Beating on a New Guitar

[rokdog49]

I've purchased two brand new guitars in the last six weeks. One I just have had two days. I made it a point to play the older one every day for about 20-30 minutes and included a lot of hard strumming (very hard). After about a month, it really improved and I have been rewarded with some great tonal response.
I started the same process with the newbie and will wait to see the results.
Does this make any sense to anybody?

[vindibona1]

Theoretically I think it's possible. Could be a change in the humidity too.

[Earl49]

It takes a while for the wood to realize that it is sliced thinly and fitted into a guitar shape with inherent stresses, rather than still being a tree. Vibration helps, drying helps, glue curing time helps, and simple time helps.

You are on the right track.

[merlin666]

Totally makes sense. That's about the time that is needed to learn how to work the neck and figure out how to make an unknown guitar sound good. It will even get better as you figure out how to get more nuanced articulation out of it. Congrats

[martingitdave]

Beat on it. I've got friends who can't figure out why their guitars haven't opened up. Do you play them, I ask?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[cmd612]

Someone once told me a new guitar should be "strummed hard with a quarter for a couple years" to sound its best. I like the phrase and keep it in mind with new guitars, even if I don't literally use a quarter.
Have fun!

[Steve DeRosa]

If it's a hog-top that's the only way to do it...

[00-28]

Originally Posted by cmd612

Someone once told me a new guitar should be "strummed hard with a quarter for a couple years" to sound its best. I like the phrase and keep it in mind with new guitars, even if I don't literally use a quarter.
Have fun!

So that's what they mean when it is said that the top is quartered.

........Mike

[YamahaGuy]

Well aware that guitars are not the same as engines, many engine builders say to run an engine in the breaking in process the way you'll be running it normally.

As for guitars, my take is that if they're gonna break from playing hard, let it be during the warranty period. If you play hard, play it (the new one) hard. My 2c.

[rokdog49]

Thanks for the opinions which basically are reinforcing my experience.
The older guitar sat in 40-45 percent humidity and got beat on hard for that four weeks and as I said it went from plain to richer sounding in a noticeable way. I know it will take lots more time than that for both of them,but I think you have to vibrate the you-know-what out of the top to get it doing what it will do best.
Anyway, what can it hurt?

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

I've purchased two brand new guitars in the last six weeks. One I just have had two days. I made it a point to play the older one every day for about 20-30 minutes and included a lot of hard strumming (very hard). After about a month, it really improved and I have been rewarded with some great tonal response.
I started the same process with the newbie and will wait to see the results.
Does this make any sense to anybody?

Wow, you're ... you're like a human ToneRite machine!

[yellowesty]

I recently finished building my first guitar, a 12-fret 000/OM. When I initially strung it up, in mid-December, I was terribly disappointed in its tone — flat, dull, blah. But, since I built it, I felt I should play it. Within two weeks, the tone had changed, rather abruptly and substantially — and I’m now truly delighted in the result. An incredible opening up. At least to my ear, it’s rich, melodic, and resonant and has great sustain — and though it’s not a large body, it has decent bass to complement a ringing treble. I have no idea whether the change process will continue. YMMV.

I recognize that this anecdote sounds a bit like self-hypnosis, but several other people (some of whom are not inclined to humor me) also noted the significant change in tone.

[Looburst]

I wouldn't beat hard on any new guitar but to each his own. Humidity changes can make a difference, I wouldn't ry to rush it, just let it happen when it wants to.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Looburst

I wouldn't beat hard on any new guitar but to each his own. Humidity changes can make a difference, I wouldn't ry to rush it, just let it happen when it wants to.

Ok, So why would you think that would be a bad thing.
I'm not wanting to do damage obviously.

[Looburst]

Well just play it like you normally would. Just don't over do it to the point where something bad could happen, even if by mistake. This is how mistakes happen sometimes.