Acoustic Problem

I play a Martin 000M acoustic which is my pride and joy. However, about six months ago the sound started to lose all its brightness - I would put new strings on and they wouldn't sound like new strings.

I had a full set up done but now six months later it's happening again. I play the guitat quite a bit but not enough to warrant another full set up after only six months.

Any ideas as to what the problem could be? It lives in its case 98% of the time and the room it is kept in is not in the slightest bit damp. The neck looks fine and no strange buzzes have developed. It just sounds muted and - well, as I say, the brightness has gone (it's a spruce top so when it's okay then it is a bright sound).

Any clues would be gratefully accepted. I'd like to chat any responses over with the repairer.

Thanks in advance

Matt Brown

Hi Matt

It's only a thought but do you have central heating? Six months ago did you turn it off (as summer was upon us) and now you're running your heating again and your guitar has gone 'dead'? It's a long shot but could it be a humidity problem?

<snips>

Other than this I'm short of ideas. What did your repairer do when he did a setup? Was it this that cured your lifeless sound before?

What kind of strings are you using? Have you changed brands? Have you changed gauge?

Anyone else? I'm a little stumped by this!

Fretted and unfretted? Is the bridge clean and properly/fully seated?

Otherwise I'm stumped too. Humidity? (as fod says?)

At a guess Adrian's on track. A lack of humidity being the problem. Get a guitar humidifier or put a damp cotton ball in the case wrapped in aluminium foil as a test first (MAX 2 days) see if this helps. cb

Thanks for the reply guys. Your time is much appreciated. Erm..I don't have central heating and the night storage heaters aren't on very much at all.

I think the bridge is okay. What with gigging and the like, I change the strings pretty much every fortnight (max) and always give it a clean and polish when I do so.

I've used Martin Lights for the three years I've had the guitar (a creature of habit!)

Would keeping it on a stand and exposing it more to atmospheric conditions be of any use?

Matt Brown

One other thing. I give the strings a bit of welly when I play (naturally ham fisted or just getting carried away? You be the judge!)

But I always have done, so I don't see how that would suddenly change the brightness.

But then, if I knew the answer to that I wouldn't be posting this message in the first place!

Matt

well the one thing you don't seem to have considered is the strings themselves, maybe the manufacturer has changed the process in some way or maybe if they subcontract string manufacture then they've changed suppliers. It may have nothing to do with the problem but if you try a few different makes and they're all the same then you have at least eliminated one possibility

I remember hearing that a build up of dirt, dust etc can affect the tone of acoustic guitars. But yours lives in its case most of the time, so this may not be the answer.