Knowledge Base

The simplest way to keep your Faith Guitar clean is with a lint-free cloth. A regular wipe will keep dust and dirt at bay. Guitar polish should be applied to lacquered areas only with a microfibre cloth.

Do not apply polish to satin-finished or unlacquered areas - such as the back and sides of the Faith Natural or Trembesi series.

Make sure to test the polish on a small, inconspicuous area first to check for any unexpected reaction between polish and lacquer. After every use we recommend wiping the body and strings with a dry, lint-free cloth.

Solvents sometimes found in plastic, leather or vinyl (use on accessories such as straps or stands) can also tarnish the lacquer over time, so keep a watch on any areas that start to discolour.

Perspiration can also tarnish the finish of your guitar as well as leave oily residue on the strings.

For advice on cleaning Faith Naked guitars, please see the relevant section.

Guitars with a light, satin finish - such as Faith Naked series - cannot be polished and due to the nature of the satin finish, will naturally mark and tarnish more quickly.

Once a Faith Naked guitar is marked or dirty, it is not possible to polish out or remove the mark. This is the characteristic of the simple finish type... the plus side of which is the great tone.

Don't forget that your skin naturally secretes oils, acids and minerals in perspiration and so it is quite common for guitars of all types to mark and stain in areas that are most often in contact with skin. The effects of skin-contact will be more evident on satin-finished guitars than gloss-finished.

Always loosen the strings before removing them. Do not cut them at tension.

Remove the bridge pins using your fingers or a specially designed 'pin puller' available from your local music store.

Acoustic guitar strings have a metal ball on one end and a plain end at the other. Once the bridge is removed, the metal ball end is to be placed into the appropriate hole in the bridge, and pushed through so that it is approximately an inch inside the body. Then the bridge pin is inserted back into the hole with the long groove facing toward the neck (if it has a groove). Once the pin is partially re-inserted, hold the pin and pull the string through securing the ball end. The bridge pin then secures the ball end against the bridge plate. The ball end should not be directly underneath the bridge pin, as if it is, the pin will push out of the hole. The pin is held in place by a cantilever action rather than all-round friction within the hole.

Once fitted correctly, the bridge pin should be pushed back fully into place with a thumb or finger. Do not hammer or glue the pins into place.

We are often asked about re-fitting bridge pins after they have been removed to change strings. Many people are surprised to find that their Faith Guitar bridge pins do not wedge tightly into the holes. 

In fact, bridge pins should never be held in place by friction all around the hole. Rather, the bridge pin should be held in place by a cantilever action caused by the ball end of the string pushing against the side of the lower portion of the pin.

When fitting new strings, it is often helpful to bend the ball end of the string in an 'L' shape. Then the ball end can more easily wedge under the bridge plate of the guitar - rather than just sit under the end of the pin, and push the pin out.
When the ball end of the string is in the hole, place the bridge pin back into the hole, and hold it lightly with your thumb. Then pull the string through until it stops. If the ball end is under the bridge plate as it should be, the pin will stay in place. 

See the below example images for more detail.

Over time the strings on your Faith guitars will gradually become tarnished and lose their brilliance of tone. When this occurs it's time to fit a new set of strings.

Faith Guitars are fitted as standard with coated strings (12 - 53 gauge). Coated strings will offer a longer lifespan and increased brilliance. If you are fitting particularly heavy of extra light gauge strings, strongly advise that you have the guitar checked out by a qualified guitar-technician, as various adjustments may be required to ensure the neck responds accordingly.

We recommend changing all 6 strings at once. Changing only one string at a time can result in an unbalanced sound.

Your new Faith Guitar is made of solid wood, which is a very good thing, as solid tonewood resonates much more effectively – and therefore sounds much better - than the laminated plywood found on many other inferior instruments.

BUT.. Solid wood is also much more susceptible to changes in humidity, continual air conditioning or extremes of temperature. Increases in humidity will cause the wood to take on more moisture from the surrounding air thus causing the wood to expand; and decreases in humidity will result in moisture being lost from the wood and subsequently the wood shrinking.

If these changes occur quickly, the tone woods may split or bow; the neck may move or twist unnaturally; or the glue may weaken causing problems with joints, bracing or bridge integrity. So, rapid changes in humidity - either up or down - are to be avoided at all costs.

Tell-tale signs that you need to change your guitar’s environment:

- The texture of the wood becoming very pronounced with the lacquer noticably ‘sinking’
- The fret ends becoming ‘proud’ of the edge of the fingerboard. 
- The top or back of the guitar arching inwards, or sinking. 

