I was performing last week and I happened to be playing on an elevated stage that was floored with 2 x 4′s.  There was a slight gap between all the boards and in the middle of a song I broke a string and the bridge pin popped out, sailed through the air, and as fate would have it, it fell between the cracks, into the dark oblivion under the stage.  Now who ever thinks of carrying extra bridge pins around?  Well hears a little trick for you.  Take a small piece of stage tape and tape an extra bridge pin on the outside of your guitar strap.

Stay tuned for more tricks of the trade!

Bill Dutcher

Well…there are some little “tweaks” you can do to “hot-rod” your acoustic and I’m here, today, to share those with you!

Bone Saddle and Bone Nut:  Most mid-line production guitars come with a plastic saddle and nut.  Replacing them with bone will dramatically improve the tone.  Bone is much more dense than plastic and helps transmit the vibrations much more effectively.

Wooden Bridge Pins:  Mid-line production guitars usually have plastic bridge pins.  Replacing them with wooden pins will again, increase the sound and sustain.

Tuning Machines:  A majority of my original compositions are in open tunings and I’m constantly changing the tunings, according to the song I’m playing.  I’ve been a big fan of locking tuners since their development and I HIGHLY recommend them.  These type of tuners eliminate the need to wrap the string several times around the string post.  This is where slippage occurs.  Locking tuners enable you to pull the string all the way tight to the point that once locked down, you’ll only need to turn the tuner a few times to bring the string into pitch.

“Wanna See My G-String”?  Don’t get any crazy ideas!  What I’m talking about is the G-string of the guitar!  Most sets of acoustic strings use a .024 or .026 wound string for the G-string.  Try using a .022 guage instead.  Yes, this means you’ll have to buy one when you buy a set of strings but after swapping it out you’ll be amazed on how much easier it is to bend notes on that string!

Custom String Gauges:  Alot of manufacturers offer custom gauge sets of strings.  Try using the bottom three strings from a set of medium guage strings and the top three strings from a set of light gauge strings.  You’ll have the best of both world’s!  You’ll have a nice fat low-end for your chords and you’ll have the ease and comfort of being able to bend the high notes on the top three strings.

Have Fun!

Distortion pedals are great for electric guitar but are somewhat problematic when trying to use them on acoustic guitars, depending on what type of pickup you use.  If you wish to try one, it will work best with a magnetic sound hole pickup or an under-the-saddle piezo type pickup.  You’ll have to experiment!  If you have a microphone in the guitar, forget it.

Get out there and try as much of these as you can.  Chances are you’ll find something that sparks your interest!

Most instruments are built in controlled enviornments at the factory with humidity levels around 40%.  Manufactures built certain models in large quantities and ship them all over the world.  Each area may have different temperature and humidity levels.  In an effort to keep the levels as similar as possible as the factory you should monitor the humidity in your home by using a digital hydrometer in the same area that you store your guitar.  Also, keep a humidifier in the instrument while keeping it in the case.  I find it difficult to keep the levels as close to 30% during the dry months and have to keep checking every 2-3 days to re-fill the internal humidifiers.  Check with your local music store as to what make and models of humidifiers will fit in your guitar.  Also, remember that too much humidity can hurt just as much as not having enough.

TSA polices and procedures differ from that of airlines.  Print a copy of this letter TSA Carry On letter  Carry one with you and keep another in your guitar case.  If confronted by a TSA agent that says you can’t bring your guitar, smile and show them the letter!

Now you’re through TSA and you’re waiting at the gate.  Two things can happen.  If flight attendant at the ticket counter is having a good day you might get lucky and be able to get the guitar on the plane in the over-head storage area.  If this is you, stop reading and enjoy your vacation.

If not, you’ll be told that the guitar will be tagging and ‘gate checked’ which means you’ll walk down to the plane door and set it with the strollers and wheelchairs.  An baggage attendant will hand-carry it down to the cargo hold.  This is WAY BETTER than checking the guitar curbside!  Don’t ever do it!  Make sure to note that here are two colors of tags, yellow and pink.  Make sure to ask which color designates that the guitar will be brought back up with the stollers and wheelchairs once you reach your destination.  If you get the other color it will go through regular baggage.

Some people loosen strings, some do not.  As long as the guitar is firmly seated in the case and does not move, you should be fine.  I tend to stuff a sock around the headstock of the guitar.  Some debate that if the guitar is in the unpressurized baggage area under string tension, it can suffer.  If I have to check the guitar in the cargo area and not in the plane with me, I will loosen the strings.  The important thing to remember is to not open the case right after getting off the plane.  Let it aclimate for about an hour before opening the case.

Following these simply steps can really reduce the stress level for you while flying.  Good luck and happy vacation!