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Collings Guitars are among the most finely crafted acoustic instruments
available today. We use only premium solid tonewoods, carefully and patiently
seasoned. We then build and finish our guitars to exacting tolerances.
The result of this fine craftsmanship is a tone, look and feel that is
unmistakably Collings -- rich, bright and beautiful.
Our guitars are also built to be played, and with just a reasonable amount
of care and periodic maintenance, they’ll deliver a lifetime of playing
enjoyment. Understanding what affects your guitar’s well-being, both
positively and negatively, will help you to apply the proper care and
feeding.
Humidity & Temperature
Fine guitars are made of thin pieces of solid wood that are glued together.
They are directly affected by humidity and temperature.
Humidity is the amount of water vapor or moisture in the air. Temperature
affects the amount of moisture that air can hold. Both of these factors
affect wood because it is naturally "hygroscopic". This means
that it takes on and gives off water. Therein lies the challenge.
A guitar that absorbs too much moisture, through high humidity, expands
and swells. This distorts the geometry of the guitar and, consequently,
its tone and playability. Add high temperature, and humidity can weaken
glue joints and even cause them to fail. With prolonged exposure, the
glue under the bridge will weaken, allowing the bridge to pull off. Telltale
signs of a "wet" guitar:
• High action
• Swollen top
• Fret buzzing in the high registers (as fretboard rises with the
top)
• Distorted back and sides
• "Tubby," muffled tone, low volume
• Finish cracks
• Bindings separated
Overly dry conditions, or lack of sufficient humidity, can be equally
detrimental to your guitar, causing the wood to shrink and crack. It can
also cause poor tone and improper intonation. In dry regions (mountainous or desert areas) or northern climates, where heated air is common in winter, simple guitar humidifiers may not be sufficient. Room or household humidifiers may be necessary to maintain a proper environment. Telltale signs of a "dry"
guitar:
• Lowered action
• Fret buzzing and lifting
• Fret ends sticking out from the fingerboard
• Dips in the top or back
• Finish and/or wood cracks
Gradual changes in humidity and temperature will generally not harm
a well-made guitar. At Collings, we build and acclimate our guitars in
an environment of 49% relative humidity and a temperature of 75 degrees. So if
you keep guitar pretty close to these ranges, you should have no problems.
The biggest danger caused by humidity and temperature is rapid or extreme
changes. That’s because different parts of the guitar shrink
and expand at different rates. For example, if your local humidity drops
very rapidly, the guitar cannot acclimate itself uniformly, causing cracks
or failure of glue joints in different portions of the guitar as it tries
to "cope" with the drying situation. The same is true, in reverse,
with high humidity.
Extreme temperatures can wreak havoc, too. Heat weakens glue. Cold "chills"
lacquer causing finishes to crack or craze.
While you can’t control the weather, you can control your guitar’s
environment to a great extent. Here are some simple pointers.
• Keep your guitar in its case when you’re not playing it.
Collings guitar cases are virtually air tight – and it’s a
lot easier to control humidity in a smaller volume of air.
• Purchase a home hygrometer/thermometer to keep tabs on the relative
humidity and temperature. Adjust your home environment as necessary.
Plants and humidifiers add moisture in dry winter months. Air conditioning
controls humidity in the hot, muggy summer months.
• Avoid storing your guitar near sources of hot, dry air (such
as forced hot air heating ducts), or cold, damp areas (garages, basements,
closets with outside walls).
• Never, ever, transport your guitar in a car trunk. Temperatures
inside car trunks are extreme in any kind of weather. It’s the
quickest way to destroy a guitar. Even in the passenger compartment
your guitar can be subjected to extreme temperatures. For example, please
allow your instrument to warm up slowly before opening your case in
a warm room after being transported in a cold vehicle. That’s a
sure way to get finish crazing.
• When traveling cross country, keep in mind changes in local humidity
– and protect your guitar accordingly.
• Guitar humidifiers that fit inside the soundhole or extend into
the body can be very effective but must be used with great care to avoid
water damage. Check with a qualified guitar repair person before using
them.
Finish Care
Collings guitars are finished with multiple coats of high-grade lacquer,
hand-sanded between applications to bring out a deep shine. The resultant
finish is thin, durable and acoustically compatible. The best way to preserve
this finish is to keep it clean – wiping off perspiration and fingerprints
with a soft, damp (not wet) cloth. Old, soft cotton baby diapers make
excellent guitar cleaning cloths. While there are many commercial guitar
cleaners available, we feel that a rag slightly dampened with plain tap
water and thoroughly wrung out will remove most dirt. Then buff with dry
clean cloth. If you must use commercial products, avoid those with solvents,
silicones or abrasives. Remember: polishing is not cleaning. Polishes
remove finish along with dirt. Fingerboards can occasionally dry out,
but require only a very small amount of boiled linseed oil (thoroughly
buffed) to restore. Less is always best.
Action & Playability
Our guitars are adjusted at our shop with a medium string height. This
height can be raised or lowered to suit individual playing preferences
by shimming or sanding the bottom of the saddle. But be careful. It only
takes a little adjustment at the bridge to greatly affect string height
over the fingerboard. Guitar tops rise and fall with age and exposure
to humidity. You might even notice a "bellying" or bulging of
the top near the bridge when this occurs. This is perfectly normal; in
fact, we build a certain amount of flex into the top to accommodate this
movement. Our necks are also adjustable, by Allen wrench, through the
sound hole behind the main top brace. This is an extremely sensitive operation,
however, and should be undertaken with a great deal of caution. A little
adjustment can go a long way. A qualified repairman can adjust your guitar
to return it to a comfortable action. This neck adjustment affects the
amount of "relief" or bow in the neck. This neck relief is one
aspect of a guitar’s action. The other aspects are nut and saddle
heights. All three must be taken into consideration when dealing with
action.
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