Acoustic Guitar Owner's Manual

Acoustic Guitar Owner’s Manual Thank You...

… for choosing a Guild acoustic Contents guitar, an instrument that will give you many years of pleasure. Please When the Craft Matters 4 take a few moments to read through Moisture Content and Humidity 7 this booklet—in it you will find Cracks in the Wood 8 valuable information about care and Finish Checking 8 maintenance for your guitar, and Neck Resets 8 answers to many of your questions. General Maintenance 9 Tuning Machines 10 Tuning Six-String Guitars 10 Tuning 12-String Guitars 13 Changing Strings 14 Truss Rod Adjustment 16 Action Adjustment 17 Travelling With Your Guitar 19 Limited Lifetime Warranty 20 Servicing Your Guitar 23 The name itself, “Guild,” came from the master craft guilds of the Middle Ages, which only the most highly skilled craftsmen were permitted to join. Today’s Guild guitars reflect that same devotion to excellence, with fine acoustic instruments that express the highest standards of artistry in wood craftsmanship and guitar making.

Now as always, Guild guitars are fashioned from hand-selected woods chosen by discerning buyers who travel the world in search of them.

Today, Guild guitars are still Guild’s Commitment to Craftsmanship handmade, and quality, innovation and service are still the paramount goals of the entire Guild staff. Taking extreme Musician and instrument retailer Alfred pride in every feature of every guitar, Dronge (1911-1972) founded Guild in Guild and all its artisans are confident New York in 1952. The first guitars from that you’ll share this pride—in the his small workshop were handmade ownership of your new guitar. with expensive rare woods, costly lacquers and the thorough attention to detail that could only come from an experienced musician. New York was home to most of the nation’s top jazz, studio and touring guitarists, and Dronge and his staff always listened carefully to their suggestions.

4 5 Moisture Content F (21.1 C). The ideal humidity is about and Humidity 40 to 50 percent. In winter, the heating systems used in many homes can Because wood is organic and porous, drive temperatures up and humidity it is affected dimensionally by levels dangerously low for guitars. A changes in the amount of moisture it good way to protect your guitar from contains. Solid-wood guitars are more drying out is to use a room humidifier. susceptible to the effects of changes in humidity than laminated instruments When an instrument is not in use, are, and therefore require ongoing it should be kept it in its case along attention to their condition. with a small guitar humidifier (of which many are available). Do not Protection From leave a guitar out for long periods Temperature and Humidity near a heating vent, radiator or other heat source; do not leave it exposed to direct sunlight; and do not leave it Indeed, the greatest natural threats in a car for long periods. The general to a fine wood guitar are extremes rule is to keep it safe from excessive of and rapid changes in temperature heat, cold, humidity and dryness. and humidity. High humidity can soften the glues used in building an instrument, and can cause the top and back (especially on flat-top and classical guitars) to expand and rise—raising string action too high. Or, if you live in a drier, low-humidity climate (hot or cold) or travel with your guitar to one, evaporation of moisture from the wood can cause shrinking and cracking. This can happen no matter how old the wood is, and string action can become too low if the top and back shrink enough.

The ideal temperature for solid-wood acoustic guitars is in fact normal room temperature, which is about 70 degrees

6 7 Cracks in the Wood Avoid finish checking by avoiding General Maintenance Rosewood and ebony fingerboards sudden changes in temperature can dry out and shrink with decreases Cracks in the wood are typically and humidity. When bringing One of the best ways to maintain in their natural oils, leaving rough caused by changes in temperature an instrument indoors from cold an instrument is to keep it clean. and exposed fret ends on either side and humidity. Although initially conditions, leave it in its case and After each use, clean a guitar by of the fingerboard (“fret sprout”). alarming, wood cracks are often allow sufficient time for it to become wiping the fingerboard, strings It’s a good idea to periodically re- easily repaired and shouldn’t acclimated to a warmer temperature and other parts (tuners, pickguard, hydrate a dry fingerboard with raw be cause for undue concern if before taking it out of the case. etc.) with a soft, dry cloth. linseed oil, which can help preserve addressed promptly and properly. its integrity and natural beauty. After Neck Resets For gloss finishes, use a non-silicone removing the strings, apply the oil If a crack appears on the top of the based guitar polish (many are to a clean, lint-free cloth and rub it guitar near the bridge, loosen the Strings exert tremendous tension available). For satin finishes, use only into the wood. Let the oil soak in strings to reduce tension (which can and pressure on the woods of an a soft, dry polishing cloth. For hand- before wiping away any excess. exacerbate the problem) and have the acoustic guitar. Over the lifetime of rubbed finishes, use a soft, slightly crack repaired as soon as possible by the instrument, in fact, a continuous damp cloth followed by a dry cloth. Be careful when using guitar straps, qualified service personnel. battle rages between string tension and stands and wall hangers made with wood resistance. Over time and under When not playing an instrument, vinyl, plastic, synthetic leather and Finish Checking such pressure, the cellulose structure of keep it tuned to pitch and in its case. surgical rubber tubing, as these wood naturally compresses, which can When storing the instrument for long materials can react adversely with “Finish checking” is a term that distort the pitch of the neck. Although periods, however, slightly loosen (but certain instrument finishes. refers to fine hairline cracks in an this is a natural result of an instrument do not remove) the strings to relieve instrument’s finish that run in all adhering to the laws of physics as it full tension. directions. It usually occurs in winter ages, a neck reset is often necessary to and is often the result of a cold correct the problem. It’s not a repair instrument’s sudden exposure to the you can or should do yourself—a neck shock of warmer temperatures. reset is a specialized procedure that should only be performed by qualified All the materials that make up a service personnel. guitar expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. Wood expands as it warms, and does so faster than its finish. This is what causes finish checking, and while it doesn’t affect an instrument’s tone, it does mar its appearance.

