Essential Accessories for Classical Guitarists
One of the things that I always loved about the classical guitar is its simple nature. We can practically make music anywhere; all we need is somewhere to sit, good nails, and a decent guitar. Oh boy, was I wrong?
It turns out that a fresh strings and a bunch of scores are not enough. Here are some essential accessories for the classical guitarist.
Take your guitar and play anywhere you want.
Humidity Control
Fine guitars are very delicate instruments, drastic changes in the temperature and humidity can damage them, and even subtle non-ideal climate conditions in prolonged exposure can negatively affect your guitar.
You don’t have to live in a desert for your guitar to get dried out.
I guess that you already have a nice hardshell case to keep your guitar inside when you are not practising, this would keep it safe to some extent but is not enough. Unless you live in a perfectly stable environment, average in every possible way, you need to make sure that your guitar feels comfortable. That means around 45%-50% relative humidity level in room temperature.
If you have a humidifier/dehumidifier in your room, and never travel with your guitar, then you are fine. With no small kids or pets, you can also keep your guitar on a stand. For the rest of us who travel for concerts, lessons, or holidays, the constant and sometimes harsh humidity changes can harm the instruments.
The D'Addario Humidipak keeps my guitars in a perfect condition.
After trying a few different options, I've been using the D'Addario Humidipak Maintain System for a couple of years; it gives me peace of mind even when I travel to Greece. It comes with two cloth pouches for the case and inside the instrument, and three humidifying packs; one for the headstock and two for the soundhole.
They should last around four months, but depending on where you live, it can take up to a year for them to dry out. If you live in a dry environment, the first pack will get stiff quicker than that.
Tip - When you play keep them in your case, and remember to close it tightly. This habit will make sure of maintaining the ideal conditions inside your case and will keep the humidifying packs healthier for longer.
You can also combine it with the D’Addario Humiditrack to monitor any humidity and temperature changes of your instruments for additional mental calmness.
Tip - This summer, I brought a few dried out humidifying packs to Greece, and after being exposed for a couple of weeks in the high humidity levels of a seashore town, they recharged and became as good as new.
Keep it clean.
Keeping it Clean
The D’Addario Micro-Fiber cloth takes care of polishing my guitars.
Dust, sweat, and finger oils are some of the worst enemies of a beautifully applied finish on a guitar. I prefer not to apply chemicals to my guitars myself; I leave it to my luthier to take care of things like that. But for regular cleaning, I use two D’Addario Micro-Fiber polishing cloths; one for wiping down the strings and neck after playing and one for cleaning the top, back and sides every few days.
Be gentle, and always apply circular wiping motion. If you live in a hot environment and sweat a lot or wear short sleeve t-shirts, you should wipe down the guitar every day.
My Lens Dust Blower takes care of everything.
Tip - Before wiping down your guitar with the micro-fiber cloth, you may want to remove some larger dust particles first that may scratch the top, I use a camera lens dust blower for that. Actually, I use it to blow dust out of almost every piece of equipment.
In case there is a dirty spot that doesn't go away with a simple wiping, wet the cloth slightly with water, apply the wet cloth on the area that needs to be cleaned, then buff away moisture with the dry part of the cloth (or another cloth).
Tip - These cloths are very sturdy and should last many years. If dirt accumulates, you can wash them in warm water, just don't use any detergent or softener.
Changing Strings
A fresh set of strings can bring life and joy to our faces. But, changing strings is the necessary evil; nobody likes to do it.
Tuning machines heads.
Depending on the string type, I usually change strings on my guitar(s) every three to four weeks. Sometimes a little more than that if I don't have any serious session coming up, sometimes less than that If I have concerts and recordings. So, if you have a few guitars, changing strings can take up a lot of time, mostly winding and unwinding tuning pegs.
Tip - When you change strings, replace them one by one to keep the tension on the fretboard.
I still remember the revelation of using a string winder for the first time, some fifteen years ago. This invention matches that of the wheel, so simple, yet it transforms the life of a guitarist. Hyperboles aside, changing string with one can make the process a breeze.
D'Addario String Winder is a godsend tool.
Tip - Unwind the string, then cut it in the middle when it is somewhat loose. This habit will speed up things even more.
I use the D'Addario String Winder because as on top of the winding abilities, it is also a string cutter, and a bridge pin puller for all you that double as steel stringers.
Tip - Cut that excess stings that fly all over the headstock, not only they look ugly, but they can produce buzzing and other unwanted vibrations.
Small things can make a difference in keeping our instruments as healthy as possible. And although at first, some might seem inconvenient, they can easily become habits and you won't have to think about them ever again.
I hope that this article is helpful for you, let me know in the comments if there is something I forgot to mention.
Disclaimer - This article might seem to be sponsored by D'addario, but I assure you it is not. I purchased these products myself with my own money, and have been using them for many years.
