Caring for your guitar

Humidity - the  scourge of the acoustic guitar

Changes in temperature and relative humidity are the main bogeys for acoustic guitars. Any problems associated with the action of your instrument and the warping or cracking of its woods are likely to be directly attributable to these conditions. Great care is taken with the selection and seasoning of the fine woods used to make Mariner guitars and every one is an individual in its own right. It is a living thing, breathing and reacting to its environment, so a little care is needed to keep it in good health.

The ideal conditions for your guitar are around 24°C (75°F) and 45-50% Relative Humidity. At different times of the year the air will be drier or damper, so bear this in mind and avoid prolonged exposure of your precious guitar to extremes. Modern housing with central heating and air conditioning can also put your instrument in danger. A good quality sound hole humidifier will usually restore a badly dried out guitar to peak condition in a matter of days but prevention is better than cure. When you are not playing, we recommend you leave your guitar in its case where its environment is secure and controllable. . Avoid hanging it on an outside wall, near a radiator or heating duct. Make a habit of wiping down the  neck, body, strings and fretboard with a soft dry cloth after use. This will remove any perspiration with the moisture and harmful body salts associated with it.

Cleaning and protecting the finish

The best way to clean your guitar is with a soft barely damp cloth followed by a shine with a dry soft cloth. If dirt accumulates, use a good quality proprietary guitar cleaner/polish. We recommend Ernie Ball polish and cloths. Always wipe down machine-head buttons with a dry cloth to prevent corrosion and tarnish. Avoid contact with the body by synthetic materials and be aware of guitar stands, straps and accessories that can affect the finish over long periods. It is important to remove the strap and accessories such as capos when storing the guitar in its case. Put them in the accessory compartment to keep them from contact with the finish.

Adjustments and action

Each Mariner guitar is carefully adjusted before leaving the factory. Experienced eyes and hands set up the relationship between the nut, bridge saddle and string gauges. This will change for many reasons, not least the climatic conditions discussed above. Different string gauges and tensions will also have an effect. We recommend you seek expert advice from the authorized Mariner dealer who supplied the instrument or a qualified repair person who will set it up for you. The adjustable truss rod is not designed to adjust the action (height of the strings above the frets). It is there to set the relief or bow of the neck. Adjustment may be necessary very occasionally, such as when changing string gauges, but we recommend that only a competent repairer make such adjustments.

Out and about with your guitar

In concert, gigging or just jamming with friends, it’s fun to be out and about with your Mariner guitar and a little thought will keep it safe on its travels. Always carry your guitar in its hard shell case to protect it from knocks and scrapes. It will also stay at a more even temperature in its case. When you are travelling always allow your guitar to come up to room temperature in its case when going indoors in cold outside weather. Never travel distances with the guitar in the boot of your car or leave it in a vehicle on a hot day. The case will protect it against reasonable shocks but if you plan to do a lot of air travel, you should consider investing in a full-blown flight case. Aircraft holds and baggage handling equipment area not kind to musical instruments.

Changing strings

It is our belief that the finest guitars deserve to be fitted with superior quality strings. For this reason Mariner factory fits and recommends D'Addario or Ernie Ball phosphor bronze strings for optimum performance and tonal response. The tone and intonation are critically proportional to the condition of the strings and many professional players change their strings before every performance. Changing your strings regularly will keep your guitar alive and vibrant. Worn, dirty and corroded strings will be prone to break and at best sound dead and out of tune. A regular change is an investment in your guitar’s performance and enjoyment. We suggest you change a set one string at a time to prevent sudden stresses to the neck. Bring each string up to pitch slowly and smoothly to prevent dead spot stretches and breakages.

The special relationship

At Mariner we know and understand that special relationship between musicians and their instruments. A little TLC will ensure your new guitar will become a friend for life. There is a passion at Mariner Guitars that manifests itself in a range of fine traditionally hand crafted instruments designed for discerning musicians. Our instruments aspire to combine the time-tested construction techniques of past masters with a respect for modern production methods and innovation. After purchase satisfaction is important to us and Mariner Authorized Dealers offer the highest levels of customer service. They will be pleased to advise on any aspect of care and maintenance. You can find a list of Authorized Distributors and Dealers on this website.