Now that you have decided on your new second guitar, please make sure it has a good strong case. The temptation is to always buy a soft gig bag. Going back and forth from gig to gig or rehearsal may be practical with a gig bag, but a hard-shell case is always a better way to go when it comes to storing the instrument when you're not playing it. This is especially true for acoustic guitars. Hard-shell acoustic guitar cases are made out of plywood. Their strength comes in three-ply and the stronger (and heavier) five-ply cases. The five-ply cases usually have an arched top lid for added strength. There are also cases manufactured using an injection-molding process and special fiberglass polymers. These cases are usually black and light in weight, but very sturdy. They may sometimes be less expensive than the wood cases because they can be churned out more quickly in the manufacturing process.

In addition to a guitar case, you may need these other guitar accessories: a guitar strap, extra strings, extra picks, capo (a device that allows you to change the key of your guitar by clamping down certain strings), slide (for a slide guitar), humidifier, guitar stand, and a guitar maintenance kit that includes guitar polish, polishing cloths, and special cleaning fluids for the fingerboard and strings.

All hard-shell cases have a liner inside of them called high pile and low pile. This is the fuzzy velvet-feeling material that protects the surface of the instrument. Under the pile is foam that helps protect the instrument from shock. A good case should have at least four latches to lock the case lid securely with the body. The handle on the case should be strong as well. If you purchase a five-ply case, make sure the handle is not a soft one. It should be strong enough to keep the guitar balanced.