Frequently Asked Questions

 

J-DUB GUITAR CARE INSTRUCTIONS

        J-Dub Guitars are designed to make beautiful, resonant, responsive music, and with proper care, will continue to do so for longer than your lifetime. Our guitars are high performance instruments made with

high quality wood, metal, and finish. We also use the latest technology to achieve this performance. Consequently, reasonable care must be taken to preserve this instrument.

 

A WORD ABOUT HUMIDITY & TEMPERATURE:

        J-Dub Guitars are built in Southern California. We experience moderate temperatures but normally

low relative humidity. We take great care to work with the wood when it's EMC (Equilibrium Moisture Content) is 8%. This EMC, which is relatively insensitive to room temperature, occurs when the wood is exposed to a relative humidity of 45% for a period of time depending on the age and thickness of the

wood and the finish applied. Wood dimensions change as the EMC changes, across the grain changing roughly twice as much as along the grain.

 

        A 15-inch wide top panel of a guitar built at 45% relative humidity will want to be 15.1 inches wide

at 65% relative humidity. The problem occurs because the longitudinal grain of the bracing that is glued across the top grain will only grow half as much, setting up high stresses and panel deformation. High

EMC balloons the top up (high action) and low EMC bellies it down (low action). There is no way around

this. The guitars finish only serves to slightly slow down the change in EMC.

 

WHAT TO DO:

        Always store your guitar in a controlled environment, i.e. a humidity-controlled case. It sounds complicated but it is not. Hygrometers can measure the humidity inside the case, inexpensive

passive humidifiers and desiccants can control the humidity. Humidifiers like the ones sold by Planet

Waves, Dampit and others are very good (just remember to add water to the humidifier sponges!)

 

        Monitor the health of your guitar! Another product recently released is Planet Waves Humidipack,

which keeps the relative humidity close to 45%, not allowing it to get too high or too low.

 

        For most guitars, relative humidity between 40% and 60%, at around 70 degrees, is a

comfortable range. Factors such as age, model and wood species contribute to how a guitar reacts

to environmental stress. Guitars are the most sensitive and require the most care and monitoring in the

first year after completion.

 

        More important than absolute relative humidity is the rate of change. Extremes of humidity or

temperature are never good, but rapid changes of either of these conditions will cause the worst and sometimes permanent damage to your guitar.

 

        We recommend using an in-case hygrometer, thermometer and checking them regularly.

 

CLEANING YOUR GUITAR:

• Wipe your guitar clean after playing with a soft, dry cloth, such as clean cotton tee-shirt.

• A slightly damp cloth will wipe off the sweat and dust on your guitar. Do not use harsh chemical 

     cleaners as they may cause damage to finish. Most cleaners sold as “Guitar Cleaners” can be

     used.

• Polishes and waxes made specifically for guitars are usually safe. We don’t recommend waxing

     more than once a year if at all. Never ever use anything with silicone in it, its not necessary and                makes it impossible to touch up or repair the finish.

 

RE-STRINGING YOUR GUITAR:

        Unless you requested an alternate set, we use the following size strings:

• Acoustic 6 and 12 string, “Extra Light” .010—.047

• Electric 6 string, "Extra Light" .010—.046

 

        Your guitar will come with a specification sheet showing what brand and specification strings were

used. The structure of the guitar is built with that string sets tension in mind. We design the structure to withstand the tension of the strings without too much deflection, and yet be flexible enough to generate

high volume and overtones.

 

        Changing to heavier or lighter strings can be done, but this affects several areas:

• Intonation, i.e. a heavier set will be “sharp” when fretted

• Binding and string height at the nut, i.e. larger strings will not sit all the way into their groove

     and smaller strings may tend to rattle or buzz

• Action Height, i.e. the change in string tension will change the amount of deflection of the neck

     and body

 

        It is possible to change the string size, but it will usually require a guitar tech to do it properly. And please be aware that your guitar structure has been designed and tuned to deflect the correct amount due to the tension of the specified strings. There is some margin for higher tension, normally one string size.  

 

        Acoustic 12-string guitars are normally built closer to the limit, so be very careful with these instruments. Be sure to lubricate the slots in the nut and the surface of the saddle so the strings can slide effortlessly when tuning (or bending).

 

WARRANTY:

        J-Dub guitars are warranted for 5 years against defective materials and workmanship, to the original owner only, provided that the original owner follows our care and use recommendations. J-Dub Guitars assumes liability only for repair of the guitar and not for incidental or consequential damages.

J-Dub Guitars does not provide a warranty for normal wear and tear, accidental damage, and abusive treatment.

       

        Normal wear and tear affects frets, strings, nut, saddle, bridge pins, tuning machines, pickups, and finish. Variations in temperature and humidity can cause distortion of the top, back, or neck, and are normal occurrences not covered under this warranty. Exposing the guitar to extreme temperature and humidity variation can damage or loosen joints, cause finish cracks, or otherwise render the guitar unplayable and are considered to be the result of accidental damage or abusive treatment. Impact damage, chemical exposure, improper repairs, and fire damage are not covered under this warranty.

       

        All warranty coverage, expressed or implied, expires upon transfer of ownership from the original owner. Please promptly contact J-Dub Guitars with a complete description of any warranty-related problem. Defects covered under this warranty will be corrected without charge to the original owner provided that J-Dub Guitars has done the repair. All shipping and insurance expenses will be borne by the owner. Return approvals must be obtained in advance of shipping guitars to J-Dub Guitars.

 

A FINAL NOTE:

        We also would love pictures and videos of you enjoying your guitar, as nothing makes us happier than seeing someone enjoy our works of art.

 

Please contact j-dubguitars.com for all claims.