Storing instruments through a New York winter
Steam heat, dry air and what it does to a neck. Humidity targets, where not to put a stand, and whether to slacken strings.
Picks: material, thickness and what each one does
Why thickness changes tone more than material does, what celluloid gives you, and why a variety pack is the only sensible first purchase.
Straps and buttons: the one failure that drops an instrument
Why straps come off the button rather than breaking, what width and material change over a long set, and the cheap fixes that work.
Bass strings: gauge, winding and what each change does
Roundwound against flatwound, what a heavier gauge really changes, and why a string change sometimes means a setup.
Wall mounts: what the neck actually rests on
Fixing into studs, why the hanger padding matters more than the bracket, and whether hanging by the headstock is safe.
Guitar stands and racks: how many instruments, and where
Single stands, multi-racks and what actually keeps an instrument safe in a room people walk through. Capacity, footprint and finish contact.