There's nothing worse than trying to practice your favourite song, only to find that your guitar isn't playing the way it should be. Whether it's buzzing strings, high action or intonation issues, guitar problems can be frustrating to deal with. Fortunately, in many cases, there’s an easy fix.
Let’s take a look at what can go wrong with a guitar and how to fix the issues — either at home yourself or with the help of a professional guitar technician.
High action
String action refers to the distance between the strings and the fretboard — in other words, the string height. If the action is too high, you may find it hard to play the guitar and the notes may not sound as clean as they should.
Fixing high action is a case of adjusting the guitar’s truss rod. This will help lower the string height and make it easier to play. If you’re unsure how to do this, speak to a guitar tech about truss rod adjustment.
Fret wear
Like many other guitar components, frets can become worn over time. Fret wear can lead to buzzing, intonation problems, and dead spots on the fretboard. To fix the problem, you need to even out the frets. Usually, the best way to do this is to replace the worn frets, restoring the guitar's playability.
In rare cases, however, it can be more effective to file down the other frets to match the worn one. Again, if you’re unsure which is the right option for your guitar, have a chat with a technician.
Intonation issues
When we talk about ‘intonation’, we’re referring to the accuracy of the guitar's notes across the fretboard. If the intonation is off, you may notice your guitar sounds out of tune or that certain notes are noticeably out of place.
Adjusting the guitar’s bridge saddle can get its intonation back on track. To do this yourself, you’ll usually need a hex key and it can be helpful to use a chromatic tuner. Alternatively, take it to a guitar tech who can help with your saddle setup.
Loose or broken tuning pegs
Tuning pegs hold your strings in place and are essential for adjusting tension — if they become loose or broken, it’s hard to keep your guitar in tune. You should be able to tighten loose tuning pegs up but broken ones may need replacing.
Once you’ve repaired or replaced your pegs, it’s important to fully tune your guitar and make sure you’re happy with the sound.
Cracks in the body or neck
Cracks in your guitar's body or neck can be alarming — but often, the damage looks worse than it is. But why do they appear? Well, guitars can be very sensitive to temperature and humidity, and sudden changes in these factors can cause the wood to fracture. And these cracks can affect both the guitar's tone and structural integrity.
Depending on the location and severity of the cracks, there are a few ways a guitar tech can fix them. Firstly, if the cracks appear on the neck or between the guitar’s top body and side panel, a technician should be able to seal them with strong glue. They will also reinforce the affected area to prevent further damage.
Cracks in other locations, such as in the middle of the body towards the sound hole, may require a little more creativity. In these situations, luthiers and guitar techs make their own tools to seal hard-to-reach cracks without impacting the instrument’s sound quality.
Warped or twisted neck
A warped or twisted neck can cause a number of issues, including high action, buzzing, and intonation problems. As with cracks, twists and warps can be caused by changes in temperature or humidity, as well as the natural ageing of the guitar.
The solution for a warped or twisted guitar neck depends on the individual guitar — the aim is to realign the wood grain. Sometimes, a guitar tech will be able to adjust the truss rod to correct the curvature and improve the guitar's playability. However, at other times, it’s best to replace the guitar neck altogether. This is particularly the case if warping occurs in the guitar's first year of use, as it may be that the wood is settling into its natural and preferred alignment.
Electronic issues (e.g. loose wiring, faulty pickups)
Electrical issues can be daunting, especially if you’re not comfortable handling electronic components. Does your guitar sound distorted? Perhaps it isn’t producing any sound at all. These problems are likely caused by loose wiring or faulty pickups.
Before you can fix the issue, you need to identify the root cause. A trained guitar technician will have experience with the ins and outs of electric guitars and can carry out several tests to work out what’s causing the problem.
We can generally put electronic issues into two categories:
Minor cleaning — Noticed some crackling? It could just be that your guitar’s electronic components need a bit of contact cleaner.
Big repairs — On the other hand, it may be clear that there’s a more sizeable issue, such as a loose electrical joint or an unresponsive pickup. These may require soldering or replacing and you should only attempt these fixes yourself if you’re confident
Strings that won't stay in tune
If the strings won't stay in tune, it can be difficult to play the guitar accurately. This can be caused by a number of factors, including loose tuning pegs. It could also be down to old, worn strings.
Try replacing your guitar strings and checking the tuning pegs — if these actions don’t fix the problem, your best bet is to speak to a guitar technician who can diagnose the underlying cause.
Rusty or corroded hardware
Exposure to moisture can cause rust and corrosion issues which may affect your guitar’s playability and tone. Usually, a bit of cleaning and polishing will restore the hardware to its former glory but if the rust and corrosion are severe, it may be better to look at hardware replacements. This is very rare though — just make sure you store your guitar in a cool, dry place.
Dead frets
If a fret doesn’t produce any sound when pressed down, it’s known as a ‘dead fret.’ Dead frets can be caused by an array of factors, including fret wear or a warped neck. Before fixing it, you need to work out what the underlying cause is. Start with the least invasive repairs and work your way up — there’s no point adjusting the truss rod if a replacement fret will do the trick.
If in doubt, I’d recommend contacting a guitar technician. They’ll be able to decipher the problem and carry out the necessary guitar repairs.
Buzzing strings
Similarly to dead frets, buzzing strings can be caused by many factors. From rough fret edges to low action or humidity changes, each issue will require a different treatment. Look for obvious answers first (such as uneven frets) then move on to other investigations if the problem persists.
If you’re still unsure, a guitar technician will be able to identify the cause and sort the problem out quickly and efficiently.
Guitar repairs in Cardiff, Bristol, and the surrounding areas
Discovering there’s a problem with your guitar can be disheartening and frustrating. However, a majority of guitar issues can be fixed with a few straightforward techniques. If you have any concerns about the playability of your electric, acoustic, or bass guitar, please feel free to get in touch.
My experience as a musician, luthier, and technician has given me insight into the range of problems guitars can face — and how to fix them. Take a look at the Alchemy Instruments price list and contact me to discuss your guitar repairs.
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