Two Experts Answer Common Acoustic Guitar Repair Questions
Dick Boak and Rick Turner provide answers to frequently asked questions.
DIY Maintenance: How to Make Your Acoustic Guitar Play Better Than Ever
Learning how to give your guitar a minor tune-up versus knowing when it’s time to take it to a repair pro will help you get more enjoyment out of your instrument.
ADVERTISEMENT
How to Fix Rattles
Your entire guitar vibrates when you play it: the top most of all, but even the neck and headstock are moved by the vibrating strings’ energy. Any loose part on your guitar may buzz or rattle audibly, sometimes only when certain notes are played. Parts don’t have to be visibly loose to rattle, and it can be quite a job to chase down the causes of some of these little noises.
7 Lessons on DIY Acoustic Guitar Maintenance
Learn how to perform basic maintenance routines and minor repairs without having to take your guitar to a shop.
Guitar Maintenance: How To Fix Loose Tuners
Inspecting the tuners on your acoustic guitar may just solve that mystery buzz or rattle you’ve been hearing. Here's how to fix loose tuners on your guitar.
ADVERTISEMENT
DIY Guitar Maintenance: How to Keep Your Guitar Clean [VIDEO]
Some finishes are more impervious than others, but regular cleaning is a good habit to get into. Here's how to do it.
Guitar Maintenance: How to Check and Adjust Saddle Height
Your guitar’s bridge saddle is the most significant piece of the puzzle when it comes to raising or lowering action. Here's how to check and adjust saddle height.
Guitar Maintenance: How to Perform Basic Pickup Repairs
Here are some general tips that will help you troubleshoot why your guitar's pickup isn't working and get the electrons flowing again.
ADVERTISEMENT
Guitar Maintenance: Check Action at the Nut
High strings at the nut can cause sharp intonation and make playing in first position difficult, while low or worn slots can result in open-string fret buzz.
Guitar Maintenance: How To Adjust Neck Relief
Humidity changes can quickly throw a neck out of whack, causing too much forward bow (relief) or back bow. Here’s how to check neck relief on acoustic guitar.
Guitar Maintenance: Tips on Restringing Your Acoustic Guitar
There’s more than one way to string a guitar, and here are some important things to keep in mind to make sure your guitar keeps working as it should.
ADVERTISEMENT
How to Replace the Nut on an Acoustic Guitar
For one reason or another, a nut will occasionally need to be replaced, and many guitarists can do this themselves.
How to Adjust an Acoustic Guitar Truss Rod
Your truss rod needs adjustment when the neck of your guitar has too much or too little upbow or too much backbow. Here's how to do it yourself.
Adjusting Your Action on Acoustic Guitar
If your action feels wrong and the neck has been properly adjusted, it is time to look at the saddle.
Guitar Fingerboard Maintenance
Because an acoustic guitar’s fingerboard generally doesn’t have finish applied to it, it should be cleaned with a method slightly different from the one you use on the body
ADVERTISEMENT
Know Your Gear: Do-It-Yourself Acoustic Guitar Setup
Few things make an acoustic guitarist’s day quite like playing a freshly set up guitar. Suddenly your ax feels like butter. Here are some tips on DIY guitar setups.
How to Clean Your Guitar
Learn the differences between commercial polishes and cleaners and get the low-down on how to clean your instrument without scratching the finish.
Cleaning Your Guitar’s Fingerboard
If the dirt buildup is really bad, wiping with a damp cloth won’t suffice. Use some extra-fine wool to scrub gently across the fretboard, parallel to the frets.