A significant part of my work consists of service work and repairs.
Why should an instrument be brought in for service?
Every plucked instrument reacts to humidity. In winter, when the heating season begins and the air is dry, the wood shrinks. In summer, when the humidity is higher, the wood swells. In most cases, it is necessary to adjust the truss rod (if installed) and the string action to prevent unwanted noise. A perfectly adjusted instrument is essential for good playability and intonation, e.g. correct octave intonation. If you do not keep an eye on the humidity, it can also happen that cracks appear in the body of the instrument. In this case, quick action is necessary to avoid further damage.
When switching to a different string gauge, the truss rod must be readjusted, as the string tension varies depending on the string gauge and the neck relief will change as a result .
In many cases the bridge detaches from the top. In the case of cheap mass production, the bridge is usually glued to the lacquer and thus has no direct contact with the top wood. Over time, this glued connection becomes loose. In this case, it is necessary to remove the lacquer from the glued surface and clean it. Afterwards, the bridge is glued back on.
