the air and expand when it’s humid and once the weather dries up, the timber loses moisture and can crack. This can happen to any acoustic guitar regardless of brand, type of wood or value of the instrument.  It is recommended that you keep your guitar in it’s case, in an environment between 40 and 50 percent humidity and with a preferred temperature of between 12 and 30 degrees. If your guitar is subjected to higher temperatures, the heat can cause the glue to fail so under no circumstances should you ever leave a guitar in a car.

If you have no problems with humidity, there is no reason why you shouldn’t leave your guitar on a stand. Wall hangers are also an ideal way of storing your guitar but again, only if you have a regular (or controlled) environment.

Cleaning

If you give the fret board a light wipe with lemon oil whenever you change your strings, you should never really have to do much else to keep it clean. Besides keeping the neck clean, Lemon oil will keep it from drying out. This works just as well on the bridge (not many people know this!).

As for the guitar body, please don’t use furniture polish. Besides leaving a layer of silicone on the finish every time you use it, furniture polish can actually permanently change the density of the timber affecting the resonance. It also leaves an unattractive streaky shine after time. If you don’t have access to silicone free guitar polish (highly recommended), the next best thing is a slightly damp cloth.

Changing Strings

It is recommended you change your strings at least once a month, even more frequently if you play a lot. This may sound excessive, but professionals will never play a second show using the same set of strings. Always stick to the same gauge strings as this may change the string height and will require a professional setup. The regular gauge is 12-53. When stringing the guitar, don’t force the bridge pin in. All it needs is a gentle push with your thumb and once the string is at tension there should be no movement. Forcing or tapping the pin in place can crack the bridge and cause damage when removing. While we’re on the topic of the bridge, do not adjust the screws on either side of the bridge. This doesn’t adjust the height of the bridge. They are keeping the tension of the Piezo pick up and if you mess with it, be prepared to pay someone to fix it!

So there it is. Stick to these rules and your guitar will live happily ever after.