The good news is that you can do something about it, and here are a few suggestions:

- The simplest thing - Buy a guitar humidity control system from your local music store or online. There are a number to choose from, and are not expensive. They come with full, simple instructions.
- When not in use, keep your guitar laid flat in its case with the lid closed. 
- Do not place your guitar near a radiator, fan heater or other source of 'dry heat'. The air immediately surrounding the guitar will rapidly lose its moisture, and problems could occur.
- It is advisable to avoid hanging your guitar on an outside wall inside your home. During particularly cold months, the temperature and humidity acting on the back of the guitar will differ from the front. 
- If your guitar is exposed to freezing temperatures, once taken indoors we advise that you leave it in its case to reach room temperature more slowly.

Please note that problems caused by failing to take proper care of your instrument are not covered by your warranty.

We advise that you seek professional advice from a Guitar Technician before adjusting the action of your guitar. Incorrect adjustments may permanently damage your instrument.

Do not adjust the neck truss rod without a full knowledge of the implications. There is an Allen key / Hex key included in your Faith Guitar case if you do wish to make adjustments however.

With the guitar laying on its back, headstock closest to you, staring straight down the end of the truss rod... turn the Allen key clockwise to tighten (reducing the neck relief / straightening the neck)... or turn the Allen key anticlockwise to loosen (increasing the neck relief / allowing more neck bow).

The truss rod should be adjusted no more than one quarter turn at once, after which a few minutes should be allowed for the neck wood to readjust itself before further adjustment.

However, adjusting the neck truss rod is not an easy fix for a high string action. See your local guitar technician for a full diagnosis of the cause of any unduly high string action.

Most guitars need to have a slight concave bow to the neck. A dead straight, flat neck is rarely the ideal setup.

All Faith Guitars sold in the UK will go through Patrick James Eggle's workshop to have a pre-delivery cosmetic inspection, action check and basic setup. 
Faith Guitars sold in markets outside of the UK will be inspected and treated in a similar way, but by the team employed by the Faith Guitars distributor in that country. You can find the distributor in your country using the Dealers link above. But regardless of who does it, the goal is for each guitar to arrive at the music store ready to impress and delight those who play it. 

However, once the guitar reaches the store, it is their responsibility to ensure that it remains in top condition. Bear in mind that due to changes in weather and humidity both inside and outside the store, guitars will move, especially when they are very new and adjusting to a new climate. And as much as we would like to see every Faith guitar sold within minutes of it arriving in a store, the reality is that the guitar you are playing or buying may have been on the wall for a few months. In that time, the store should have taken care of its condition. 

Remember that Faith Guitars - and others - are made of solid tonewood. Wood can and will move as it acclimatises to its new home in a warehouse, a music store, your living room or a studio. Your guitar will need adjustment once or twice a year, and this will probably cost a few pounds/dollars/euros.. 

Guitars are living breathing things.. kind of. By their nature, they are not interchangeable white goods like a fridge or a TV. What feels, looks or sounds amazing to you may differ from what is perceived by someone else. Every piece of wood is slightly different in look, tone and feel, and as Faith guitars are handmade - not from a big, machine-controlled production line - areas such as the neck may have marginal differences in feel.

When buying a guitar instore:
We would always recommend buying guitars in store, where you are able to test the actual guitar you will be buying. This is the best way whenever possible, as you can inspect it and test the feel and sound to make sure it 'hits the spot'.
Don't be afraid to ask the staff about a setup if you feel the guitar needs it. The staff may be able to offer advice as to why the guitar is the way it is, or if there is a problem, all good retailers will naturally want to sort it out. 

When buying guitars online:
When buying online, you will have a guitar delivered that you have never played. If it doesn't feel quite right, you'll have to set it up yourself or arrange it with the store it came from.
Unless the retailer expressly states otherwise, you must assume that the guitar will not be setup well. It may be.. but there is no absolute guarantee. Remember, the guitar you are buying may have been in a box in a storeroom for months prior to sale. Always ask whether it will be checked over or setup prior to shipping. 

Sometimes though guitars do develop problems that need attention. The store will be at hand to arrange any service that is required, and they are your first port of call in this instance. Naturally, we will be here to assist the store as and when necessary. 

Whether you're taking your Faith guitar on the school bus or the tour bus, don't forget that your instrument is more than just another piece of baggage.

Ideally, when travelling in a car, your guitar is best placed in its case on the backseat. The boot (trunk) of your car is susceptible to greater fluctuations in temperature and is rarely ventilated properly.

When travelling by aeroplane, we would advise the use of a specific flightcase for your guitar. These are often made of ABS plastic or aluminium, and offer the maximum level of protection for your instrument.

