Warranty and Care
If you are visiting this page because you have purchased a new Siragusa Guitars instrument, we wish to thank you for your purchase. By following the recommendations on this page, we trust that this instrument will provide you with many years of enjoyment.
Care of Your Instrument
As with all fine crafted instruments, Siragusa Guitars instruments are made from fine tone woods and is braced to produce the best tone possible while maintaining structural integrity. These instruments have been optimally constructed for Australian climatic type conditions, so feel comfortable practicing, rehearsing and playing gigs. Note, however, that they are still more susceptible to cracking than those of heavier cheaper construction. Generally, the more expensive the instrument, the more care is needed to avoid cracks and structural failure. Damage resulting from exposure to extremes of high and low humidity and temperature for long periods, such as leaving your Siragusa Guitars instrument in a motor vehicle, will not be considered under this warranty. If you feel uncomfortably hot in your car, then the same environment may have adverse effects on your instrument including cracking and warping. There are many online sources that demonstrate how to care for fine wooden instruments – the following provides an overview of providing proper care for your instrument.
Store your instrument in its case and, ideally, keep it in a room with 40-55% humidity and temperature of 20-24°C. Extreme levels of temperature and humidity can cause the wood to swell and expand and possibly pull glue joints apart. Avoid exposure to rapid changes to humidity and temperature. While normal gradual changes to the environment will not harm your instrument, sudden changes to humidity and temperature can have an adverse effect on the instrument’s structural integrity and finish.
Siragusa Guitars are coated with several thin layers of high quality finishes, which are susceptible to harmful chemicals. Avoid using cleaning agents and contact with other chemicals (e.g., aftershave lotion, fly spray, alcohol, etc.) as they may leave permanent marks on the finish. Some guitar straps, capos and other synthetic and vinyl materials, may contain chemicals that can also leave permanent marks where they make contact with your instrument. Do not use polishes intended for gloss surfaces on instrument’s that have a satin finish. Some polishes have cutting compounds that can prematurely wear out your instrument’s finish.
While any finish, with time and normal use, will wear and even show colour changes, the finish can be extended with routine care. It is recommended that after use you wipe your instrument, including the strings, with a clean, dry, soft cloth, particularly where you have made contact with it, to remove perspiration and body oils. Light dirt marks may be removed by wiping your instrument with a slightly damp soft cloth. For heavier dirt marks, only use high quality reputable cleaning products that are specifically made for cleaning acoustic guitars. Cleaning products that damage your instrument will void the warranty. After wiping, remove the guitar strap and store the strap away from the instrument; store your instrument in its case.
If your Siragusa Guitars instrument is supplied with bridge pins, the bridge pin holes have been tapered to fit these bridge pins. The bridge pins hold the strings in place by the friction created with this taper. Each bridge pin has a slotted groove along the length of the pin, which needs to be facing towards the neck of the instrument when the strings are installed. When installing a string, place the string in the hole so that the ball end of the string is seated hard up against the underside of the instrument’s top – when the string is positioned correctly, place the bridge pin in the hole and give it a firm push with your thumb to hold the string and pin in place.
Do not apply any more force than the use of your thumb when installing strings and bridge pins. Do not use tools or other objects such as a hammer to tap in the bridge pins. Doing so may cause damage to the instrument’s top, bridge and bridge pins, and therefore, void the warranty.
The tuning machines installed on your instrument, with normal use, typically require very little maintenance. Enclosed gear type machines do not require lubrication. Exposed gear type machines will require lubrication in accordance with the machines’ instructions – if instructions are not provided, then lightly lubricate gears with petroleum jelly once a year.
Your warranty leaflet will indicate the gauge of strings that have been factory installed on your Siragusa Guitars instrument. Typically, six-string steel string guitars will have been fitted with light gauge (.012 – .053) strings; 12-string guitars will have light gauge (.010 – .047) 12-string sets installed. While you can install lighter gauge strings, it is recommended that you do not install heavier gauge strings. Using heavier gauge strings will not be covered in the warranty of your instrument.
When the instrument begins to loss its typical tonal qualities, it is most likely an indication that the strings need replacing. Be sure to replace the entire set with a reputable brand of strings in order to maintain an even balance of sound for each string.
Under no circumstances should you install steel strings on classical nylon string guitars. Classical guitars are not designed to withstand the higher tension exerted by steel strings and, hence, will cause major damage to the classical guitar. Inappropriate use of strings will void the warranty.
The distance between the bottom of the strings and top of the frets, together with the neck’s relief, defines the instrument’s action. The action defines the instrument’s playability.
