Ask the Expert | Acoustic Guitar

Here are answers to many questions about acoustic guitar care and repair.

Uncertain about guitar care and maintenance? The ins-and-outs of guitar building? Or another topic related to your guitar? Ask Acoustic Guitar’s repair experts by sending an email with the subject “Repair Expert” to editors.ag [at] stringletter.com. If AG selects your question for publication, you’ll receive a complimentary copy of our Acoustic Guitar Owner’s Manual.

Ask the Expert: How to Cure Your Guitar’s Wintertime Humidity Blues

Maintaining your guitar’s humidity level is key in avoiding lots of headaches, from a fluctuating setup to potentially expensive structural repairs.

ruler checking action (string height) at the bridge on an acoustic guitar

How to Fix Problems Caused by Incorrect Neck Angles on Acoustic Guitars

Neck angle is probably the single most crucial variable for the playability of a flattop guitar. Here's how to fix it if it's off.

closeup of an acoustic guitar's binding that has deteriorated due to the aging and chemical breakdown process known as celluloid rot

Ask the Expert: All About Celluloid Rot—and What to Do About It

Celluloid rot, the degrading of the plastic used for the binding on vintage guitars, is a common occurrence. Here we take a look at why this deterioration happens.

closeup of a vintage acoustic guitar's slotted headstock and tuners

Ask the Expert: All About Slotted Headstocks and Dead G Strings

Repair expert Martin Keith discusses acoustic guitar headstock design and how to maintain evenness and consistency of timbre on your classical guitar's thickest string.

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

If the saddle has been lowered on your guitar in the last 80 years, and it likely has, then the torque on the top will have been reduced, too, which lowers the risk. This may be why you prefer the sound of the medium-gauge strings—they may put a load on the top that is comparable to what light-gauge strings would produce with a taller saddle.

Ask the Expert: How To Diagnose and Eliminate Common Nut Problems

Here's a guide to understanding the acoustic guitar nut, a critical area where a few thousandths of an inch can make a big difference in intonation and tuning stability

guitarist holds a resonator guitar and cleans it

Ask the Expert: Caring for Your Guitar Over the Long Haul

Guitar repair expert Mamie Minch gives a rundown of some basic things a guitar owner can do, and not do, to maintain the health of their guitar.

closeup of a martin acoustic guitar neck joint with the neck detached

Ask the Expert: Does My Guitar Need A Neck Reset?

Neck repairs are a common occurrence on a vintage acoustic guitar and can enhance the sound of a valued instrument. Don’t feel nervous about getting this repair done.

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 & feel of the guitar.

collage showing three different packages of nylon guitar strings

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

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