8 9 Tuning Machines Tuning Six-String Guitars

Guild uses fine open-back and die-cast There‘s more than one way to tune a tuning machines. Open-back tuners are guitar. Electronic chromatic tuners are pre-lubricated, but may occasionally plentiful, inexpensive and very easy require a small drop of light machine oil to use. Simply plug in your guitar and on the worm gear (wipe off any excess) tune the strings from low to high as and an occasional turn of a screwdriver noted on the tuner (E A D G B E). to make sure that the ring gear center screw is snug. Die-cast tuning machines Always tune up to the correct pitch are sealed and require no lubrication. from below instead of down to the correct pitch from above. This helps A small tension-adjustment screw at eliminate string slack and lessens the the end of each tuner button holds possibility of string slippage while the button in place. If the tension is you’re playing. too loose, the tuning machine may slip and go out of tune easily; if it’s To tune a guitar using a tuner with too tight, the button may become an A-440 reference tone, a guitar difficult to turn. Make sure that the pitch pipe, an A-440 tuning fork or adjustment is firm, but not too tight. other pitch reference, tune the second string (A) to pitch accordingly. Then Acids and oils from the hands can fret the tuned A string at the 5th fret degrade the plating on Guild tuning to produce a D, and tune the adjacent machines. Wipe the machines with a open D string to that pitch. Continue soft, dry cloth after each use to preserve in this fashion by fretting the tuned their appearance and function. D string at the 5th fret to produce a G and tuning the adjacent open G string Strings that are improperly secured to to that pitch; then fret the tuned G tuning machine posts can easily slip string at the 4th fret to produce a B and and go out of tune. This is commonly tune the adjacent open B string to that misdiagnosed as a problem with the pitch; then fret the tuned B string at tuners themselves, so check your the 5th fret to produce an E and tune string installation carefully (see the adjacent high E string to that pitch. illustrations 1, 2 and 3 on page 15). Finally, fret the low E string at the fifth fret and tune it up until its pitch matches the adjacent open A string. 10 11 Tuning 12-String Guitars Given the high string tension at standard pitch, Guild 12-string guitars A 12-string guitar exerts a should be monitored regularly for neck tremendous amount of tension warping and the need for truss rod on its neck, which is why Guild adjustments. Ignoring these can result suggests using light-gauge strings. in permanent problems (see page 16).

In standard 12-string tuning, the second string in each pair is tuned to standard pitch (E A D G B E) just like a six-string guitar and using the same methods described previously.

For the low E, A, D and G pairs, the first string in each pair (the thinner one) is tuned an octave higher than its partner. For the B and high E pairs, the strings are tuned in unison.

The higher tension caused by six additional strings can make fretting notes and chords on a 12-string guitar more difficult for some players. A common remedy for this is to tune the entire instrument to a lower relative pitch, such as E flat or D, which reduces string tension to a more comfortable level. A capo can then be used on the first or second fret to achieve standard pitch. Although this reduces tension on the neck and makes the guitar physically easier to play, it also sacrifices a small amount of tone projection.

