Author: Girish

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Guitar Care: Traveling Tips for Protecting Your Instrument

If you are traveling with your guitar, here are some tips on how to protect it.

1) Make sure the case is sturdy. You want a case that can withstand being thrown around or dropped without worrying about your instrument getting damaged. There are many cases made of hard plastic or metal that will do this for you; however, if you would like something softer, there is always leather and fabric options available as well.

2) Include padding in the inside of the case to keep the guitar from moving around too much when transporting it (this also prevents any damage caused by striking other objects). Some people use old clothing they no longer wear because it already has lots of padding built into it, but whatever material you choose, be sure that it is soft enough to not damage your instrument.

3) If you are taking a drive and have the car moving around with bumps, try putting something in between the guitar case and other objects inside of the trunk so they don’t hit each other too hard (you may need more than one object). If this doesn’t work well enough, you can always wrap the guitar case in blankets or pillows for added protection.

4) If you are flying (which is much more dangerous as your guitar will go through a lot of shaking and can get thrown around quite a bit), it’s best to put something soft like clothing between the instrument itself and where it might bump into inside of the case. You can also purchase special “guitar socks” which will help to keep it in place and protect it from scratches or any other minor damage. As a final precaution, you might want to put your guitar in a hardshell case specifically made for air travel – this will give it the most protection if something does go wrong.

In the end, it’s important to be as careful as possible when transporting your guitar. By following these simple tips, you can help ensure that your instrument arrives at its destination in the same condition as when you left. Happy travels!

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Dog Training Tips For Traveling Musicians

An extra security measure for traveling musicians is to make use of dog training tips for traveling musicians. Musicians will feel more secure and comfortable while traveling if they get the assurance that they will have protection from any security problems.

Extra Security Requirements

Traveling musicians can’t ignore the need for this extra security measure as it will put an end to the problem of travelers who suffer from physical or mental problems. It will not only help you to solve your problems related to feeling nervous, or stressed, but it will give you the peace of mind that you are safe while traveling.

Traveling musicians who have been exposed to this problem have been advised by their people to keep a watchful eye on their dogs. It is necessary to train your dog to protect yourself, your family, and your belongings. Let us look at some of how your dog can serve as extra security.

To begin with, training your dog is essential as you will need it to have full control over your dog. The dogs will be vulnerable in front of visitors and there will be an issue if they are not trained. You should be able to give the proper command to your dog to restrict its movement and protect yourself.

The moment you are in a room where visitors are present, it is important that you allow your dog to follow you. You can give commands such as “Follow me”Stay with me.” It is advisable to let your dog move towards your ears.

If you let your dog wander around the room then it might wander off. Another way to keep the dog from wandering off is to give it a treat when it has been guarding the door or the furniture. To ensure that your dog will respond to the command “follow me,” you can use a fake collar or leash.

Dog Training Tips

The leash of your dog should be easily attached to your hands so that it becomes difficult for your dog to escape. For extra security, you can buy a leash that can be snapped. Do not attach the leash to your dog’s neck as it might pose a danger.

When you take your dog to a public place, you should keep the dog under a spot of attention. This will help you to protect yourself from any kind of attack from people or intruders. You might want to consider looking into a GPS collar, which can be very helpful in case they run off. It’s not a bad idea to avoid letting strangers pet your dog when they are young either, as it might lead to a serious problem. You should never walk out with your dog while it is being trained.

The main way to train your dog to follow you is to make it think that it is walking at your side. When it follows you, it should act very obedient so that you can learn how to command your dog properly.

The most important tip for protecting yourself while you are traveling is to train your dog to sit calmly. Your dog should be accustomed to sitting quietly without whining or barking. This will train your dog to be more obedient.

You should teach your dog to act as a protective guard for you even when the dog is left alone. Train your dog to sit at your side while you are busy, and bring it with you as an extra security measure when performing.

Conclusion

Apart from these, there are many other dog training tips for traveling musicians available. It is necessary to learn them to protect yourself and your company while traveling. The more tips you implement for extra security, the safer you’ll be.

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How I Recently Restored A Tired Old Guitar

If you’ve been following me for any amount of time it’s probably quite clear that I love guitars. I mean LOVE guitars. They’re more than just an instrument to me, their also collector’s items and works of art.

Well, I came across a no-name guitar recently that was in rather rough shape. It had some broken machine heads, peeling paint from a poorly done paint job, a scratched up fret board, and basically just needed some all around love. I liked the way it felt in my hands though. It just had the right weight and balance and fit my body so well. It also had a nice shape, and if it were in good condition it could really be a beauty.

As you can tell, I was struck with a vision. So I took it upon myself to see what I could make of this old beauty.

Stripping it Down

The first thing I did was strip the guitar down to it’s body. This meant removing the strings, the machine heads, the pickups, the pots, and all of the supporting wiring for these components. With all of this removed the body was free of any components that could be damaged as I started my work. First I had to get rid of the peeling paint job.

