10 Must Have Guitar Accessories + Care Tips to Take Your Playing to the Next Level
10 Must Have Guitar Accessories + Care Tips to Take Your Playing to the Next Level
Top must-have accessories for your guitar
Hardly without thinking or meaning to I have started adding accessories to Guitarsoline as players have been asking me to search for their favourite products. In this way I now stock over 40 different string options from the two I used for myself until two years ago. So, I thought it was time to share what players have been asking for and that they have found works for them.
A Good Guitar Case
It seems obvious, but one the most important investments you can make is a robust case. It protects your investment and the future re-sale value of your guitar. It’s also worth considering that if damaged, to repair a cracked top will cost $200-$600 and reduce the resale value of your guitar. So, a good case is insurance and future proofing our guitar.
Protection options range from gig bags, foam cases, hard cases, flight cases to carbon, and range. from around $100 to $169 for a robust hard case, to $370 for flight cases and $850 for the latest carbon feather-light cases.
Quality Strings
Quality strings will help you get the best out of your guitar. Changing your strings regularly is a good investment in your playing and will help you get the best tone out of your guitar. While it might seem tedious, the sound is glorious afterwards!
When to change strings? When your guitar sounds dull. Also check if the base strings have worn black over the frets. An inexpensive string winder will really make string changing a cinch and is especially useful if you have multiple guitars or love guitar toys. Check out the electric string winder from Royal Classics https://www.guitarsonline.com.au/cases-stands-accessories/electric-string-winder-stringmster-mve50 It’s made my life in changing strings a breeze.
A Good Guitar Teacher
While not an accessory, a good teacher will be important to help you get the best out of your guitar. Be wary of downloading pieces form the internet and learning them on your own – you could be while developing bad habits which can be hard to rebuild. As teacher of mine used to say “you are practicing our mistakes”.
Polishing and Maintaining Your Guitar
Aside from changing the strings of your guitar very little needs to be done on a day-to-day basis aside from a wipe down after practice so a polishing cloth is a good investment in the care of your guitar.
Care of Lacquer Finishes
This video recommends several products and cleaning processes . Personally, I find that breathing on the guitar and giving it a polish with a soft cloth works well most of the time. When I need to remove dust and grime from the use of my gitano guitar stand, I use Dunlop 45.
French Polish and Nitrocellulose finish
These are very light finishes which allow the top to move and “breathe”. The downside is that they are easily damaged by sweat from you right forearm so you might want to use a cloth or playing sleeve. It is a trade-off between tone and practicality and only you as the player can make the decision that works for you.
On an occasional basis you can gently clean your guitar with a soft cloth or towel. This includes wiping the neck and strings to remove any dirt/sweat after a playing session. When you change strings, wipe down the fingerboard. Avoid vigorous rubbing as you can scratch the delicate French Polish. Note that French polish can take a long while to harden and “set” so may react to the rubber of your guitar stand. The guitar may need to be refinished every 5-10 years.
Matte Finishes
The advantage of a matte finish is that it is immediately warm sounding, and has an organic look many players like complementing the warmth of the performance. Many manufacturers of matte or satin finishes will recommend you stick to cleaning your guitar simply with a clean, damp cloth, and then using a clean dry cloth to finish off. Please note that you cannot restore a matte finish, unless you strip and refinish the guitar.
Which finish is for you?
This depends on what you like and how careful you are prepared to be.
French polish is warm and will give you wonderful sound.
Lacquer is the most durable and if your guitar is made by a craftsman and has undergone the fastidious process of sanding and polishing for 50% of the 3-month building time needed it should sound resonant, generous with a lot of harmonics and resonance in the note.
Matte is warm and resonant.
Accurate and Fast Tuner
There are any number of tuners available via phone apps. Easy to download, they do a great job for little money.
If you want a standalone vibration tuner that is accurate and fast the best of many I have tried so far is the Snark 2.0 and it is rechargeable.
Playing Set-up
· Make sure you have good lighting, which will help keep you fresh and focused
· Comfortable and if possible adjustable seating will help you maintain good posture. I try to keep a 90-degree angle at the knee ,a straight back, relaxed posture and use a Gitano guitar rest at 45-degree angle with eyes level looking forward. This seems to deliver trouble free playing and relaxed performance.