When possible, ask for your guitar to be hand-carried to the aircraft rather than via baggage conveyor, and then hand collected by you from the gate upon landing. Not all airlines offer this service however. When the instrument is travelling in the aircraft hold, it is advised to loosen the strings and keep the instrument as tight inside the case as possible.

Why does my guitar feedback when amplified?

NB: You should not experience feedback at low or normal amplified volume levels.

For years, luthiers have been trying to make acoustic instruments as resonant as possible. Using solid timbers - as Faith Guitars do - is one of the very best ways to do this, and as the instruments are 'played in' and as the wood matures, one would expect it to be become more resonant and sweet sounding. This is basically because the wood is gradually moving more freely, and is exactly what you want from an acoustic guitar!

Likewise for many years, musicians have wanted to amplify their acoustic instrument. But they have often encountered the dreaded issue of on stage feedback when they get to a certain volume. This is essentially why solid body electric guitars became the obvious choice for rock n roll bands..

Plus, every guitar has its own 'resonant frequency'. So sometimes you will find that a certain note sets off the feedback more than any other. This is simply because your guitar is sympathetic to that frequency, and in itself, nothing can be done to change this. But over time, you may find that the resonant frequency changes, as once again the solid timbers mature further.

The bottom line is, the more resonant the instrument is, the more feedback you may experience at higher volumes. It is a sign of a good acoustic instrument.

So, how can i combat feedback?

- Use a feedback buster or feedback blocker. These cover up the soundhole so that less sound can get back into the body of the guitar to be picked up and amplified again, thus creating a feedback loop.
If your instrument has a 'Phase' button on the preamp, this usually does the trick. If you experience feedback, then a push of the phase button will enlist the help of some simple physics which will cancel out the frequencies that are causing it.
- Use a microphone instead. Most professionals will always record their acoustic guitar with a mic in a studio, and doing the same on stage will allow the sound engineer to control the levels and therefore eliminate the problem. Plus, you will get the real acoustic sound of your guitar - which is why you bought it in the first place.
- Don't drive the preamp on the guitar too hard. We would recommend that the volume knob should be no higher than 3/4 (3 quarters). It is better to drive the PA, amp etc than the guitar itself.
- Don't stand too close to the amp. Obvious, we know.
- Make sure the pickup under the saddle is making proper contact with the bottom of the saddle and the bridge. The pickup should lie flat with even contact all along its length. A guitar tech could check this out for you. If there are gaps between the bridge, the pickup and the saddle, then this can cause its own little feedback chamber.

Firstly, ask yourself... "Do i REALLY want to remove the neck from my guitar?" If you get it wrong, your guitar could be permanently damaged. And that would be a crime. 

Faith Guitar necks are Bolt-On, and that means they can be removed. But the primary reason for the bolt-on design is one of stability and reliability, not so that anyone can whip the neck off for fun.
So even though the necks can be removed, they're not specifically designed for it, and its still a tricky procedure. 

We strongly recommend that you take your guitar to a local music store or guitar tech or guitar luthier. Let them take the strain instead. They would have done it many times before. 

Please note: Faith Apollo Series guitars have a glued / set neck. You CANNOT remove these necks. Similarly with many other guitar brands, if you do not have a bolt-on neck system, do not try to remove the neck. 

You will need: 

- An Allen / Hex key to fit the neck bolts. 
- Cardboard and Kitchen Foil (or similar heat protective and reflective surfaces)
- A pallet knife or similar for gentle prising 
- A small iron or heatplate
- Glue to re-attach the neck. 
__

So if you're really sure you want to do it, below is the explanation of how to remove your Faith Acoustic Guitar's neck. 

1) Remove all the strings and bridge pins. 
2) Then, using an allen key unscrew the two neck bolts inside the body at the base of the neck. (The bolts are concealed behind a white label)
3) The end of the fingerboard is also glued to the top of the guitar, so you must now melt the glue carefully. A device such as an iron (preferably a small iron, like a travel iron), would work for this job.
4) Create a template to protect the top of the guitar from the heat. Take a thick piece of cardboard, and cover in kitchen foil. Cut a section away to leave only the end of the fingerboard visible, keeping the body of the guitar covered with the cardboard/foil template. The goal is to reflect the heat from the iron away from the top of the guitar, but let the heat penetrate the fingerboard section. 
5) Then apply the heat source directly onto the end part of the fingerboard (from where the neck joins the body up to the end of the fingerboard. (dont touch the body wood with the heat source!)
6) Leave the iron on the fingerboard on full power for approx. 15minutes. 
7) After 15 minutes, the Hide Glue will soften, and you may notice the neck and guitar gently separating. Then you can carefully (!) start to work the neck loose. 
8) If it feels difficult, leave the heat for longer. 
9) When you need to re-attach the neck, apply glue to the underside of the fingerboard end and place back on the guitar, then tighten the neck bolts.