12 13 Changing Strings An inappropriate string can Re-Stringing damage the neck and bridge. Guild New strings will breathe new life into recommends the following strings for To string a flat-top, remove the old your instrument. There’s no set rule top performance at standard pitch: strings by unwinding them from the on how often to change strings, but tuners and pulling out the bridge while many touring professionals Orchestra Guitars: pins. To install a new string, drop the change them before every performance, Phosphor Bronze, gauges .012 to .053 ball end into the hole in the bridge most players don’t change strings Grand Orchestra Guitars: and re-insert the bridge pin with its nearly as often as they should. Guild Phosphor Bronze, gauges .012 to .053 groove positioned over the string. Don’t Illustration 1 recommends that the average player Concert Guitars: hammer the pin into place; a firm push String is passed through hole near top of change strings at least once a month. Phosphor Bronze, gauges .012 to .053 with the thumb is sufficient. Attach the string post. Dreadnought Guitars: other end of the string to the tuning Don’t wait until your strings break Phosphor Bronze, gauges .013 to .056 machine by threading it through to change them. Old, worn, oxidized, Jumbo Guitars: the hole in the tuning machine post, pitted and dirty strings will not Phosphor Bronze, gauges .013 to .056 running it halfway around the post and hold pitch, and they simply sound Resonator Guitars: then underneath the main length of bad. Humidity, oils and acids from Phosphor Bronze, gauges .013 to .056 the string, and then pulling the string the hands, and other contaminants 12-String Dreadnought and Jumbo Guitars: end back over the main length (see interact with the metals in guitar Phosphor Bronze 12-String, gauges .010 to .047 illustrations 1, 2 and 3). strings, causing corrosion and Four -String Acoustic Bass Guitars: breakdown of the materials. Phosphor Bronze, gauges .045 to .100 Illustration 2 String is then wound halfway Remove and replace strings one at around post. a time instead of all at once. This prevents sudden and potentially damaging changes in neck tension. Each new string should be tuned up to correct pitch before the next one is removed. Always bring a brand-new string up to pitch slowly, as rapid stretching can break it. Illustration 3 Prevent string slippage by The gauge and tension of the strings running the short end halfway used on your guitar is critical to its around the post, then underneath optimal performance. and back over the main length of the string before tightening. 14 15 Truss Rod Adjustment Action Adjustment

String tension exerts tremendous String height and tension typically bending force on a guitar neck. determine the ease with which strings Environmental conditions such can be fretted. This description of as temperature and humidity can playability is called the “action” also cause neck bowing. Each Guild and is characterized by the distance guitar has an adjustable truss rod between the strings and the frets. (dual truss rods on 12-string models) running the length of the neck that Depending on your technique counteracts this force, strengthens or playing style, high action can the neck and ensures straightness. sometimes make a guitar difficult to play, whereas low action can A truss rod that is too loose will result cause string buzz. On flat-top and in a concave neck bow and action classical guitars, action adjustments that is too high; a truss rod that is too are often delicate procedures that tight will result in a convex neck bow, should be performed only by action that is too low and fret buzz. qualified service personnel. In these adjustments, lowering the action Illustration 4 Illustration 4 (continued) requires removing the bridge saddle, Depending on the model, truss rod If the neck has an excessive concave bow If you meet excessive resistance or prefer cutting it down to the appropriate adjustments on Guild guitars are made with high action, tighten the truss rod by not to make this adjustment yourself, please height and re-installing it; raising the either beneath the truss-rod cover on turning the wrench clockwise (looking from take your guitar to an Authorized Guild action involves removing the saddle the headstock or inside the soundhole at the headstock down the neck toward the Service Center. and replacing it with a higher one. the other end of the neck. Both require body). If the neck is humped with a convex a 4mm hex wrench. If the adjustment bow, loosen the truss rod by turning the is at the headstock, the truss rod cover wrench counterclockwise (looking from must first be removed with a small the soundhole up the neck toward the Phillips screwdriver (see illustration 4). headstock). Adjust the rod only a partial turn at a time and allow time for the wood Please note: Instruments should to settle before adjusting again. Sight down remain tuned to pitch during the neck after each adjustment and be truss rod adjustments. careful not to over-tighten the truss rod.

16 17 Traveling With Your Guitar

Guild acoustic guitars are made with the highest-quality materials and craftsmanship, and deserve only the best protection. To provide this protection, a Guild guitar case designed and fitted exclusively for your guitar is recommended. Keep your guitar in its case when not playing it.

When traveling, carry your instrument in a hard-shell case at all times for protection. During air travel, guitars are often exposed to dramatic changes in temperature and pressure. To help prevent possible damage, de-tune the strings approximately one whole step so that the tension on the top and neck is reduced. Guild offers a variety of standard and deluxe cases for most guitar models; please contact your local Guild dealer for more information or to place an order. When ordering a Guild case, please specify the exact guitar model.