· Ergonomic guitar support: I have tried a number over the years and the one that gives the most relaxing consistent posture is the very small Gitanos stand. Great for the back and posture.
Metronome
While a personal foe of mine, the metronome highlights where you need to spend your practice time.
Good study habits
Regular scheduled practice times – and sticking to them! - will really help with motivation as your make progress. Take short well-timed breaks to keep you fresh and focused.
Solid and Secure Guitar Stand
For $25 you can have a rock-solid stand for your guitar. This is a great investment as it can help prevent damage and puts your guitar in easy reach all the time. I have even found foldable guitar stands you can put into your case.
Music Score Stand
For home use, I prefer the heavy orchestral stands – especially useful as you cannot knock it over as if you need to get up suddenly to answer the phone or go to the door.
I have a bank of three lightweight stands I use - easily collapsible and transportable, they just fit in the bag. I have all stands lit up and set at eye height so that I am not looking up or down; this helps to avoid neck pain or strain.
Nail Kit
I have started stocking nail kits in two versions; A complete nail kit, and an emergency repair kit. Nails are the bug bear of many a guitarist, so emergency artificial guitar nails are often a necessity. Try to give you own nails a chance to grow and rest in-between uses. The feedback on the nails kits has been very good.
Other things to try: In Spain they dip the fingertips and nails in olive oil to nurture the nail. I use nail hardener (Revitanail), and diet is also important. I also have a standalone article on nail case listed separately.
Amplification
Bridge microphone, stick on bugs, plug in preamps and standalone microphones - which are best for nylon string guitars and live performance?
Like strings, religion, or politics everybody has an opinion, and it can be dangerous territory! But I would like to make this short article relevant so I will retell the condensed opinions of the many players and guitar makers I have met over the years.
Standalone Mikes
For tone quality and faithful reproduction of the nylon strong sound, a $6000 Sennheiser performed best in testing. If that is not on the wish list a $500 Rode NT4 stereo microphone performed almost as well for live performance. The downside of the mic is that it also picks up conversation, glasses clinking etc. So, unless you give concerts where the public are behaving themselves, this may not work for you.
Plug-in Internal Amplification
We have installed and tested a number of these over the years in both classical and flamenco guitars. Most are designed for steel and electric guitar amplification so can make you guitar sound electric and harsh, and your careful nuance and tone is lost.
Of the ones we have tried, the Fishman Problend and Flex seem to be the best. They are relatively affordable options featuring plug in preamp with Piezo under saddle as well as internal microphone and blender that render a warm nylon sound and give the player control from the guitar. Convenience, practicality and affordable.
Inexpensive Amplification Solution
Removable under saddle piezo offers trouble free install. One we have found works well is the Royal Classic under saddle piezo - and you do not need to make a hole in your beautiful guitar!
Other options are stick on microphones which are easy to use and cheap. Note that these have a tendency to come unstuck as you move during a gig and can sound a bit harsh unless you find the “sweet spot”.
iPad and Pedal Combos
For those of us who do not practice enough of forget the little we did know easily, I find an iPad loaded with your scores and inexpensive reader synced to a pedal of real benefit, especially in live playing situations. It is fast, efficient, and you cannot lose, forget or drop your paper scores. As a player you will never look back!
Machine Heads
Often overlooked, machine heads are essential to the tuning or your guitar. Guitars can often arrive with a cheaper set that slip or are inaccurate. Also, check the oiling as over time tuner gears can dry out.
I like tuners with bigger gears that allow small micro-turning for accurate tuning. Over the 40–60-year lifespan of a guitar, tuners should be seen almost as a consumable maintained and if need be, changed.
For more detail on any of these just give me a call 0410 708 338 or send me email pierre@guitarsonline.com.au.
Our GuitarsOnline website also has loads more information.
Happy playing!
How Can I Help?
If You Have Questions?
Please give me a call at any time if you have questions about any of our guitars, or if you would like me to offer you some suggestions.
Pierre Herrero
m: 0410 708 338
e: pierre@guitarsonline.com.au
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