https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:59:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/acousticguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/AG_Favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://acousticguitar.com 32 32 103806923 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-can-torrefaction-do-for-your-instrument/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-can-torrefaction-do-for-your-instrument/#respond Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:49:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=115852 Properly torrefied, properly selected wood used in conjunction with a well-engineered design, can produce guitars that are both great-sounding and durable.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-can-torrefaction-do-for-your-instrument/feed/ 0 115852 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-when-it-comes-to-repairs-when-is-enough-enough/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-when-it-comes-to-repairs-when-is-enough-enough/#respond Fri, 04 Sep 2020 21:33:25 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=119737 If restoration is executed by craftsmen as skilled as those charged with maintaining Stradivaris, the spirit of the original guitar will eventually return after a bit of breaking in.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-when-it-comes-to-repairs-when-is-enough-enough/feed/ 0 119737 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-vintage-vs-modern-instruments-do-blindfold-tests-really-work/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-vintage-vs-modern-instruments-do-blindfold-tests-really-work/#respond Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:12:14 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=119517 Over the years, a number of blindfold test have been conducted, including a pair of widely reported tests administered by a trio of researchers in 2010 and 2012. In the first experiment, 21 contestants from the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis were asked to rate six violins: two Stradivaris, a Guarneri del Gesu, and three violins made by highly regarded contemporary luthiers. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-vintage-vs-modern-instruments-do-blindfold-tests-really-work/feed/ 0 119517 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-troubleshooting-unwanted-sounds-on-acoustic-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-troubleshooting-unwanted-sounds-on-acoustic-guitar/#respond Sun, 02 Aug 2020 12:59:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=118836 By Dana Bourgeois |This article originally appeared in the April 2014 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine and was reprinted in the September/October 2020 issue. Q: My 1983 Martin HD-28 has a buzzing or rattling high E string. The rest of the strings sound great. A local fellow worked on the frets and smoothed them out and it plays well […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-troubleshooting-unwanted-sounds-on-acoustic-guitar/feed/ 0 118836 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-much-do-acoustic-guitar-top-woods-contribute-to-tone/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-much-do-acoustic-guitar-top-woods-contribute-to-tone/#respond Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:21:12 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=118554 In general, lighter tops respond more efficiently to lighter playing styles, and more aggressive playing styles are required to bring out the full sonic potential of heavier tops.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-much-do-acoustic-guitar-top-woods-contribute-to-tone/feed/ 0 118554 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-is-it-right-to-experiment/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-is-it-right-to-experiment/#respond Fri, 22 May 2020 18:40:28 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=117750 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 by celebrating vintage guitars?  —Chris […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-is-it-right-to-experiment/feed/ 0 117750 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-do-you-acquire-the-wood-for-your-instruments/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-do-you-acquire-the-wood-for-your-instruments/#comments Fri, 08 May 2020 16:10:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=117146 The short answer is that I usually work closely with a variety of trusted tonewood suppliers to acquire woods that are sawn, matched, and cured specifically for making acoustic guitars. Typically, I try to inventory a six-month supply of most woods. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-do-you-acquire-the-wood-for-your-instruments/feed/ 1 117146 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-do-bonding-agents-affect-a-guitars-sound/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-do-bonding-agents-affect-a-guitars-sound/#respond Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:00:44 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=116860 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 in a wide variety of […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-do-bonding-agents-affect-a-guitars-sound/feed/ 0 116860 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-long-should-it-take-to-break-in-a-new-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-long-should-it-take-to-break-in-a-new-guitar/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:24:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=115215 Numerous and complex elements contribute to breaking in an acoustic guitar, and it requires a lot of playing. But long long does it take to break in a new guitar?]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-long-should-it-take-to-break-in-a-new-guitar/feed/ 0 115215 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-should-i-put-a-pickup-on-my-high-end-instrument/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-should-i-put-a-pickup-on-my-high-end-instrument/#respond Fri, 14 Feb 2020 14:48:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=114868 Mounting a magnetic pickup on a prewar D-28 seems like an obvious no-no, now that the pickup is long gone, and prewar D-28s cost more than my first house. But what about installing a modern pickup on a Brazilian Santa Cruz?]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-should-i-put-a-pickup-on-my-high-end-instrument/feed/ 0 114868 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-whats-the-difference-between-long-scale-and-short-scale-guitars/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-whats-the-difference-between-long-scale-and-short-scale-guitars/#respond Fri, 24 Jan 2020 18:09:59 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=114185 Scale length can have a significant effect on playability. But what’s the difference between long-scale and short-scale guitars, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-whats-the-difference-between-long-scale-and-short-scale-guitars/feed/ 0 114185 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-much-does-grain-orientation-matter/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-much-does-grain-orientation-matter/#respond Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:57:56 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113881 Differences between riftsawn, quartersawn, and flatsawn wood can be significant. Stiffness-to-weight ratio, highest when boards are perfectly riftsawn, drops noticeably when a top is cut even slightly different. Velocity of sound—the ability to vibrate efficiently—corresponds closely with stiffness-to-weight ratio.