Guitar break in?

[gnugear]

How long do you think the average guitar takes to break in?

[JasmineTea]

What's average?

[gnugear]

Are we talking weeks, months, or years for things to fully settle in (with around an hour of playing per day).

[JasmineTea]

I think I could give a better reply if I knew what the "average" guitar is. Martin? Epiphone? Seagul? Gibson? ..Model?

[Promethius]

 

Originally posted by JasmineTea I think I could give a better reply if I knew what the "average" guitar is. Martin? Epiphone? Seagul? Gibson? ..Model?

 

 

Do Martins take longer? I've heard they have that reputation.

[rockfan]

My understanding is that it take up to 4 years, depending on use and climate issues.

[JasmineTea]

 

Originally posted by Promethius Do Martins take longer? I've heard they have that reputation.

Well, since he posted the question I've been thinking about it.

 

I don't think laminate guitars change much.

Different back and side woods probly have different break in time.

Different top woods.

 

How many variables are there, and how much effect do they have?

 

I was hoping someone more knowledgeable than I would enlighten us as I'm curiouse myself.

[Promethius]

Actually, I have another question: does rosewood take longer than other back and side woods? It seems to me that new rosewood guitars don't sound too good.

 

Or do I just not like rosewood very much?

[solitaire]

Originally posted by Promethius Actually, I have another question: does rosewood take longer than other back and side woods? It seems to me that new rosewood guitars don't sound too good. Or do I just not like rosewood very much?

Higher density woods take longer time than softer ones.

[Promethius]

 

Originally posted by solitaire Higher density woods take longer time than softer ones.

 

 

Thanks. So spell this out for me--I'm retarded--does that mean rosewood takes the longest followed by mohagony followed by maple?

[guitarcapo]

Forget all that. 90% of a guitar's sound comes from other factors like the top, and body dimensions. The only thing you need to know is that cedar topped guitars don't "break in" Most of the sound is there from day 1 and it doesn't get better as much over time. Might have a shorter lifespan too.Spruce will play in in about 4 years. After that it doesn't change much. At least i found that to be true with the 2 Jumbo Gibsons I owned over 20 years.

[gnugear]

Four years? Wow, that's a long time. I've had mine for about 7-8 years, but it sometimes sits dormant for a long time. My top is a softer Engleman spruce.

[Jelly_belly_83]

My Garrison has a Sitka Spruce top, I've had it for about 3 years (as of october this year) and I play it a lot and noticed that it's really started to open up over the past few months. I'm finding a better bass response mostly and just sounds thicker. It has solid birch back and sides, which is kind of an odd wood (for guitars anyways) but it sounds good regardless. So yeah it happens, and can take awhile to do.