18 19 Limited Lifetime Warranty for your Guild instrument. To receive Limitations and Exclusions aging, accidents, neglect, abuse, or warranty service, return the complete Acts of Nature. GUILD® INSTRUMENT instrument to an Authorized CMG The following items are not covered by 8. Any instrument, whose serial LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY Service Center, with your sales receipt this warranty: number is missing, altered or as proof of purchase, during the tampered with in any fashion. Cordoba Music Group (“CMG”) applicable warranty period. 1. Fret wear, saddle wear, nut wear, 9. Any instrument purchased from warrants this Guild instrument to strings and batteries. anyone other than an Authorized be free from defects in materials and Defective components that qualify 2. Setups, adjustments or routine Guild® Dealer. workmanship for as long as it is owned for coverage under this warranty will maintenance of any kind. 10. Instruments that have been serviced by the original retail purchaser, except be repaired or replaced (at CMG’s 3. Damage to finishes or cracks, by unauthorized persons (any that pickups, switches, jacks, controls, discretion) without charge. Remedies splitting, or warpage of wood due to person other than a CMG Certified all other electronic components, tuning beyond normal service repair of any changes in temperature or humidity, Technician at an Authorized CMG machines, hardware, pickguards, Guild instrument require both an exposure to or contact with sun, Service Center). plated surfaces, cases and case evaluation and confirmation of the fire, moisture, perspiration, body hardware are warranted for a period defect and a direct recommendation to salts and acids, guitar straps, guitar THE FOREGOING CONSTITUTES of one (1) year from the date of original CMG from an Authorized CMG Service stands/hangers made from vinyl, THE ONLY WARRANTY MADE purchase. This warranty applies Center for alternative considerations. plastic, rubber or other synthetic BY CMG WITH RESPECT TO only to the original retail purchaser materials, any other chemicals or THE PRODUCTS AND IS MADE when this instrument is purchased All transportation, insurance and non-CMG-approved polishes. EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER from an Authorized Guild Dealer freight charges associated with 4. Damage, corrosion or rusting of any WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR and is subject to the limitations set warranty service and repairs hardware components caused by IMPLIED. Any implied warranties, forth herein. IMPORTANT: PLEASE on Guild instruments are the humidity, salty air, or exposure to including without limitation, any RETAIN YOUR ORIGINAL SALES responsibility of the purchaser, as is the moisture, body salts and acids of implied warranties of merchantability RECEIPT, AS IT IS YOUR PROOF any service initiated for the purpose perspiration. or fitness for any particular purpose, OF PURCHASE VALIDATING THIS of customizing setups or adjustments 5. Any damage to an instrument imposed under state law are limited to LIMITED WARRANTY. beyond factory specifications. Initial resulting from customization or the duration of this limited warranty. standard setup and adjustment of the modification. Some states do not allow limitations CMG has established a network of instrument and its components at 6. Normal wear and tear on any on how long an implied warranty lasts, independent Authorized Service the time of purchase are considered part of the instrument or case so the above limitations may not be Centers for warranty service. The normal Dealer product preparation, including jacks, controls, switches, applicable to you. Guild Dealer from whom you and are not covered by this warranty. plated surfaces, tuning machines, purchased your instrument may also pickguards, handles, latches, case be authorized for warranty service hardware, etc. and should be the first point of contact 7. All other damage and deterioration when service of any kind is required due to normal usage, wear and tear,

20 21 CMG ASSUMES NO LIABILITY Servicing Your Guitar FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE RESULTING FROM FAILURE OF New guitars typically have a settling-in To locate Authorized Guild Service Centers, THIS PRODUCT NOR ANY LOSS period during which adjustments may please contact your Guild dealer, visit the OF INCOME, SATISFACTION, OR be necessary. Many experienced guitar Guild website (www.guildguitars.com) DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE players have learned to make their own or contact the Guild Consumer Relations LOSS OF USE OF SAME DUE TO truss rod or action adjustments. If you Department at 1-800-586-1180 or DEFECTS OR AVAILABILITY prefer not to make these adjustments [email protected]. OF SAME DURING SERVICE. to your new guitar yourself, bring the instrument to your nearest Guild For other support documentation, visit NOTE: This warranty applies only to dealer or Authorized Guild Service the “Support” page of the Guild website at Guild instruments purchased and Center for inspection and, if necessary, www.guildguitars.com/support. serviced within the U.S.A. and Canada. adjustments. This precaution should Warranties outside these countries are identify and prevent potential neck as defined by the authorized CMG/ damage. If major service is required, Guild Distributor for your country or please contact your local Authorized region, and may vary from the above in Guild Service Center. terms and/or length.

GUILD GUITARS 1455 19th St. Santa Monica, CA 90404 USA Phone: +1 310-586-1180 www.guildguitars.com

We cannot guarantee top performance of your instrument if strings other than Guild, or their equivalent, are used.