Protecting The Sound of Your Guitar

Your guitar is more than an instrument; it is your friend. It is your expensive, yet fragile, friend. Do not make the novice mistake of caring for your guitar improperly. Humidity is one of the quickest ways to damage a guitar’s shape and sound. Practice caution by paying close attention to humidity in the area in which you store your guitar.

Handcrafted guitars are comprised of very thin pieces of wood, which deteriorate dramatically when exposed to humidity. Moisture causes a guitar’s size and shape to alter. When it swells or shrinks, the structure of the body morphs and the adhesive components weaken, ultimately ruining the sound quality.

Be a true friend to your guitar and browse through this list of telltale signs that your guitar has suffered. If you notice one or more things on this list, it is time to seek repair or replacement.

• The top appears warped, large or swollen.

• The backs and sides have distorted from their original shape.

• Fret buzzing in the high registers (as fret board rises with the top)

• Distorted back and sides

• The guitar is won’t tune properly, leaving the sounds muffled and low

• The Fret Board emits a buzzing sound

• The Fret Board lifts up from the base