Why You Don’t Need to Worry About Removing All Your Guitar’s Strings at Once
Never fear. Slacking all the strings at once is something every guitar technician needs to do every day.
Martin Keith
Martin Keith is a luthier, repair and restoration expert, and working musician based in Woodstock, New York.
Ask the Expert: Which Guitar Polishing Products to Use—and Which to Avoid
I recently purchased a Martin DX Johnny Cash, which is made of laminated material. What are my options for cleaning the body, neck, and fretboard?
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How to Choose the Right Repairperson for Your Guitar
Not every shop is suited for every job, and that is perfectly fine and reasonable.Take the time to find the right fit for you and your guitar—you’ll be glad you did.
Plugging In: Acoustic Guitar Pickups and Their Pros and Cons
There are loads of amplification options available, and it can be hard to know which will best suit your needs.
Why Your Guitar Won’t Play Perfectly in Tune—and Why That’s OK
It’s time to face the elephant in the room: there is a compromise built into
the tuning of every fretted instrument.
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Ask the Expert: Flying with Your Guitar
When flying with guitars, it’s important to think outside the case. Even with careful preparation, there are many potential dangers that lurk throughout the process.
Ask the Expert: What’s the Best Way to Maintain My Guitar’s Fretboard?
Products designed to improve the look and feel of your fretboard are plentiful, but some can lead to unintended problems.
Ask the Expert: Modifying a Standard Flattop for Lap-Style Playing
I'm thinking about converting an instrument for lap-style playing. Will I be putting the guitar at risk if I raise the nut and saddle high enough to play it with a bar?
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A Primer on DIY Finish Touchup for Acoustic Guitar Repairs
How can you determine what type of finish was originally used? And how can you best match it to complete the repair?
All About Nylon Strings and Modern Steel Sets
Finding the right match between string and guitar can have a very rewarding result.
Remembering Innovative Guitar Repair Guru Frank Ford
The legacy Ford leaves behind is much greater than just the story of his work—it is also one of community, innovation, education, and friendship.
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Are Some Guitars Better Suited for Certain Climates?
With proactive maintenance, your guitar should be able to work for you in whatever climate you call home.
Remembering Legendary Luthier Frank Ford, 1944–2023
The legacy Frank leaves behind is much greater than just the story of his work—it is also a legacy of community, innovation, education, and friendship.
How to Clean a Guitar Fretboard the Proper—and Safe—Way
Cleaning and maintaining your fretboard can be fun and satisfying. Here are some expert tips on how to do the job the right way.
How to Set Up a Single Guitar for Use in Multiple Tunings
When setting up a guitar for a player who uses many alternate tunings, I take a slightly different approach from the usual setup job.
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Should You Repair the Crumbling Celluloid Binding on a Vintage Guitar?
Binding replacements on vintage guitars are becoming increasingly common as more and more old celluloid turns to dust
Ask the Expert: Is it Possible to Improve a Guitar’s Tone by Changing Tuners?
Considering the physics of sound in stringed instruments, let's explore the impact that tuners can have on the tone of an acoustic guitar.
How to Keep Acoustic Guitar Tuners Moving Smoothly
Here's how to keep the tuning components on your acoustic guitar moving smoothly, from cleaning to proper lubricant selection for both modern and vintage guitars.
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How Guitar Strings Age—and How to Know When to Change Them
When to change strings is an age-old question with no clear answer, and one that I still field regularly from repair clients.
Do Pickguards Impact Guitar Tone?
Whether or not pickguards affect guitar tone is an interesting topic, and opinions vary in the field of guitar makers.
How Plugging the Soundhole Affects an Acoustic Guitar’s Sound
Using a rubber soundhole plug is a go-to move for reducing feedback when plugging in an acoustic guitar. But what effect does it have on tone?
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How to Deal with Bulging Soundboards and Moldy Cases
AG's repair expert weighs in on a common playability issue and the only sure way to cure the moldy case blues
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
Ask the Expert: The Delicate Art of Fretwork—and Why It’s Best Left to a Professional
Whether building an instrument from scratch, restoring a collector’s item, or setting up a brand-new guitar, it’s likely that some amount of fretwork will be required.
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Ask the Expert: Can I Use Medium Strings on My Prewar Martin?
Will using medium strings on a 1936 Martin D-18 put too much pressure on the the instrument over time? Ask the Expert.