I tried a number of techniques to get this done. A paint scraper was too aggressive, I felt like I was going to damage the body right off the bat. Steel wool seemed to work, but it was impacting the finish beneath the paint so I had to keep thinking. Then I tried using a pressure washer on a gentle setting, and sure enough that did the trick. I’d hesitate to recommend this technique outright, because if you’re not careful with the water you can definitely damage the guitar. That said if you think this is the right way to go, you can get an idea of what size pressure washer you’ll need: https://www.thebestelectricpressurewasher.com/what-size-pressure-washer-do-i-need-to-clean-concrete/. One thing I didn’t get around to trying but also had in mind was using paint stripper, I just didn’t have any on hand.

With the paint removed I turned my attention to the fret board. It was extremely delicate work, but I got some fine grit sandpaper and smoothed out all the scratches. I started off with 300 grit and eventually moved to 500 grit to smooth it out once the scratches were taken care of. I continued with some general cleaning and polishing since I had the guitar dismantled, and once it was all set I started putting the pieces back together

Bringing It Back To Life

With the guitar body all cleaned up, it was time to turn it into a beauty. I replaced the old poorly-applied coat of paint with a fresh coat of stain done right. Once that was dry I put clear coat on to make sure it would last. I also touched up the stain on the fret board – no clear coat required here though, as it just wouldn’t have felt right on the fingers.

Then it was time to put the electrical components back in. There was nothing wrong with the pots, so I just reinstalled them as they were. I took the opportunity to replace the pickups, as the stock pickups were kind of garbage. The guitar was fitted for two strat-style pickups and one humbucker, so that’s what I replaced it with. It took a bit of soldering and patience, but eventually I got everything put together well. In hindsight it would have been better to wait until I’d restrung the guitar so I could actually test out the pickups, but hey, there’s a first time for everything.

The last piece of the puzzle was to replace the machine heads. I picked out a matching set from Amazon and they luckily fit just perfectly with the existing holes. With that in place it was time to put on a fresh set of strings and see how good the seemingly new guitar sounded. Guess what? It sounded fantastic.

When all is said and done I had to ask, was this worth it? Well, since I had a basically brand new guitar I wasn’t complaining. I’m not sure I’d do it again though because it sure was an awful lot of work, and I already have plenty of guitars as it is. That said, it is a beautiful guitar and I’m proud to have it as part of my collection.

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Why Your Music Studio Needs a Futon

When most people think about a music studio set up, they envision the speakers, monitors, mixing board and even an individual loosely holding on to a pair of headphones as they scream into a pop filter. However, what most people never take time to consider is the actual everyday furniture that is needed in the studio. Sure, quality technology is must, but what about the other items necessary to make the area functional for each occupant?

Yes, a top of the line ergonomic chair may be great for listening to playbacks, giving directions and experimenting with Pro Tools, but it is hardly enough to maintain a great working environment. In most cases, a futon or two can make a huge difference in your setting. Let’s discuss a few reasons why your music studio needs a futon.

You Can Keep Your Singers and Musicians Happy

If you enjoy collaborating on your projects, then you know how great it can be to combine your creativity with others. This is especially the case if you’re working with multiple musicians and singers. However, the problem is that if you are working with more than one artist at a time and you would like to record them separately, it will often require a lot of waiting for those who are not in the booth. The best way to keep up the morale in the studio is to offer a futon instead of a chair. In this way, the individuals will feel more laid-back and relaxed, which inevitably makes better music.

You Can Get A Little Rest

It’s no secret, most musicians and engineers do some of their best work in the late night and early morning hours. This is often when inspiration seems to be at its peak. However, once that inspiration starts to wear off and exhaustion starts to fade in, then sleep is inevitable.

The great thing about the futon is that not only does it function as a couch, but also as a bed. This means that you do not have to worry about the long drive home. And even if you have a home studio, you don’t have to worry about the long walk to your bed. Having a futon in your studio ensures that you get the maximum amount of creativity out of your project because you don’t have to worry about finding a bed. You’re practically already in your bedroom.

Listening Parties

One of the best parts about finishing up a new project is letting people hear it for the first time. There are a lot of artists and producers who enjoy throwing huge parties so that they can play their music. However, if you prefer debuting your latest music in the environment in which it was originally created, then you can easily host a listening party in your studio.

The futon will allow your guests to get comfortable while listening to each track. Sure, you could clutter the room with chairs, but many will feel more at home if they are able to relax and listen. A futon is great for providing this type of environment.

The Takeaway

There is nothing more rewarding than making music. It is essentially creating something out of absolutely nothing. And one of the best parts is that you have your own space in which to create any sound you want. However, if you want to get the most out of your time, then you need to make sure that you have the proper setup. While it does require state of the art technology, it also requires comfortable everyday furniture. And luckily, there is nothing more convenient than a futon. It’s perfect for any occasion.