This topic may have been addressed, but I couldn't find anything, so if it has and someone can direct me to the post, that would be great. But, just in case, my question is "what is the best way to take care of an acoustic guitar?". I just bought a new Taylor 414ce at the Guitar Center. It was in the humidity controled room when I found it and as luck would have it, I don't have a similar room at my house! I got to thinking, if they keep the guitars in a controlled environment, what is going to happpen to it out in the real world? So, I am not sure where to keep the guitar (on a stand, in the case, etc) and whether or not to use a humidifier and if so, what kind. I live in Reno and it is very dry here, so I just want to make sure I take care of this new guitar (what a sweet guitar!). Thank you,
Jim
Acoustic Guitar Care
Jim,
The best place to keep a guitar you value is in the case. That's the only place it's safe from frisky kids, playful dogs, and wayward vacuum cleaners. Another benefit of keeping it in the case is that you can add a humidifier (such as the Planet Waves HumidiPak) that will add moisture to the case (when the air is too dry) or remove moisture from the case (when ther air is too humid). The HumidiPak is a set-it-and-forget-it product, meaning you just put one of them in the case near the headstock and two of them fit in a "saddle-bag" that you put inside the sound hole.
Everyone has an opinion on whether or humidity control is really all that important, but I've seen a number of guitars suffer greatly from improper care. It's not such a big issue in Seattle, where I live, because our humidity is very moderate (although I still use HumidiPaks). But in climates that are dry or wet, I would take every precaution I could. No less an authority than Bob Taylor considers humidity control vitally important. And he seems to know a thing or two about guitars. I'll take his word on it.
The best place to keep a guitar you value is in the case. That's the only place it's safe from frisky kids, playful dogs, and wayward vacuum cleaners. Another benefit of keeping it in the case is that you can add a humidifier (such as the Planet Waves HumidiPak) that will add moisture to the case (when the air is too dry) or remove moisture from the case (when ther air is too humid). The HumidiPak is a set-it-and-forget-it product, meaning you just put one of them in the case near the headstock and two of them fit in a "saddle-bag" that you put inside the sound hole.
Everyone has an opinion on whether or humidity control is really all that important, but I've seen a number of guitars suffer greatly from improper care. It's not such a big issue in Seattle, where I live, because our humidity is very moderate (although I still use HumidiPaks). But in climates that are dry or wet, I would take every precaution I could. No less an authority than Bob Taylor considers humidity control vitally important. And he seems to know a thing or two about guitars. I'll take his word on it.
Congratulations on your new Taylor. For a bunch of videos on the care and feeding of your new prize posession go to the Taylor source: http://www.taylorguitars.com/contact/customerservice/ and then look for the "videos" tab there's all kinds of info there.