The General Stuff

There are a few simple things you can do to keep your Beard (or other) resonator healthy and happy for the long haul.

1)  Dryness and humidity- Due to their construction, resonator guitars are more resistant to environmental factors than many other acoustic instruments, however they still require attention.  Excessive dryness causes wood parts to shrink and can be extremely destructive.  Baseboard heaters, woodburning stoves, and the like create dry environments that cause problems for stringed instruments.  As a rule, if the air feels dry to you, it's probably to dry for your guitar.  Excessive humidity, while less common, is still a potential problem.  A relative humidity between 45% and 55% is optimal.  We generally recommend keeping your guitar in its case when it is not being played, especially for those who live in the cooler climates.  Your case can be a micro climate that allows you to more closely control the environment around your instrument. 

*  Just like a beloved pet, you should never ever leave your instrument in a hot car!! 

2)  Keeping your guitar clean is not just about making it look pretty for the moment.  Dirt and oil from hands and the environment can eventually begin to damage the finish on your instrument.  Taking a few extra minutes to wipe down your favorite reso during restrings will help to ensure it stays shiny and happy for years to come.  Of course, we recommend Beard Resolution polish designed specifically for the wood and metal on resonator guitars.  Never use ammonia based cleansers (windex etc.) on your guitars.

3)  Contrary to what some believe, it is not advisable to de-tune your guitar when not in use.

4)  The truss rod on a round neck guitar is not intended to adjust the playing action of your instrument.  Improperly adjusting a truss rod can do more harm than good.  If you are notfamiliar with working on stringed instruments, please talk to a pro before making truss rod adjustments.

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