Classical guitars have thin tops and light bracing, which is part of their warm sound. It also means they respond quickly to changes in humidity and temperature. Good storage protects both the guitar and the strings. After each session:
- Wipe the strings and the fingerboard edge with a dry microfiber cloth to remove oils.
- Wipe fingerprints off the top and back.
- Put the guitar in its case, or on a stand in a safe spot if you play every day.
Where to keep it:
- Away from heat and drafts. Radiators, heating vents, air conditioners and sunny windows dry the wood or change its temperature quickly.
- Inside the room, not against outside walls, which run colder and damper.
- Off the floor in busy areas, where stands get bumped.
- In the case when the air is very dry or very damp. A case slows changes down, and a case humidifier helps in dry seasons.
Strings at pitch: for daily playing and short breaks, leave classical strings tuned. Frequent detuning and retuning makes nylon keep stretching. For long storage of several weeks or more, lowering each string a little is a reasonable precaution. Watch for signs of dry air, like sharp fret ends along the side of the neck, and adjust your storage before they get worse.
Our Premium Microfiber Polish Cloth (GP-PLC) is in Instrument Care, and Classits sets are in Classical Strings.