Beginner's 6-String Acoustic Guitar User Guide

Welcome to your new PyleUSA acoustic guitar. This guide provides essential information for setup, maintenance, and care.

Protection from Temperature and Humidity

Maintaining consistent moisture content is crucial for your guitar's structural integrity. Acoustic guitars are sensitive to environmental changes.

Avoid exposing your guitar to extreme temperatures and humidity levels. In dry conditions, use a room humidifier to maintain relative humidity between 40% and 50%.

When not in use, store the guitar in its case, ideally with a hygrometer to monitor humidity. Keep it away from heating vents, radiators, direct sunlight, and car interiors.

Please Note: Damage caused by temperature or humidity variations is not covered by the PyleUSA warranty.

Tuning 6-String Guitars

Proper string winding and stretching contribute to tuning stability. Always tune from below pitch upwards.

If your guitar has an onboard tuner, plug it in and activate it. For guitars without an onboard tuner, use an electronic tuner, pitch pipe, or tuning fork.

The standard tuning for a 6-string guitar, from the thickest to the thinnest string, is: E, A, D, G, B, E.

Manual Tuning Method:

Tune the second string to "A".
Press the "A" string at the 5th fret to produce a "D", and tune the "D" string to match.
Press the "D" string at the 5th fret to produce a "G", and tune the "G" string to match.
Press the "G" string at the 4th fret to produce a "B", and tune the "B" string to match.
Press the "B" string at the 5th fret to produce an "E", and tune the thinnest string to match "E".
Finally, tune the thickest "E" string until its pitch at the 5th fret matches the adjacent "A" string.

Changing and Re-Stringing Your Guitar

Fresh strings can significantly improve your guitar's tone. It is recommended to change strings at least once a month for average players, as body oils and humidity can degrade strings.

Important: When changing strings, replace them one at a time. Removing all strings simultaneously can release tension from the neck and body, potentially causing distortion or damage.

Stringing Flat-Top, Steel String Acoustic Guitars:

These guitars typically use a surface-mounted pin-style bridge with bridge pins to secure strings. To re-string:

Remove the old string and bridge pin. A string winder/bridge pin puller may be helpful.
Feed the ball end of the new string into the corresponding bridge hole.
Reinsert the bridge pin snugly, ensuring the grooved side rides over the string. Do not hammer the pin; a firm push should secure it. [Illustration: Bridge pin securing string ball end]
Pull the string towards the headstock and bend it around the tuning machine post.
Thread the string through the hole in the post and begin winding the tuning machine button to remove slack, forming a neat coil. [Illustration: Winding string on tuning post]
Tune the string to the correct pitch. Gently pull the string to stretch it, then retune. Repeat until slack is eliminated and tuning is stable.

EQ Controls and Operation

Before playing, ensure all volume knobs are turned down. Connect your guitar to an amplifier using an instrument cable. The "BATT" light indicates the guitar is powered on.

Controls:

Tuner: Press to activate. The guitar is muted, and the screen displays the note being played. Tune strings accordingly.
Phase: Engages for a warmer sound with more bass. Turn off to reduce bass and prevent feedback during live performances.
Bass: Adjusts low frequencies. Turn left for less bass, right for more bass.
Middle: Adjusts mid-range frequencies.
Treble: Adjusts high frequencies.
Presence: Adds brightness and clarity to your sound. Adjust to preference.
Volume (V): Controls the overall loudness.
Low Battery Light: Illuminates when the battery needs replacement.

Tip: Always unplug the instrument cable when finished playing, as leaving it connected will drain the battery.

WARNING: This product contains a button cell battery. Ingestion can cause severe internal burns and potentially death within 2 hours. Keep batteries out of reach of children and seek immediate medical attention if a battery is suspected to have been swallowed or inserted.

Adjusting the Acoustic Guitar Truss Rod

The truss rod adjusts the neck's curvature (upbow or backbow). Tightening the adjustment nut reduces upbow, while loosening allows for relief (upbow). Note that one-way truss rods primarily counteract string pull.

Signs your truss rod may need adjustment:

Noticeable change in string action (height over frets), often becoming too high due to upbow.
String buzzing on frets between the nut and the 5th fret, indicating a straight or backbowed neck.

[Illustration: Wrench adjusting the truss rod nut. Text labels: "Tighten for 'bow'", "Loosen for 'hump'"]

Truss Rod Components:

1. 1/4" nut
2. 3/16" washer
3. Threads
4. Main shaft of the truss rod
5. Truss rod anchor
6. Truss rod compartment cover
7. 1/4" nut driver

Measurement: When pressing the string at the 1st and 14th frets, the string should be approximately 0.010 inches (about the thickness of a business card) away from the 6th fret.