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-much-does-grain-orientation-matter/feed/ 0 113881 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-is-french-polishing-and-is-it-worth-it/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-is-french-polishing-and-is-it-worth-it/#respond Fri, 20 Dec 2019 17:40:45 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113704 Q: My understanding is that a type of finish known as “French polishing” gives not only a hand-built look to an instrument, but also a better quality of tone and a fuller sound. How does this process work, and is it worth having it done to my moderately priced Samick Greg Bennett Design D5? —Ken […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-is-french-polishing-and-is-it-worth-it/feed/ 0 113704 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-happens-when-your-flattop-loses-its-flat-top/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-happens-when-your-flattop-loses-its-flat-top/#respond Fri, 29 Nov 2019 17:17:41 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113594 To work efficiently, a guitar top must be built lightly enough to vibrate in complex ways.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-happens-when-your-flattop-loses-its-flat-top/feed/ 0 113594 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-can-you-hear-the-difference-in-tonewoods/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-can-you-hear-the-difference-in-tonewoods/#respond Sat, 16 Nov 2019 01:16:33 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113416 The short answer is: sometimes. And the short explanation is that different models and different woods can have confusingly overlapping sonic qualities.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-can-you-hear-the-difference-in-tonewoods/feed/ 0 113416 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-do-i-determine-the-value-of-a-high-end-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-do-i-determine-the-value-of-a-high-end-guitar/#respond Fri, 08 Nov 2019 18:50:19 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113199 Q: What exactly is the difference between a “handmade” and a “handcrafted” guitar? Furthermore, in the high-end market, what qualities should a player (not a collector) look for when evaluating the differences between, for example, a $3,500 guitar and a $7,500-plus guitar? —Dan Liechty, Normal, Illinois A: A quick Google search finds that Martin, Collings, […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-do-i-determine-the-value-of-a-high-end-guitar/feed/ 0 113199 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-can-a-soft-top-wood-last-as-long-as-spruce/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-can-a-soft-top-wood-last-as-long-as-spruce/#respond Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:52:36 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113061 Perhaps because of their lighter weight, cedar and redwood tops tend to “open up,” or break in, relatively quickly. However, unless the builder pays adequate attention to longitudinal stability, cedar and redwood tops sometimes open up beyond a point that many players consider optimal, losing low-end definition as the guitar continues to be played.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-can-a-soft-top-wood-last-as-long-as-spruce/feed/ 0 113061 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-do-i-get-rid-of-this-annoying-buzz/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-do-i-get-rid-of-this-annoying-buzz/#respond Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:00:24 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112975 It can be vexingly difficult to diagnose string buzz. Here’s a list of ten possible causes of a buzzing guitar.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-do-i-get-rid-of-this-annoying-buzz/feed/ 0 112975 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-does-a-guitars-finish-really-affect-the-tone/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-does-a-guitars-finish-really-affect-the-tone/#respond Fri, 06 Sep 2019 16:30:50 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112494 Traditional finishes, such as varnishes and nitro-cellulose lacquer, take many years or even decades to fully cure, while catalyzed finishes, like urethane and polyester, can cure in a matter of days. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-does-a-guitars-finish-really-affect-the-tone/feed/ 0 112494 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-are-guitars-voiced/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-are-guitars-voiced/#respond Fri, 23 Aug 2019 17:30:27 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112419 In my view, the sound of a guitar is primarily attributable to its design and to the individual woods that it’s made from. Voicing is a process of optimizing the interaction between these two variables. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-how-are-guitars-voiced/feed/ 0 112419 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-should-i-look-for-when-selecting-wood-for-a-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-should-i-look-for-when-selecting-wood-for-a-guitar/#respond Fri, 09 Aug 2019 17:38:10 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112305 The luthier’s dirty little secret (drum roll . . . ) is that demand for ultra-fancy wood is greater than demand for wood that only sounds spectacular. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-should-i-look-for-when-selecting-wood-for-a-guitar/feed/ 0 112305 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-should-i-reset-the-neck-on-my-vintage-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-should-i-reset-the-neck-on-my-vintage-guitar/#respond Fri, 12 Jul 2019 16:30:55 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111655 Guitars sound best when string load and top resistance are in relative balance. An underloaded top cannot drive enough air to achieve optimum volume, power, and presence; an overloaded top is unable to generate higher overtones and lacks sustain. One key to optimizing the mechanical efficiency of an individual top is knowing, with some precision, how it wants to be loaded. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-should-i-reset-the-neck-on-my-vintage-guitar/feed/ 0 111655 https://acousticguitar.com/antique-mystique-do-vintage-guitars-live-up-to-their-reputations/ https://acousticguitar.com/antique-mystique-do-vintage-guitars-live-up-to-their-reputations/#respond Sat, 29 Jun 2019 02:21:15 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111549 The best vintage guitars sound pretty dang amazing. On closer inspection, though, the picture can be more complicated. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/antique-mystique-do-vintage-guitars-live-up-to-their-reputations/feed/ 0 111549 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-do-the-tonewoods-and-thickness-of-my-guitars-back-have-an-impact-on-its-sound/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-do-the-tonewoods-and-thickness-of-my-guitars-back-have-an-impact-on-its-sound/#respond Fri, 14 Jun 2019 16:30:35 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111444 Q: “I noticed that some guitars have very stiff backs and there is no difference to the sound whether the back is held against your body or away from it. What are the advantages of stiff vs. active backs?”—Seth Brockman, Tulsa, Oklahoma A: To understand how backs function, look first to how an acoustic guitar […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-do-the-tonewoods-and-thickness-of-my-guitars-back-have-an-impact-on-its-sound/feed/ 0 111444 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-causes-random-intonation-glitches/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-causes-random-intonation-glitches/#respond Fri, 24 May 2019 16:54:22 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111314 Q: Using an electronic tuner, I can verify that when my open strings are in tune, my fretted octaves are accurate or nearly accurate. Individual notes of certain chords, however, can be very out of tune, and capoing in some positions requires retuning. I’ve noticed that all guitars, even electrics with ‘properly’ adjusted saddles, have […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-guru-what-causes-random-intonation-glitches/feed/ 0 111314