Guitar care tips

[Bob Impact]

Sarah and I bought her brother a new guitar as a gift, it'll be the first nice guitar that he has owned and i'm sure he (and us) will want to keep it that way. The guy who we're buying it through is an associate of mine and a very serious collector, he gave us a Humidifier for it, and a care booklet, but I was wondering if anyone had any weird little tips that will help this thing stay perfect. This is a link to the specific guitar we got him. (http://www.larrivee.com/flash/products/guitars/D-05/d05.html)

[Ritalin]

Dear Sir/Madam,

You are the proud owner of Brand X, a leader in it's field. Here are a few suggestions for enhancing your experience:

1) Don't light it on fire

http://www.myclassiclyrics.com/artist_biographies/jimi_hendrix_biography.jpg

2) Don't smash it on the ground...

http://www.late20thcenturyboy.com/pics/exhibition/THE-WHO-1.jpg

3)....or against a wall

http://www.dvdactive.com/images/reviews/screenshot/2004/2/national_lampoons_animal_house_03.jpg

Congratulations on your new purchase! Happy playing!

[Jughead]

No Belts..... Careful of buttons and snaps on pants............and take off all rings...when playing....Just some anti scratch advise!!!..Oh and play it as much as possible....:wink:

[cupcakelove]

Get him some polish and maybe some oil for the fret board.

[topless_mike]

a $2k acoustic?

[JPMNICK]

a $2k acoustic?

bob and his chick are LOADED

[Bob Impact]

bob and his chick are LOADED

Tell that to the Ibanez I just spent an hour getting into tune.

We got a good deal, to be fair we got a phenomenal deal... that's not the point.

[Uncle Inky]

Beautiful guitar!
I just give mine a good once over with the lemon pleadge wipes couple times a week.
Always make sure my hands are clean before playing and basic shit like that.

I have a Japanese handmade T. Hauro from 1975, handed down from my dad, and still in perfect condition from simple care

[Gvac]

Don't ask me, I take lousy care of my guitars. In fact, I usually ash my cigarettes into the soundholes of my acoustics.

Seriously.

Never wax 'em or wipe 'em down either.

Gives 'em character.

[bobrobot]

Most important rule for the survival of a fine acoustic guitar, or any high quality wooden instrument for that matter;

When the heats on (Fall & Winter), if the guitar ain't bein' played make sure there's a humidifier in it all the time!!! I've seen some hideous things happen to dried out guitars!!!

Rule number 2,; Play naked, it's just more exciting for all concerned!!! I'm getting a boner just thinkin' about it!!!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/bobogolem/boboWeeMeeV2.png

[DonInNC]

Outside of a humidifier, I wouldn't fret over it.

[Bob Impact]

Outside of a humidifier, I wouldn't fret over it.
So you're saying don't fret over my frets?

Geh Geh Geh!

[Gvac]

More of a guitar tech question, but I was wondering if any of you know anything about setting string action and intonation.

I've got an acoustic and an electric that I want to set up for slide playing only. I'm not sure how high to set the bridge to keep the acoustic in open D tuning and keep the tops of the strings at identical height, and I have absolutely no clue how to set the saddles on the Telecaster.

Should I just bring 'em to a professional?

[yojimbo7248]

Most important rule for the survival of a fine acoustic guitar, or any high quality wooden instrument for that matter;

When the heats on (Fall & Winter), if the guitar ain't bein' played make sure there's a humidifier in it all the time!!! I've seen some hideous things happen to dried out guitars!!!

Rule number 2,; Play naked, it's just more exciting for all concerned!!! I'm getting a boner just thinkin' about it!!!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/bobogolem/boboWeeMeeV2.png

Amen. I am now literally paying the price for not having a humidifer for my guitar. My Taylor developed cracks bcause I didn't have one and it is now in the shop getting fixed.

[bobrobot]

More of a guitar tech question, but I was wondering if any of you know anything about setting string action and intonation.

I've got an acoustic and an electric that I want to set up for slide playing only. I'm not sure how high to set the bridge to keep the acoustic in open D tuning and keep the tops of the strings at identical height, and I have absolutely no clue how to set the saddles on the Telecaster.

Should I just bring 'em to a professional?

The rule for slide setup is "high & hard." (I knew THAT would get yer attention...) Buy a nut extension (about $5) your slide height will be adequate. Then you wanna get the strings as tight as possible, "D" is a "slack tuning" meaning there is LESS tension than is standard tuning, you will prolly need to experiment w/ string gauges to get the appropriate degree of tension. The strings shouldn't bend downward to the fingerboard as you depress the slide when playing. Without this tension you will lose all the wonderful harmonic overtones that make slide magical!

http://www.stewmac.com/product_images/1sm/4596/Slide_Guitar_Extension_Nut.jpg

As for intonation, here is a simple rule of thumb, the scale length of your guitar is the distance from the nut to the bridge, the halfway point should be the 12th fret, so the distance from the nut to the 12th fret & the 12th fret to the bridge should be equal (Usually there is compensation for the for the "B" string on an acoustic).

http://www.dreamguitars.com/images/petros/f11f.jpg

However, MOST guitars are no longer built to a standardized "classical" scale, especially electric guitars. So, to adjust intonation usually requires an electronic or, even better, a stroboscopic tuner. Each string is adjusted individually until it registers perfect pitch.

On a Tele, the adjustment is made by turning the screws at the base of the bridge which will cause the individual saddles to move back and forth, there are also screws on TOP of each saddle to adjust height. It's fun to learn & do (pride of ownership & maintainence) and good info to have. I learned all this stuff on the road & now have a kit so I can fix any of my instruments anywhere, which really comes in handy if ya have a last minute problem B4 a show!!!

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/0990810000.jpg

I hope this is in some way helpful...

[Puggle_kicker]

Don't ask me, I take lousy care of my guitars. In fact, I usually ash my cigarettes into the soundholes of my acoustics.

Seriously.

Never wax 'em or wipe 'em down either.

Gives 'em character.
All you can ask of a guitar is character.

[Puggle_kicker]

Also . . . . . as a reply to bobo . . . . I hate those six piece saddles for the telecaster.

I have a tele and I recently upgraded to a nice brass saddle piece but kept it at three piece. Yes its hard and it will take some work but once you get it adjusted like that its great. It took me over two hours to intonate my telecaster properly but the time spent is well worth it.

[bobrobot]

Yeah, they're a pain in the ass, but that's wayyy easier than adjusting the intonation on a resophonic guitar w/ a biscuit bridge!!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/Freeman_Keller/IMG_1009.jpg

[Puggle_kicker]

:ohmy:

I want it!!!!

[bobrobot]

:ohmy:

I want it!!!!

I have 5 resophonic guitars, a reso mandolin & a reso ukulele, love 'em all to death, best instruments ever!!!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/bobogolem/IMG_6838.jpg

[Puggle_kicker]

Reso Mandolin has to sound great. I need to branch out to the other stringed instruments. I almost got a banjo once, I should have.

[bobrobot]

Reso Mandolin has to sound great. I need to branch out to the other stringed instruments. I almost got a banjo once, I should have.

It's never too late!!!

http://winefarmer.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/banjo.jpg