When should I replace my guitar pins?

If you see wear on the pins, that’s a good sign you should replace them. Fitting the pins correctly takes the proper tool and a lot of skill. To open the holes in the bridge to the proper size, I use a tapered reamer.

What can damage your guitar?

Extremes in temperature and humidity can be devastating When this happens, the strings can rip the bridge off. Extreme cold can dry the air and cause humidity problems. Extreme humidity can cause the guitar to warp, though most warping seems to come from extreme dryness.

What does high humidity do to a guitar?

While high humidity usually will not crack the wood the way low humidity can, the adverse effects can be just as damaging and sometimes can be more costly to repair. The wood in a guitar can swell tremendously, causing glue joints to fail, finish to lift, and neck angles to go bad.

What does low humidity do to a guitar?

The bottom line regarding dryness is that if your guitar is not kept within a comfortable range of 45-55 percent relative humidity, it will be in danger of cracking. We strongly recommend the use of a guitar humidifier, along with a digital hygrometer to accurately measure the humidity level where you store the guitar.

Do changing bridge pins affect tone?

Yes, bridge pins affect the tone of a guitar. They are affecting the volume and sustain of the tone, also. Different bridge pins act differently when subjected to humidity and temperature changes, and that also affects the sound of a guitar.

What should you not do with an acoustic guitar?

10 Things You Should Never Do to Your Acoustic Guitar

1. Never expose your acoustic guitar to extreme changes in humidity and temperature.
2. Never leave it uncleaned after playing.
3. Never lean it against a chair, table or wall.
4. Never use commercial cleaners.
5. Never use abrasive materials to wipe or clean your guitar.

Is it better to leave guitar in case?

Generally speaking, the safest way to store a guitar is in its case—ideally, a good-quality hardshell, as opposed to a gig bag or ill-fitting chipboard case. As obvious as this might seem, if you have multiple guitars, don’t stack them one on top of another in their cases.

Is cold bad for guitar?

Cold air can also dry out your guitar. Keep it out of direct sunlight. If it’s on a stand in your room, make sure it’s not catching any rays. Heavy humidity can soften glue used on bracking, so be aware of those hot summer days.

Is 35\% humidity OK for guitars?

Most experts say 40-50 percent. At this level, a guitar will sound and play its best. A great way to control humidity is to use a humidifier. I’d also recommend using a hygrometer to measure the humidity.

Is 30\% humidity OK for guitars?

At 30\% relative humidity you may see cracks in your guitar. Even if you do not see a crack in the guitar, it has still lost moisture and the top has begun to sink. To make your guitar playable you may need a higher saddle.

Are bridge pins worth upgrading?

Some of the improvements you can expect from a bridge pin upgrade are increased sustain, more clarity, and overall volume. Depending on which material you choose, you can also steer your guitar towards more bass or more treble. Tusq can add a moderate amount of treble, sustain, clarity & volume to your Martin.