Expert: The Luthier Lady! - 5/8/2011

Question
I was told a while back by a friend that if you buy a china made guitar they fall apart and age quicker than they should. He said the wood dries up quick and cracks. Is this true? (The one I want is a "Jasmine by Takamine 'S35'"

Answer
Hi Jason,

Not all guitars made in China are of inferior quality. Some are in fact very well made. But it all depends on the manufacturer and how you, as the end user, take care of them.

Wood drying out is not a problem that comes from the manufacturing process. Even $100,000 guitars can dry out and crack. That's just the way the physiology of wood works.

If you live in a dry climate, (which would include living up north in the winter as well as places like Arizona, New Mexico, etc)) you have to keep your guitars hydrated with an in-case hydrator of some sort, to keep them from cracking.

As for aging quicker... No, China made guitars do not age quicker. At least the wood doesn't. The metal parts might because they are usually not the best quality to begin with. The neck might end up needing to be re-set quicker than a more solidly made guitar and the frets will tend to be more un-level (thus requiring the frets to have to be dressed sooner)

The Jasmine you speak of is a low end, inexpensive guitar, made for entry level players. That's not to say it wouldn't serve you well or that it will fall apart. It's just that it is made of laminates, which don't tend to have the best voicing. But I know people who have the model you speak of, and it totally fits their needs.