An Acoustic Care and Repair Recap

Cracks. Poor environmental conditions or accidental drops can cause cracks in a guitar. Proper care and storage are your first lines of defense against those cracks. Ensure your guitar is stored in an environment with a humidity level between 45 percent and 55 percent, and a temperature range of 72°F to 77°F. We always recommend using high-quality guitar stands that feature non-corrosive padding.

The good news is that most cracks can be repaired, from a barely visible line to a body smashed by a baggage handler. My advice is to take your guitar to a first-rate repair person as soon as a crack is noticed.

Open and Loose Bindings. If you’re a touring artist, taking your guitar on the road can expose it to all sorts of elements, which can cause bindings to separate from the body. In older and vintage guitars, glue can deteriorate over time, or binding materials can shrink. These repairs are sometimes as simple as new glue. Others require more extensive replacement of the binding. Take your instrument to a professional luthier at the first sign of separation.

Neck Resets. You’ll know your neck needs to be looked at if the playability changes and something doesn’t feel right. It may become harder to push the strings down, or the strings may buzz because the action is too low. A certified technician can determine if the neck is at the wrong pitch and whether a reset is needed, or if a simple truss rod adjustment can solve the issue.