It's nice to know that we have the exact same principles. 1) Every guitar should be in "playing condition" is KEY (each of my 15 guitars are full set-up'd by a pro luthier). You can grab anything at anytime without issues. 2) Low impact human contact (i don't sweat too)😅 Each guitar is covered with a thick cloth to protect from humidity. 3) Visual inspection and playing (I "rotate" playing each. One guitar per day depending on the tuning, so each is maintained weekly). Maybe the only thing I disagree with you is the "string change" length. Because if your playing style is heavy picking and you play a lot. In a few weeks or even days, you can really notice the "dull" and "muddy" tone coming from the guitar, even with great effects and amp due to string wear, I tried disregarding it for the sake of saving money and time changing strings, but it's really noticeable. No amp tweaking or effects setting can cover the annoying sound of a dull string. So if you play daily, It's a MUST to change strings every 5 to 6 months MAX if you want a really good "bright" clear tone. Cheers!👌
I have come to the conclusion that there are some guitars that are better being stored outside of the case. There are a lot of older Gibson guitars where gas from deteriorating pick guards destroyed hardware finishes. I also feel that some nitro cellulose finishes need air and feel better when not stored in a case.
I gig weekly and practice everyday. For me and how I operate, having a special room wouldn’t work. I rotate through all the guitars I own. If it doesn’t have a functioning use, I just can’t justify keeping it. One day I hope to own three max. Everyone’s situation is different. Enjoy those guitars!!! You’ve earned it
For those of you in colder areas a whole house humidifier was a game changer for me. No need to buy humidity packs and no need to change water every day in a humidifier. It really is great. I set it at 45 all winter and it stays perfect.
This is the video I’ve been hoping you’d make since I followed your channel early on. Thanks! I had a feeling this was more or less what you had to be doing, but some confirmation of it is nice to see. A big portion of keeping guitars at optimal performance is climate control, coated strings, and generally being kind to one’s instruments. Problem is, climate control gets tricky in places like NYC where half the year is super dry and the other half is far too humid, especially where acoustics are concerned. In this day and age, every guitar manufacturer should install CF reinforcing in every guitar neck too - that’s a huge help too. I’d love to know how to pick the type of Humidipack both for acoustic and electric - maybe you can talk about those some more some time. Even D’addario and Boveda don’t make it clear how to know whether to use the type that removes moisture or the other pack that maintains it.
I wash my hands before playing. I keep the expensive ones in their case when not in use. I wipe them down with a microfiber cloth before putting them away. For strings, I look for sales on 10-packs. Musician's Friend often offers a deal of the day on strings, so I buy them then.
I have over 100 guitars and I agree with everything you’re saying. I would add, always store them on interior facing walls, and keep them off the floor as much as possible. Most of my guitar cases are on shelves, stored upright. You are right about not changing strings. It is more of a superstition or myth that they go bad just by sitting. Like you, my hands don’t sweat. Rick Beato says the same thing: rarely changes his strings because his hands don’t sweat. Brian Setzer doesn’t change them because he prefers the tone of broken in strings. I do my own set ups, so that costs nothing. The big expense is having an extra room to keep them in.
Mohan, great channel! A suggestion…one of my favorite parts of being a player/ collector/ gigging musician, was when I made the decision to become a mid level luthier. When I get GAS, sometimes I retrieve an instrument, that I haven’t played for awhile, and do a complete setup, maybe change the pickups/pickguard, knobs, etc…and “Shop in my own closet”, so to speak! My suggestion is to uses your own format, RU-vid, and develop the skills. If I can do it, and they can do it…You can do it! Cheers.
I live in coastal US south. My guitars and other stringed toys stay on 18 wall hooks (my self imposed space limit). There is some variation but with central AC I may only need to adjust a truss rod very occasionally. I change strings as needed, but not as often as many, like you only when tone degrades. When I do need to adjust or restring, I do a full cleaning and polish, oil the fretboard, check for loose screws and tuners, check for raised frets and just put it back in showroom condition. I do my own setups and repairs, so when something comes into the house, new or used, I let it hang for a few weeks to acclimate and then do a full setup. I watch for deals on strings, buy 10-packs or bulk 25 set shop packs. DR Blues and GHS David Gilmour for electrics and Earthwood or Martin Phosphor Bronze on acoustics. Not a fan of coated strings, they sound a bid off to me sometimes. As to your Martin OM28 problems, I have a 2019 OMC16e. Some Martins from a few years (90's?) had binding glue problems. I owned a 000M from that time and had to reglue the binding on the whole body. IIRC it was most common on the 'tortoise shell' style binding, which mine had.
every time i pick my guitar off the wall hanger its way more out of tune than if i left it in a rack or even just leaning against a wall. i live in texas and the weather is crazy so it might be because poor climate control
In the tropics, a dehumidifier is indispensable. Quite inexpensive to run even when on all day every day. However, since my guitars are all around my living space, I can't afford to keep the air-conditioning on 24/7. As for strings and such, I'll find some excuse to bring it to a shop to get them changed.
