BetterThanBlank - Latest Comments in Proper Care of Acoustic Guitars - betterthanblank

Re: Proper Care of Acoustic Guitars - betterthanblank

Matt — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:40:26 -0000

I've got two really bad stories re: leaving your guitar in the car. It concerns two different acoustics...one was saved.

My excuse: I was young and in high school. While my buddies were making bad decisions by getting high in back of the theater, I was making bad decisions by leaving my axe in the car.

Re: Proper Care of Acoustic Guitars - betterthanblank

alex — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:08:21 -0000

Billy, I can't imagine that you'd get much fret wear from leaning a 7lb guitar on 6 strings. I don't know th exact measurements but I imagine the pressure applied to the string to form a note/chord has to be hundreds of times the pressure that is applied by leaning it against the strings. When I've seen fret wear it is usually on the frets that I form chords on and nothing, absolutely nothing from resting the guitar. Again, I normally use a stand so this becomes a non-issue, but for those rare times when there is no stand I have no problem leaning the guitar against the frets. It is an interesting theory though.

Eric,
I wouldn't admit to using baby oil for anything :)
As far as strings - I'd say that Karl is right on if you are gigging (playing several shows a week). But for us weekend warriors it's probably not going to be that often, but you know when it's time.

Vince, I agree micro-fiber is amazing stuff.

Re: Proper Care of Acoustic Guitars - betterthanblank

Billy Chia — Tue, 20 May 2008 01:42:54 -0000

Alex,
Nice tips. One question for ya. For years I placed my guitar sound hole side down. (I was told as a young musician that this is better for the neck.) Then last year a buddy of mine told me to never do that as this would cause extra fret wear from the strings having constant contact with the frets. Have you noticed sound-hole-down positioning causing fret wear?

Re: Proper Care of Acoustic Guitars - betterthanblank

Vince — Sun, 18 May 2008 17:29:15 -0000

two words - micro fiber

Re: Proper Care of Acoustic Guitars - betterthanblank

eric — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:10:07 -0000

good stuff... forgot about the alcohol wipes. I think you told me about that before.

I hate it when people don't change their strings. Karl says to change them every week. Don't think I'm that anal!

I use Baby Oil on my neck... I know, I know... oil's not good for the strings. But it really helps the life of the wood. And my 50 year old guitar needs all the help it can get!