If it does not go under, then it is not lifting. You can also check this by trying to put a piece of paper between the bridge and the guitar top. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the bridge is tilted, so checking for any space under it will help you realize if it is lifting off the top. To tell if your acoustic guitar is affected by this bulge, there are a few things that will be noticeable: Some players mistake this with a belly bulge and are fearful that their newer guitar is broken. If you lay a straight edge across the top of your acoustic, there should be a gap on either side of up to 3/16″.
This is not bad as the guitar was designed to be this way to set the string height off the fretboard. Many have a raised bridge right from the factory as part of the build.
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How To Tell If You Have Acoustic Guitar Belly BulgeĪcoustic guitar tops are not normally completely flat by design, as some have an arch. That way, you can be sure that the conditions won’t damage the instrument over time. When you’re not playing your acoustic guitar, it’s best to keep it in a climate-controlled environment. If you must store it in a sunlit room, make sure to keep the case closed and the temperature on the cool side. You should also avoid leaving your guitar in direct sunlight, as this can cause the adhesive to heat up and allow movement, shifting, or warping. This will ensure that the instrument is not exposed to any drastic changes in temperature or humidity.Ĭontrolling the environment in the case with a guitar humidity pack is an even better way to help prevent belly bulges, among other things.
The best way to prevent belly bulge is by keeping your acoustic guitar in a case when you’re not playing it. How To prevent Acoustic Guitar Belly Bulge With less support, the wooden top can begin to warp and sometimes have the bridge lift.
As an acoustic guitar gets older, the adhesive that holds everything together can begin to weaken. One of the most common causes of belly bulge is age. This can lead to cracks, bulges, and other issues. If your acoustic guitar is left in an area with extreme changes in temperature or humidity, it can cause the wood to swell or contract. This can mean dryness or even high heat that affects the wood and adhesive holding the bracing. Over time, the force from the strings can begin to warp a guitar in many areas if the environment is not optimal. Depending on how it warps or moves, it can also tilt the bridge, causing other problems like buzzing or noises. This then causes the strings to move farther from the fretboard. This kind of force will make the guitar want to collapse, and would without proper bracing.īelly bulge is the result of the wooden top being pulled up at the bridge because of the string tension. With steel strings, there is nearly 150-200 lbs of tension applied to a guitar. This is because once string tension is applied, it can damage the parts over time. This article will shed some light on what to look for and how to fix it.Įvery acoustic guitar is designed with bracing to help support the wood parts. Some tops are designed to be raised, and some people mistakenly assume they have a belly bulge on their acoustic. Over time, the tension of the strings can cause this when environmental conditions are not optimal. The wooden top, when raised, can create a playability issue that almost renders the acoustic useless.Īcoustic guitar belly bulge is a raised section of the wood top that changes the action of your instrument. If you have ever noticed that the bridge area of your acoustic guitar sits higher than the rest of the top, this could be an issue.
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