Your instrument’s neck and top are made of wood which are susceptible to movement due to environmental (temperature and humidity) changes. A reasonable amount of movement is expected to occur that will not significantly impact on the instrument’s playability. The neck may also have some relief (a slight bow), which allows the strings to vibrate without making contact with the frets and, therefore, reduce buzzing. Occasionally, however, this movement, along with the constant string tension, will cause the instrument’s action to change over time to the point where playability is affected and, therefore, will need adjustments. Adjustments are typically done by adjusting the truss rod, nut and saddle. With normal playing over time, the frets will eventually need levelling and, eventually, possibly need replacing.
If any of these adjustments are required, it is highly recommended that you take your instrument to the place of purchase or to an authorised Siragusa Guitars service centre. Damage caused by unauthorised adjustments and repairs will void the warranty.
When transporting your instrument, additional care is needed to avoid damage. Under no circumstances should you place your instrument in the trunk of your car; lay the instrument, in its case, flat on the back seat. On warmer days, ensure that the interior of the car is not too hot – if you feel uncomfortable in the car, then the same environment has potential to do damage to your instrument. Before placing the instrument in the car, open all the windows to let out the hot air. On very hot days, start the car and turn on the air-conditioner – do not place the instrument in the car until the temperature has adjusted to a comfortable level. The glues used on your instrument can be affected by heat, which can lead to glue joints coming apart, including the fingerboard and bridge.
If you are planning on transporting your instrument on public transport, particularly by air, additional protection is needed. A standard hard case will not adequately protect your instrument from mishandling and transport. We highly recommend that you visit the place of purchase of your instrument to purchase a flight case. We also recommend that you contact your flight carrier to see what options they may have for the handling and transport of your instrument.
Siragusa Guitars Limited Warranty
Please note that Siragusa Guitars instruments are only warranted to the original owner when it was purchased as a new instrument. This warranty does not cover any Siragusa Guitars instrument that has been purchased from and unauthorised dealer or has been purchased as a used instrument.
This limited warranty covers defective structural parts and workmanship under normal use and for as long as the original purchaser owns the instrument. Siragusa Guitars shall also warrant, only to the original purchaser, that factory-installed pickups and pickup systems (including factory-installed pickups on Siragusa Guitars solid body guitars) to be free from defective materials and workmanship for a period of one year from date of purchase. This warranty does not cover any modifications made after the original purchase, including installation of accessories such as pickups and pickup systems and replacement of original parts (unless authorised by Siragusa Guitars). This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear or deterioration due to normal wear and tear of the instrument or its parts or breakage of any part of the instrument and its case including, but not limited to:
- normal wear and tear or breakage of frets, fingerboard, strings, tuning devices and hardware, nut, saddle, batteries and battery leakage, control switches, jacks, pickguard, plated surfaces, or finish;
- normal wear and tear or breakage of the instrument case, gig bag, case or gig bag handle, case or gig bag hardware (including latches) or finish;
- alleged defects or damage caused by modifications, misuse, neglect, abuse, accidents, acts of nature, or improper maintenance of the instrument or its parts (Siragusa Guitars reserves the exclusive right to make such determination of misuse, modification, or neglect based on inspection by an authorised representative of Siragusa Guitars);
- alleged defects involving subjective personal likes or judgments, including subjective opinions regarding the instrument’s tonal characteristics, the instrument’s wood grain or colours;
- alleged defects or damage to the instrument including cracks, dents, splitting or warping of wood or damage to the instrument’s finish caused by accident or exposure to changes of extreme environmental conditions (including storage in a motor vehicle) such as humidity, temperature, exposure to sunlight, moisture, body salts or acids, guitar straps, guitar stands/hangers or clothing items (buttons, studs, belt-buckles, etc.) which cause harm to the instrument;
- defects alleged by any purchaser who did not purchase the instrument from an authorised Siragusa Guitars dealer;
- setups, adjustments, string changes, or any routine maintenance;
- the instrument whose serial number is missing, altered or tampered with in any fashion; or
- alleged defects or damage to the instrument which has had work performed on it by or has been otherwise repaired or modified by a technician or repair person other than an authorised Siragusa Guitars technician or service centre.
The obligations of Siragusa Guitars are limited to repair or replacement of parts of the instrument or pickups found to be defective under this limited warranty. In no event shall Siragusa Guitars be liable for any indirect, incidental or consequential damages including, but not limited to, wages or lost profits, of any nature or kind of damages to or loss of property. This limited warranty does not cover circumstances beyond Siragusa Guitars’ control. This warranty does not apply when failure is due to shipping damage, accident, alteration, modification, unauthorised service, misuse, abuse, use with incompatible accessories or attachments.
This limited warranty is the sole warranty of Siragusa Guitars with regard to musical instruments only and is given in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a purpose.
In the event of a warranty claim by the original purchaser, notify the authorised place of original purchase (provide overleaf details). You will be provided with instructions on how to obtain warranty service. Under no circumstances should you have your instrument repaired by unauthorised repairers. Siragusa Guitars and its authorised dealers and repairers will have sole determination as to how and what repairs will be carried out.
