The moment that you own your first guitar or a new one, you realize you have a large responsibility to keep this thing safe and sound. Face it. This new axe is constantly in danger of being smashed, dropped, scuffed, crushed, or even stolen.
But, a lot of what happens are very fundamental things that can be easily prevented if you only pay attention. Look over this short list of extremely simple things that you can do to keep your guitar safer.
1. Keep it in the case when you're not using it.
It's very simple, but some guitarists just forget where the guitar's home is and let it roam around too often. You bought that sturdy hard-shell case for a reason, so keep your guitar safe in there when you're not playing it.
2. Don't lean it upright against walls and posts.
There's a saying I have that goes, "If you lay something flat, there's no chance of it falling over." So, if you're leaning your guitar up against posts, railings, or walls, that sounds like trouble to me.
Save yourself some grief and lay your instrument down if you can't possibly put it in its case.
3. Let it ride in the back seat like a friend and not in the trunk like a hostage.
Now, I understand that you have to pack the van up and you have lots of equipment to take to a show, but if you have the room, your guitar deserves better than the trunk. With your guitar in the back seat, you can still see it and realize how your driving ability may be affecting it.
4. Put your guitar on a stand when it's on stage.
Let's say you're in a band and you're getting ready for a gig. You set everything up, test out the amp, and then walk off the stage.
If you're leaving your guitar up there, you don't want it leaning up against your amp or poles. Bring a guitar stand onto the stage or put it back in the case so you can prevent a catastrophe right before your set.
5. Lock that thing up.
You wouldn't believe some of the things that get stolen at a rock show and sometimes it isn't even the guitar! They might open up your case and fish for strings, capos, or any other small components to your instrument.
Keep your guitar safe and sound by locking it up with all of its pieces.
6. Don't let that thing out of your sight.
This should really go without saying. If you're done with your set, you should be packing up your own instrument before you help with anyone else's equipment.
Wouldn't it make you feel better knowing that your guitar is safe in your vehicle before you start working the crowd again?
There really isn't too much to keeping your guitar safe, but so much is overlooked and taken for granted. It can be a cruel world with thieves and Newton's law of relativity, but with some common sense and responsibility, your guitar can last for a few more years.
Kyle Hoffman is an experienced guitarist of 8 years that loves to play as a hobby and perform live on stage. If you're looking for a solid foundation and valuable tips to playing guitar the RIGHT way, visit How To Guitar Play as part of Kyle's popular guitar blog, How To Guitar Tune
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