Protect and Set Up Your Acoustic | Martin Guitars | Guitar Tech Tips | Ep. 111 | Thomann

We went to the Martin factory to ask them about setting up, cleaning and tweaking Martin guitars.
Dave Doll (Martin product manager) was kind enough to tell us all about acoustic guitar maintenance. Enjoy the video and leave a comment below!
Gear used: tho.mn/7lbnl
Recorded in Presonus Studio One: bit.ly/S1Pro6
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
Monitors optimised through Sonarworks: tho.mn/sonar
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Introduction
0:53 Step 1: Nut
2:42 Step 2: Neck
6:28 String tension - Official Martin setup
7:30 Step 3: Bridge
9:03 Humidity
16:20 How to clean nitro finish
19:42 How to hot-rod an acoustic
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[@RonRivet]

That was super informative, excellent!

[@JakeSchlade]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@NoraphonKaedklung]

Thank you.

[@PreacherAtArrakeen]

I,m jealous. You've got a great gig!

[@luchomujica5511]

Hello Dave my name is Luis I watched your video great I live in California I have a question I bought a Martin guitar a few months ago and never used the guitar cover but now I see long dark lines under the bridge and the sound hole the salesman told me the guitar was aging, should I worry David? I only have the guitar for less than 6 months what's your advice??? Thank you .

[@PooNinja]

Awesome info! thanks for the visit , there will be a tour vid right? I bet that factory smells awesome.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey Poo, we didn't film the full tour since there are so many videos on YT showing it. But we shared our footage in our videos that we made during the visit at Martin. Amazing people and facility. 🙌 Cheers //Kris

[@PooNinja]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses cool I bet it was fun! Have a great week sir

[@CaptainOfMyBurden82]

Great video. What are some ways to get light scratches out of a satin nitro finish? I was changing strings and a string brushed against the guitar leaving a a small scratch.

[@davidsteen2777]

I possess a 2014 Martin GPCPA1...the electronics are not working properly, meaning the tuner is not working and the battery is drained after a couple of days. What do you recommend I do? I live in Texas.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey, contact the store where you bought the guitar and ask them to check that pickup. If they can't help look for a bigger store that offers repairs. That should definitely be fixed. Cheers //Kris

[@keithskelton2287]

I have a 00028 EC bought in 2015 in UK Plays fine but the binding on the rear waist is coming apart What to do Myself or Ship for repair I am currently in Thailand Thnx ✌🏽🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hi Keith, I'd contact Martin's customer care and ask if they have a certified workshop / luthier somewhere in the near. It'd be much faster and safer to ship to a closer location compared to sending it to Europe or to the US. Good luck! //Kris

[@Alex-mz1xb]

I personally think that while the string tension is a huge force to leave on a guitar all the time, guitars prefer consistent conditions. Pulling a guitar in and out of tension weekly seems like it would be more harmful for the guitar and strings than just leaving it tuned up. I'm sure Dave wouldn't like the idea of bringing a guitar in between high and low humidity environments, and seems like huge tension changes would have similarly detrimental effects.

[@seancurran6727]

You can tune it down a whole step rather than totally loosening the strings when the guitar is going to have a significant rest.

[@RF-lz9cd]

Taking string tension off when not playing for a week or more? How does a guitar know it’s not being played? Constant string tension is normal whether or not it’s being played. Messing with tension constantly changes the stresses which is more concerning to me.

[@seancurran6727]

For raising the saddle on a glued in bridge, you don't necessarily have to rout the whole thing out and replace it. You can superglue a thin shim of bone, cut to the right size, on top of the existing saddle. I just did that on the two highest strings of an Authentic and it works great.

[@bolck454]

When removing tension from guitar. Loosen strings all the way or just loosen string a round or 2

[@planetdigital300]

hello!

[@StevesSlideandJazz]

I like Yamaha ARE technology. They sound better than Martin in some instances and are vastly more affordable. 🙂

[@dedelibre9387]

Nolan Neal......:D

[@dmanstarr]

This extreme baby-ing of well-made guitars is borderline OCD and not necessary unless maybe you have fifty like this guy.

[@marquisdecarabas1312]

I would be interested in a "How to afford a Martin guitar." 😂👍

[@PooNinja]

Step one: become independently wealthy. Complete that and I’ll send step two.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

😆 Yeah, Poo's tips are always spot on. Martins were never affordable (well, that actually changed since they introduced their Made in Mexico line) but if you see how those guitars are made you kind of understand why. Also, pretty much all of these tips Dave shares with us are just as useful for any other acoustic guitar. Cheers //Kris

[@seancurran6727]

Start with a used one, much less.

[@planetdigital300]

easy - buy at guitar for 1-3k from independent luthiers all over making better guitars by hand - and call it your Martin guitar

[@cdatlas]

I stopped the video at remove string tension when you’re not playing for a week. The only reason you need to remove the string tension is when traveling with a major climate change where you will likely need to re-setup the guitar. When you remove the string tension you still have the truss rod’s counter tension and leaving it like that long term will definitely warp the neck. Even short periods will require adjustment when retuning and can potentially cause irreversible damage. Secondly, you didn’t really discuss neck relief and any tech worth their salt is going to look at neck relief first.

[@yannamengual2777]

Only buy used Martin guitars, which are more than 10 or 15 years old, minimum. Every other company has done better for less since Martin introduced the X series. "owner of a 2008 DX1K, 2014 D-15M Burst, 2020 D-28"

[@deanlockamy2087]

As much as someone paid for a Martin you’d think it would come set up and ready to play.

[@dmanstarr]

They do, but most guitars come with a high action in case that is preferred. It’s s lot easier to lower action than raise it.

[@GaryMcNeill]

Damnit my guitar is a different brand... Guess I can't watch :(