Strings for an S32

[jmazza]

Hi-

I've got an S32 that I use 12's on. I've been noticing that the action is getting uneven (higher near the bridge) and it looks like the top and bridge are pulling a bit.

I thought that 12's were ok on this guitar but I'm wondering if I need to go down to 11's (which I really don't want to do!)?

Should I have it checked out? As of recently I live in South Florida and don't have a great repair guy yet (transplanted from Nashville where I had all the repair guys I needed!!)

[JB]

12's are the correct gauge for your S32 ... it's what we put on as standard.

Maybe your guitar has taken a small amount of moisture making the soundboard or neck move ?

Quickest way to test if you've a moisture problem with your guitar is to check the fret ends ... if you can feel the fret ends sticking out the guitar has dried out a bit ... if the fret ends are receeded a lot into the fingerboard the there is a bit too much moisture .

[jmazza]

Well, I do live in South Florida where the humidity is really really high (around 80%+ in the 8 month summer). I bought a dehumidifier to keep it around 50-60% at the start of the year.

THe frets don't seem to be receded but I will check more often.

I have read that most effects of an over-wet guitar will come back to normal as it is returned to better humidity levels. Do you think, that if the culprit is humidity, that it will return to normal, or will it eventually need repair?

As I said, the soundboard under the bridge area is definitely bulging a bit, but not a whole lot more than any of my other acoustics that don't really have the action issue.

Thanks so much!

[JB]

correct ... a bit of high humidity is rarely a big problem and the guitar should return to it's proper state but being too dry is a big no no !

[jmazza]

Thanks to both of you for this info! I'll continue to monitor the guitar and humidity!

[David]

How do you know if your guitar is becoming too dry and what do you do about it? Are all solid guitars more susceptible to this problem than laminated silvers for example?

[JB]

if you can feel the fret ends sticking out of the fingerboard edge then it could be drying out too much but if you're in the UK it would be unusual to have any "too dry" conditions.

[David]

I know we don't really do dry here in Norn Iron, but I do notice a lot of wood in my house shrinks during the winter with the heating on.

(For posters other than JB if you say Northern Ireland with a Northern Ireland accent it sounds like Norn Iron)