Hi, I need a guitar advice. I’m looking to buy a guitar in 50k-70k inr range. As you always say, this might be considered budget range in developed countries, but here in India it’s kind of a big deal. I have two choices : 1) get an entry level PRS SE series guitar 2) get a really high end Cort guitar (G300 pro, X700 duality). I’m not worried about the resale price as much, even though a PRS would have a clear advantage there. Other than that, is jt worth going for a cort in this price range? You get high end features like SS frets, 1/4 inch maple cap, Seymour Duncan/Fishamn open core pickups.
It's hard to control the climate of a room when one lives in a country/state where temperatures range from -35 to +35C and RH from 5 to 100%... So, I need to completely adjust my 10 guitars - my self-imposed limit - at least twice a year. 😛. But I do like tinkering around them (adjusting, swapping electronics, changing string types), so no big deal.
I change the strings on all of my guitars about once every 3 weeks I'll pick a day every week and do 2 guitars. I have 6 electrics..so it is a good rotation. I don't know how you play with such old strings. Not only do they sound dull, but they feel gross under your fingers..and they eventually start to cause tuning issues. But unlike you, I am one of the unlucky guys with toxic sweat.
yeah I think I'm lucky that between the climate control and my lack of sweat, the strings feel as good as new. when I changed tunings a few time, I actually felt bad removing what felt like very new strings
Because D’addario XT and XS are far superior! If you’re gonna use a coated string, XT or XS is the way to go. They are consistent, don’t get hairy, and aren’t too slick like Elixirs. XT feels like naked strings, XS feel slightly slick. Both are coated NYXL. I play hard and have never broken and XT or XS string. I prefer XT on acoustic and XS on electric. Every time I try another brand, I come right back to D’addario XT and XS.
@@MashaT22 They're excellent, but definitely not superior. Regular uncoated strings last me maybe a week before dying. XT or XS last about a month or 2 for me. During my summer and winter vacations, I go through a full setup and string change of all my guitars and the Elixirs don't even need changing, but I do it anyway. The Nanowebs do get hairy so I don't use those except for acoustic. I've never had hairiness on the Polyweb or Optiweb strings but I'm sure aggressive playing or metal plectrums might break up the coating. I wasted a bunch of money on over 2 dozen sets cause internet tribesmen swear that the D'addario XT and XSs are better. I tried my best to like them and put up with them for almost 2 years until I cycled them out for Elixirs once again. But the good thing is that if for whatever reason I can't find Elixirs, the D'addarios are the next best thing. Other than those 2 brands though, I'd rather not waste my time.
@@MashaT22I have some Elixirs now on my LP. In my head I’m dying to change them for the XT pack I have. But even as they are getting dull, it has this feel to it I’m starting to like. I don’t want to regret changing those strings. I stare at that XT pack every single day. lol
I actually pay for my own guitar hobby by doing maintenance, repairs, and regular string changes for local gigging musicians, I do set ups for $35 each and undercut every shop and tech in my area. I'm going to start aiming for collectors soon, but for now I'm getting as many repeat clients as possible. Of course I'm biased, but if you're serious about playing, and aren't handy with tools, it's worth paying someone to take care of your investments for you. Think of it as an oil change or transmission service for your car, you already paid for the investment, you might as well pay a little extra to take care of it, and keep it functional and valuable.
I mean that is a joke. it's literally a *single* screw to install a strap lock. I can't imagine paying a tech to do nothing more than turn a screwdriver and then going online to tell people you don't need to change your strings.
So that's 80×$200 for straplocks? Come on? It's a $20 dollar part. It doesn't cost $180 bucks to have straplocks installed. I must have missed something? You only have them "perfessonally" installed, on certain guitars? I couldn't afford to buy strings and straplocks for my guitars at that rate. And I only have 10 guitars. I must be a cheap bastard? I pay $5.50 a set for strings, and $20 for Schaller straplocks.
