5 Steps (and $9) That Will Save Your Guitar From the Heat

Is your guitar getting too hot (or cold) in storage? Sometimes it’s hard to know.

The optimum temperature to store an acoustic guitar is 70° – 75° F, or 21° – 24° C. Optimum humidity is 40 – 50%.

The general wisdom is that you shouldn’t keep your acoustic guitar in any condition you wouldn’t be comfortable in yourself. If you’d be too hot in that car, so would your acoustic guitar. If you’d be too cold in that garage, so would your acoustic guitar.

Why Does Temperature and Humidity Matter?

The simple answer is that your acoustic guitar is made of wood – an organic material that responds to changes in heat and moisture by expanding and contracting. Extreme temperature changes cause extreme expansions and contractions – this will cause problems in the wood. Cracking, warping, splintering. These are all bad, bad things for the sounds and appearance of your acoustic guitar.

So What’s the Best Way to Store My Acoustic Guitar?

You should store your acoustic guitar in a place that keeps temperature and humidity regulated. Ideally, so that it stays within those 70° – 75° F (21° – 24° C) and 40 – 50% ranges. Now the real question: how do you know if your guitar is getting too hot or cold? Glad you asked.

5 Steps (and $9) That Will Save Your Guitar From the Heat

1. The first step is to store your guitar in a case. Your case will act as the first barrier in regulating the climate.  Soft case, hard case – doesn’t matter.

Need a case? There’s lots to choose from:  Check options here >>

2. Next, buy a ThermPro Indoor Humidity & Temperature Monitor.  This monitor continually monitors the humidity and temperature and displays current data, as well as the highest and lowest points from the last 24 hours.  This last part is the key feature.

Buy ThermPro on Amazon.com >>

3. Take your acoustic guitar out of the case and keep the guitar in a safe place that you know is comfortable (like your bedroom). Stick the ThermPro inside and close it up.

4. Put the guitar case with ThermPro inside in your proposed storage location.

5. Check back every 24 hours for the next couple days and note the temperature highs and lows, and the humidity highs and lows. If the numbers are within (or reasonably close) to the optimum storage range, then bingo! You’re good. If not, time to test a new spot.

If you’re ready to get started, click here to order the ThermPro from Amazon.  It’s one of their bestsellers, so expect to receive it in just a few days.

Note: If you have extreme seasonal differences, you may want to do this exercise several times a year.

---

Further Reading:

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Guitar/Guitar_Maintenance_and_Storage

http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?24783-Best-Temperature-Range-To-Keep-Your-Guitars-Around

http://www.dawsons.co.uk/blog/safe-humidity-and-temperature-levels-for-guitars

The post 5 Steps (and $9) That Will Save Your Guitar From the Heat appeared first on The Guitar Journal.

Top 5 Places for Online Acoustic Blues Guitar Lessons

Acoustic blues guitar lessons are partially a study in history.  That’s because acoustic blues goes back as far as the early 1900’s with players like Robert Johnson (the granddaddy of acoustic blues), Lead Belly, and Big Bill Broonzy.  It doesn’t stop there, though.  There’s a legion of other players that have defined the genre; folks like Blind Blake, Muddy Waters, and Mississippi John Hurt.  And, of course, many modern players have carried on the tradition:  Eric Clapton, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Taj Mahal.

Playing acoustic blues remains so much fun today because it has a distinctive sound that instantly grabs listeners.  It incorporates both rhythm and lead playing.  And it sounds great both as a solo player or in a group.

You can get started in just a a few lessons, and then take years to explore the possibilities.

So let’s get started.  How do you learn this style of playing?  Here’s some options:

 1. Orville Johnson on JamPlay

JamPlay is a solid, go-to option for online guitar lessons and they have several video series that focus on acoustic blues.  This series by Orville Johnson will first get you’re fingerpicking chops in order, then walk you through acoustic blues riffs, including chords, turnarounds, and song tutorials.

PREVIEW LESSONS >>

2. TrueFire

TrueFire has a large number of guitar lessons, with many dedicated to acoustic blues.

Get $30 off your first purchase by clicking here, then searching “acoustic blues guitar” to find a daunting selection of course options.

SEARCH LESSONS >>

3. Blues Guitar Institute

John Hatcher offers the Blues Guitar Institute, a dedicated site for blues guitar lessons.  He has a variety of lessons that address not only blues guitar specifics, but general fretboard knowledge, musicality, and performance.  His lessons could do with a bit more “meat” and bit less talking, but overall there’s good stuff here.

PREVIEW LESSONS >>

4. Jim Bruce on Udemy

Jim Bruce will teach you some old school acoustic blues in the style of Big Bill Broonzy, Willie McTell, and more.  His courses on the Udemy teaching site have been viewed extensively with good review.

PREVIEW COURSE >>

5. Blues Guitar Unleashed

The Blues Guitar Unleashed site has a host of blues guitar lessons available – electric and acoustic.  To check out the acoustic blues guitar lessons, go to the course catalog page and scroll down.  You’ll see options for Acoustic Blues Guitar Unleashed, Delta Blues, Front Porch Blues, etc.

