| Classical guitars are reasonably durable and easy | | | | One of the biggest concerns you should have is |
| to care for but they are musical instruments that | | | | the risk of accidental breakage of the neck or |
| are carefully assembled from exotic woods; and | | | | tuning head of your guitar. One fall, even from |
| there are some basic rules of care you should | | | | ground level can break it literally in half and to |
| follow to insure your guitar gives you many | | | | avoid this you should always be aware of how |
| decades of outstanding sound and performance. | | | | you keep your instrument around the house. I |
| Here are some simple guidelines. | | | | recommend you never lean it against a wall. You |
| Instruments are predominantly from wood of | | | | should always keep it in some kind of a stand |
| varying types, and wood, being a living breathing | | | | when not being used. And if you have a lot of |
| thing, can be very strongly affected by changes | | | | foot traffic, or small children in your home, you |
| in both temperature and humidity. This is because | | | | should probably put it on a wall mount stand which |
| different types of wood will expand and contract | | | | will keep it up and out of the way. If you are |
| at different rates with temperature or humidity | | | | going to store it on a floor stand be sure to keep |
| changes. This expansion and contraction can | | | | it in a corner of a room, and away from |
| adversely affect the performance of your | | | | doorways and foot traffic. One fall off a stand |
| instrument or even make it unplayable. | | | | can break the neck of the guitar and render it |
| To avoid any problems from temperature or | | | | useless. |
| humidity you should always store your classical | | | | Oils and dirt from your hands and fingers can |
| guitar in your home in a moderate temperature. | | | | have an adverse affect on the strings and wood |
| Never store it in the attic, basement, or some | | | | of the guitar and I recommend you change the |
| other place that is not climate controlled. This is | | | | strings every three months as a minimum and |
| usually not a concern if you are playing the guitar | | | | every month if you play it on a daily basis. And |
| on a regular basis but if you plan on putting it | | | | when you have removed the old strings you |
| away for long periods of time find a place in your | | | | should take a little time to inspect the instrument, |
| home to store it. | | | | fretboard, and tuning pegs for any signs of |
| When transporting your guitar be aware of | | | | problems. And before re-stringing it be sure to |
| changes in temperature and humidity. Keep it with | | | | wipe it down gently with a soft, lint free cloth. |
| you inside the car, don't transport it in the trunk, | | | | And never use any type of furniture polish on |
| particularly if the weather outside is unusually cold | | | | your guitar. Only use cleaning solutions specifically |
| or unusually warm. And when it has arrived at a | | | | designed guitars. You can get them at any |
| new destination open the case and allow it to | | | | instrument shop for only a few dollars. |
| adjust to the new environment for at least an | | | | Caring for a classical guitar is not a hard thing to |
| hour before tuning and playing it. I also | | | | do but there are a few common sense guidelines |
| recommend that you don't use a soft-shelled case | | | | to remember and if you follow these guidelines |
| when transporting it. You should keep it in a | | | | you can expect your instrument to continue giving |
| hard-shelled case. This will help prevent damage. | | | | you its best sound for a many years to come. |