The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #4251   Message #23418
Posted By: Paul Stamler
10-Mar-98 - 03:00 AM
Thread Name: Advice please about types of Guitars
Subject: RE: Advice please about types of Guitars
Well, it sounds like you chose a guitar that will do many things well; congratulations. A couple of thoughts now that you've got it:
1) For the first little while you may want to try silk and steel extra-light strings, until your fingers get stronger and a little more callused.
2) If the instrument has a solid top, buy a humidifier and follow the instructions. I use one of the ones made of surgical tubing that looks like a marital aid. You'd be surprised how much better an instrument sounds when the wood isn't all dried out. Less likely to crack over the years, too.
3) An interesting tuning method, using an electronic tuner, is to tune using the "A" notes on several of the strings. To wit: tune the 1st (high E) string so that the A note at the fifth fret is in tune; tune the second string so the D note at the third fret is in tune; tune the third string so the A note at the second fret is in tune; tune the fourth string so the A *harmonic* at the seventh fret is in tune; tune the fifth string so the A harmonic at the fifth fret is in tune. Finally, tune the low E string so the G note at the third fret is in tune with the open third string -- tune this one by ear. For about 80% of the guitars I've worked with, this is more accurate than tuning the open strings.
Enjoy! Paul