Here are answers to many questions about acoustic guitar care and repair. If you’re uncertain about guitar care and maintenance, the ins-and-outs of guitar building, or another topic related to your guitar, we’re here to help! Ask Acoustic Guitar’s repair experts by sending an email with the subject “Repair Expert” to editors.ag [at] stringletter.com.
Why Isn’t My Acoustic Guitar Intonating Well, and What Can I Do About It?
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How to Fix Problems Caused by Incorrect Neck Angles on Acoustic Guitars
How to Shop for a Used Guitar
Ask the Expert: Is There a Correct Way to Position a Saddle on an Acoustic Guitar?
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Ask the Expert: Caring for Your Guitar Over the Long Haul
Ask the Expert: What can Torrefaction Do for Your Guitar?
Ask the Expert: Why Is My Guitar Buzzing?
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Ask the Expert: Vintage Guitars and Aging Plastic Parts
Hello, gentle readers. Lately, I’ve received lots of questions about issues stemming from aging plastics on old guitars. From curling pickguards to binding rot, it’s one of the things that people have to bear in mind when buying and playing older instruments. Q: I bought a Martin 0-18 from the…
Ask the Expert: All About Slotted Headstocks and Dead G Strings
Ask the Expert: What’s the History Behind Solid Headstocks and Banjo Tuners on Guitars?
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Ask the Expert: Is It Safe to Hang My Guitar on the Wall?
Ask the Expert: How Does a Truss Rod Work?
Ask the Expert: When Is it Time for a Re-Fret? And What Is “Back Buzz?”
Ask the Expert: Is Fingerboard Oil “Snake Oil?”
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Ask the Expert: Does My Guitar Need A Neck Reset?
Ask the Expert: If Your Guitar Isn’t Playing or Feeling Right, Check for a Loose Bridge
Q: Over the last few months, the action on my older Yamaha dreadnought has gotten uncomfortably high up the neck. I brought it into the repair shop for what I expected to be a setup, but there was apparently an issue that I hadn’t anticipated. I was told it could…
Ask the Expert: When it Comes to Repairs, When Is Enough Enough?
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Ask the Expert: Vintage vs. Modern Instruments—Do Blindfold Tests Really Work?
Ask the Expert: How Much Do Acoustic Guitar Top Woods Contribute to Tone?
Ask the Expert: Is It “Right” to Experiment?
Q: What do you feel are the “right” areas to try to improve upon the classic styles? What areas of design must remain true to vintage originals in order to preserve integrity, and what areas have wiggle room for experimentation? On a more personal note, do you still feel challenged…
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Ask the Expert: How Do You Acquire the Wood for Your Instruments?
Ask the Expert: Do Bonding Agents Affect a Guitar’s Sound?
Q: Why is hot hide glue preferred by some luthiers, while others use synthetic glues, and what are its advantages and disadvantages? —Doug MacKenzie, Cary, North Carolina A: Hide glue, animal glue, and protein colloid glue are names for adhesives made from the connective tissues of various animals. Used by woodworkers…
Ask the Expert: How Long Should it Take to Break In a New Guitar?
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