In this article, I will pass along some of the more significant things I have learned over the years about what to do and what not to do with, for, and about fretted instruments. Most of you are into guitars, so I will use guitars as examples throughout.

It is more important than most people think to be careful with a guitar. This doesn't mean babying your instrument and tucking it in every night, but there are a few sensible rules that should be religiously followed.

Avoid extreme temperture changes. No one says that you can't take your guitar into bright sunlight or play it in the cellar, but don't try to rectify its condition by immediately exposing it to an extreme opposite. I once built a guitar for a friend who didn't think twice about leaning it against the airconditioner over night. This was right after it sat on the back seat of his car all day, sans case, in mid-July. I couldn't begin to tell you about the tears that were shed the following day.