Martin Keith

Ask the Expert: Can I Use Medium Strings on My Prewar Martin?

Will using medium strings on a 1936 Martin D-18 put too much pressure on the the instrument over time? Ask the Expert.

acoustic guitar sound hole humidity hygrometer

How to Take Care of Your Guitar in a Very Humid Environment

For those living in an overly humid environment, acoustic guitars can take on serious damage from the air around them. Here's how to take care of guitars in an extremely humid environment.

closeup of an acoustic guitar fretboard and a tape measure being used to measure scale length

Ask the Expert: Understanding Acoustic Guitar Scale Length

Here's a guide to understanding scale length on acoustic guitars, an often overlooked design variable that has a big impact on the sound and feel of the guitar.

Can a Budget Guitar Be Transformed into Something Better?

How can you improve a budget guitar? This is a simple question with a complicated answer. To really tackle the subject, we’ll have to let's consider a few different areas.

Ask the Expert: Sound Advice for Making a Living in Lutherie

Perhaps above all, I’d recommend starting right away by finding some inexpensive broken guitars and trying to repair them. Often, people are happy to give them away

Balancing Act: How the Weight of Acoustic Guitar Bodies and Necks Affect Tone

Balance between the neck and body of an acoustic guitar is important to the sound and playability of the instrument.

collage showing three different packages of nylon guitar strings

Ask the Expert: What’s the Deal with Nylon Strings?

Guitar repair expert Martin Keith explains the differences between steel and nylon guitar strings and shares some useful terminology.

Finding and Fixing Rattles and Buzzes on Acoustic Guitars

Here is an end-to-end approach for for finding and fixing those annoying rattles and buzzes on your acoustic guitar.

close up of how to restring an acoustic guitar

Try This Simple Trick to Restring Your Acoustic Guitar with Ease

All guitarists have one thing in common: we eventually need to change our strings. Here's how to restring an acoustic guitar.

closeup of open back tuners on an acoustic guitar headstock

How to Keep Acoustic Guitar Tuners Moving Smoothly

Here's how to keep the tuning components on your acoustic guitar moving smoothly, from cleaning to proper lubricant selection for both modern and vintage guitars.