Regarding the Acoustic Guitar

[Holispirit]

Hey softies,
I've been playing the electric guitar for almost a year, but I HARDLY touched an acoustic guitar. I just wanted to know whether the action of an acoustic guitar is usually very high.
If so, is it not adjustable?? Or does it take a lot of trouble just to change the action?
Another question regarding the acoustic guitar is, for certain high end acoustic guitars made of certain types of wood, I've heard that it has to be maintain using some drying packets (Something like that) or a dehumidifier am I right? What would happen if all these are lacking for a short period of time?
And normally, how long do these packets lasts??
Thanks for the help.

 

[LadyInTears]

sending the guitar for a set up would easily solve the action problem.

as for the dehumidifying packets, IIRC maestro sells them, and there are detailed instructions on usage etc.

hope i've helped!

 

[RyanZ]

http://bgwguitars.com/data/acczorbit.htm

 

[Holispirit]

sending the guitar for a set up would easily solve the action problem.

as for the dehumidifying packets, IIRC maestro sells them, and there are detailed instructions on usage etc.

hope i've helped!

Oh, but I just want to know if it is hard and more troublesome than the electric guitar to change the action.

 

[seekz]

No point in comparing it to an electric guitar, too many different variables.
Its hard to do a one v one comparison.

Acoustic guitars faces more or less the same playability issues as
the electric. Action shouldn't be low like those Ibanez/Jackson shredder
guitars, but definitely it can be low enough to be confortable.


If you're planning on DIY-ing, then I can tell you what you should read up on.

1.) how to adjust the truss rod.
2.) checking/adjusting the nut and saddle.

You'll probably need a nice straight rule, a fitting allen key, and an optional radius gauges and some files.

 

[seekz]

If the guitar is too dry, the wood will crack.
Too wet it'll swell.

Optimum humidity to maintain is 50%.

Don't really know how you can precisely maintain that.
Those packets of thingys that were mentioned would
certainly help in our climate. But its not absolute.


I know of customers who have their study/whatever rooms
humidity controlled to store their precious guitars and also
camera lens/gears. But thats another matter all together.

 

[Holispirit]

If the guitar is too dry, the wood will crack.
Too wet it'll swell.

Optimum humidity to maintain is 50%.

Don't really know how you can precisely maintain that.
Those packets of thingys that were mentioned would
certainly help in our climate. But its not absolute.


I know of customers who have their study/whatever rooms
humidity controlled to store their precious guitars and also
camera lens/gears. But thats another matter all together.

Thanks for the advice Seekz, much appreciated.

 

[philip chan]

Hi pursuer of wisdom,

With a bit of wisdom from experience, here are my answers to your Qs:
1. Action
An acoustic guitar's action should not be too high, otherwise it would be hard to play and also affect the intonation. Action can be adjusted, but my advice is don't do it yourself cos it takes some skill and experience. The problem can be too high nut or saddle or bent neck (which can be fixed by adjusting the truss rod.

2. High end guitars
I have five of these so I know the problem with humidity. Dehumidifiers are available. Since many high end guitars are made in the US and Europe and their problrm is exactly opposite (ie low humidity), they need to use humidifiers in winter! So if you bring such a guitar to the tropics, it needs special care. Cheap guitars do not have this problem cos they are made of laminates (nice word for plywood). Good guitars are made of "solid wood" ie a single slice of wood from the tree, so they are susceptible to cracking if not properly cared for. But the tone of a solid wood guitar is to die for. Once you have played one you will not want to go back to plywood!
Oh, by the way, it helps to keep guitars in an aircon room to al least keep the humidity down.

Philip

 

[Holispirit]

Hi pursuer of wisdom,

With a bit of wisdom from experience, here are my answers to your Qs:
1. Action
An acoustic guitar's action should not be too high, otherwise it would be hard to play and also affect the intonation. Action can be adjusted, but my advice is don't do it yourself cos it takes some skill and experience. The problem can be too high nut or saddle or bent neck (which can be fixed by adjusting the truss rod.

2. High end guitars
I have five of these so I know the problem with humidity. Dehumidifiers are available. Since many high end guitars are made in the US and Europe and their problrm is exactly opposite (ie low humidity), they need to use humidifiers in winter! So if you bring such a guitar to the tropics, it needs special care. Cheap guitars do not have this problem cos they are made of laminates (nice word for plywood). Good guitars are made of "solid wood" ie a single slice of wood from the tree, so they are susceptible to cracking if not properly cared for. But the tone of a solid wood guitar is to die for. Once you have played one you will not want to go back to plywood!
Oh, by the way, it helps to keep guitars in an aircon room to al least keep the humidity down.

Philip

Good advice, really helped. Thanks Philip. But I also want to ask, if the guitar does not have a built in "Pickups" (the LR Baggs RTS2 undersaddle electronics.), is there anyway to install it?? If there is, are there any 'sacrifices' that has to be made or can the guitar still retain it's beautiful pristine form. Thanks for the help once again.

 

[Jumpin'Jellybean]

Uhh, you could unstring the acoustic and use an allen wrench to reduce the action by lowering the truss rod. However this is risky? You may warp the neck or cause the strings to buzz if the action is too low. The best would be to ask an experienced person to lower it. (not neccesarily a pro. My friend knows how to.)As for the pickups, i'm not too sure either. But most of these works have to go through a luthier if i'm not wrong.

 

[burping_boy]

Good advice, really helped. Thanks Philip. But I also want to ask, if the guitar does not have a built in "Pickups" (the LR Baggs RTS2 undersaddle electronics.), is there anyway to install it?? If there is, are there any 'sacrifices' that has to be made or can the guitar still retain it's beautiful pristine form. Thanks for the help once again.

of course such pickups can be installed, from less invasive ones like the LR Baggs Active Element or RTS2, or those more invasive one with inbuilt controls and etc... too many brands to list them out even.

you can find such acoustic pickups in almost all the guitar shops, davis, luthermusic, maestro, to name a few, and they can range from $100+ to $500 depending on features, technology and brand and etc. one between $200 to $300 including installation should be decent enough for most uses.

 

[keythe-]

Hi, the action of an acoustic guitar can be either high or low. But it must be what you are comfortable with. With high action, the volume is louder but it is harder to fret. With a low action, the volume is softer but is much easier to fret.

For me, I use a high action as I like the volume on my guitar to be loud. It's your preference. So yeah, I hoped I helped. Cheers dude ;D

 

[Holispirit]

Hi, the action of an acoustic guitar can be either high or low. But it must be what you are comfortable with. With high action, the volume is louder but it is harder to fret. With a low action, the volume is softer but is much easier to fret.

For me, I use a high action as I like the volume on my guitar to be loud. It's your preference. So yeah, I hoped I helped. Cheers dude ;D

Yup, helped a lot. Thanks for the information.

 

[donutator]

action

You do not adjust your action with the truss rod. The truss rod is for adjusting the relief. Action should be controlled by the nut and bridge.