[Ralph007]

Hi
I would like to know why a guitar sounds better as it ages. I read about a guitar opening up , and starting to sound better. I'd just like to know what happens to the guitar to cause this.
Thanks
Ralph

[Pete]

Hi Ralph,
Aside from the structural changes induced by exposure to a degree of heat and cold and in the composition of the glues used, the areas of maximim vibration on the top-plate, called nodes, flex in a predictable pattern which in most cases expands with age, and ""sets""as a memory in the wood itself. These are called Chaladni Patterns.
These nodes are distinct from the nodes you would use to check intonation, or for harmonics.
An even more interesting question would be: Do guitatists get better with age?

[Kirk Lorange]

Wow, Pete. I just learned something new, thanks for that.

[Pete]

...and we both know the answer to the second question, of course

[bluesguy]

Originally Posted by Pete

Do guitatists get better with age?

Only if we practice

[Ralph007]

Hi
Thanks Pete

[6string]

I was told by Dan Crary ( a Taylor Clinician) that solid wood guitars used to take awhile to sound good because of the moisture in the wood, the wood had to dry out a bit to make it more flexible to vibrations. Not the case with present day solid wood guitars, there are ready to go, sound brilliant off the shelf.
Note:don't try and dry your guitar out to make it sound better, it will only damage it and make it worse, guitars need a proper level of humidity.

[Maurice]

I keep on learning in here

[silverbullet5774]

That was an excellent post pete, thank you for that! Also, do you have any links where I could read more about it?