PREVIEW LESSONS >>

BONUS: Orville Johnson with Bottleneck Blues

If you’re looking for acoustic slide blues guitar, JamPlay has a specific video series covering that by the same Orville Johnson:

PREVIEW LESSONS >>

 

More Articles:

5 Places to Get Modern Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons Online

Got some other suggestions for online acoustic blues guitar lessons?  Let us know in the comments below!

 

The post Top 5 Places for Online Acoustic Blues Guitar Lessons appeared first on The Guitar Journal.

The Top 6 Best Acoustic Guitar Amps

I’ve used an acoustic guitar amp in a lot of settings:  concerts, weddings, churches, and just at home practicing. Acoustic guitar amps have come a long way in the last 20 years thanks to improved technology, specifically the ability to both warm up and make your acoustic sound “natural” with software.

Why would you want an acoustic guitar amp?

An acoustic guitar, after all, is supposed to be… acoustic, right? If you’re playing with a band, the reality is that you need and amp in order to be heard.  And even if you’re playing at home or in a very small venue, it provides a certain set of benefits.  For example:

• Apply tasteful effects, especially reverb.
• Use a looper device.
• Even out volume between strumming and fingerpicking by use of a compressor.
• Hear yourself the way the audience hears you.  (After all, when you hold an acoustic guitar, the soundhole is facing away from you.  You hear the side noise, so to speak.)

There’s also a benefit to practicing with an amp because it trains you for the dynamics of a stage. It can be spooky to go from playing in a room unamplified, straight onto a stage through a PA. Suddenly everything is larger than life. Using an amp can prep you for this psychological component of performance.

So which amp to use? There are lots to choose from, thankfully. Here are the top 6 best acoustic guitar amps to check out.

Top 6 Acoustic Guitar Amps:

1. AER Alpha 40W 1×8 Acoustic Guitar Combo Amp –

Power: 40 Watts
Speaker Size: 8”
Weight: 18.9 lbs
Best For: Performance, small/medium venues, monitoring, band practice alongside drums and guitar amps.

I’ve used an AER amp for acoustic guitar for over a decade.  They are the most true, versatile, rugged, and powerful amps for acoustic guitar.  Don’t be fooled by the 40W power rating, this amp gives you a big bang for your buck. AER just hits the sweet spot for amplifying acoustic instruments with authenticity and flexibility.  Can’t recommend them highly enough.

>> Check Price on Amazon

 

 

2. Fishman Loudbox Artist –

Power: 120 Watts
Speaker Size: 8”
Weight: 25.5 lbs
Best For: Performance, small/medium venues, band practice alongside drums and guitar amps.

Fishman is known for making the industry standard pickups that acoustic guitarists prefer.  It makes sense that they also make a top-of-the-line acoustic guitar amp.  The 120-watt Fishman Loudbox Artist is an amplifier that hits all the marks – it’s loud, crystal clear, multi-channel, portable, versatile, and boasts an impressive effects section.

>> Check Price on Amazon

 

3. Fishman Loudbox Mini –

Power: 60 Watts
Speaker Size: 6.5”
Weight: 19.7 lbs
Best For: Performance, small venues, monitoring, band practice alongside a quieter band

If you want the Fishman quality without quite as much horsepower, check out the Fishman Loudbox Mini.  Along with the decreased power, there are a few less channels and options for effects.  But sometimes simplicity is just what you’re looking for.  This is highly recommended for small gigs and houses of worship.

>> Check Price on Amazon

 

4. Marshall AS50D –

Power: 50 Watts
Speaker Size: 2 x 8”
Weight: 35.3 lbs
Best For: Performance, small venues, monitoring, band practice alongside a quieter band

Marshall enters the world of acoustic guitar amps with some solid contenders. The next one down our list, and the favorite in the 30-50 watt range is the Marshall AS50D. The AS50D is often compared to the Fishman Loudbox Mini – they’re within 10 watts of each other, have similar features, and they’re priced similarly.

>> Check Price on Amazon

 

5. Fender Acoustasonic 15 –

Power: 15 Watts
Speaker Size: 6”
Weight: 10.5 lbs (4.76 kg)
Best For: Very small venues, home studio, solo practice, monitoring

Fender has been known for having a solid line of acoustic guitar amps.  The Fender Acoustisonic 15 is a prime example, with reliability, quality and a good-looking design.  The price tag is low, along with the power rating.  This makes it ideal for practice, small venues, and at-home use.  Of course, if you’re running through a PA as well, then the small size makes it perfect for hoofing between gigs.

>> Check Price on Amazon

 

6. Yamaha THR5A –

Power: 10 Watts
Speaker Size: 2 x 3”
Weight: 4.4 lbs
Best For: Very small/intimate venues, home studio, solo practice, recording

The Yamaha THR5A is the smallest, lightest and most portable amp on the list. For it’s size, it’s a versatile and powerful amp with really great tone.  It also has a battery power option. Check out some of the reviews on Amazon to get a sense of the enthusiasm for this fun little amp.

>> Check Price on Amazon

What acoustic guitar amp do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The Top 6 Best Acoustic Guitar Amps appeared first on The Guitar Journal.