The necks of guitars almost never really needto be removed. It is not a solution for lowering the action etc. 

Again, we would recommend taking your guitar to a professional guitar technician for the best and safest outcome. 

Some Electro-Acoustic Faith Guitars use a combined jack socket/strap button arrangement. Numerous pickup manufacturers use this system - such as Fishman, Shadow, LR Baggs, AER and others - so Faith are not alone in having to answer this question. 

As a result of the jack socket/strap button combo, the strap button size is a fair bit larger than a regular 'standalone' strap button, and so we are often asked about how to get the strap fitted onto this larger button. 

Thousands of people use straps on these larger buttons every day, but we do fully understand that it is often more difficult - and on occasion near impossible - to get some types of strap to fit over the jack socket /strap button. 

There is no particular brand of strap that fits more easily. However, those with softer ends are generally a little easier to fit. Perhaps take your guitar along to your local music store and try a selection until you find one you're happy with.

But really, it's just a case of solving the problem in a practical way.

Here are some ideas to try:

1) Have a google for the Neotech Slim Strap with Acoustic End-pin connector (SKU #8201172)
There are similar straps available from D'addario too. 

2) Cut your strap's hole a little larger using a sharp blade such as a craft knife or scalpel. (But be careful... naturally!)

3) Find a strap with softer leather or fabric ends. These can be manipulated and stretched much more easily than rigid or very thick leather ends.  

Or you could... 
4) Fit a separate strap button. 
All you need do is visit your local music store to buy a standard strap button. They are very inexpensive - a few pounds (or dollars etc) - and fitting will take very little time.
With the guitar laying on its back, the new button should be positioned above or below the existing jack socket, along the vertical line at the bottom of the guitar - where the two sides meet. If you are not confident in doing this, while you're in your local music store, just ask their guitar tech to fit it for you. It won't take more than a few minutes. 
Once fitted, you will be able to use any strap you like! 

This is relevant to Faith Guitars fitted with the Fishman INK system: 
HiGloss, Natural, Bloodmoon, Bluemoon, Classic Burst Venus or Neptune, Eclipse. 

To replace the battery in your Faith Guitar's Fishman INK preamp system, take a look at the 'Fishman' labelled panel on the base of your guitar. 
It's by the strap button and jack socket. 

You'll find that if you carefully lift the end of the black plastic cover a little, then carefully slide to the side, the PP3 9v battery is located within.
Unseat the battery from its securing clip, and pop a new one inside, and you're good to go. 

This is relevant to Faith Guitars fitted with the Fishman Flex-T-Blend system: Legacy FG1, FG2 or FG5. - and also the Fishman Sonicore discreet system fitted to Classic Burst Mars models. 

The battery compartment on discreetly fitted preamp systems is located in a velcro-fixed pouch just under the base of the neck, inside the body. 

Sometimes this battery bag will be fixed to the base of the neck, or sometimes by the brace by the end of the fingerboard. 

Either way, to access the battery bag, loosen the strings, put your hand inside and carefully pull away from the velcro fixing. 

Open the bag, replace the battery, re-velcro the bag and away you go. 

This is relevant to Faith Guitars fitted with the Fishman ISYS or PRESYS preamp systems: Naked and Nexus models. 

The battery compartment should be easy to find on these systems, with the box mounted into the side of the body, a little way from the base of the guitar. 

The jack socket and strap button is separately located at the base of the guitar. 

Just flip the catch on the battery compartment and the PP3 / 9v battery will come right out. Replace, and get right back to playing. 

We are asked many times every day about artist endorsements, and as I’m sure you will understand, we are not able to offer many endorsements. Endorsed Faith Guitar players will pay an agreed artist price for their instruments.

If you would like to enquire, please use the contact form below. Our Artist Liaison will answer your query as soon as possible.

However, we are always happy to hear from anyone who owns a Faith Guitar.

Please see our International Distributor Map to find the closest distributor to you. Otherwise, you could contact a retailer in a nearby country and ask for their shipping details. Many music stores are used to dealing with overseas shipping and transactions.

You can also ask your local music store to contact Barnes and Mullins to enquire about stocking Faith Guitars.

If you have any problems, let us know and we will endeavour to help!

Yes! If you live in the UK.

You can order spare parts from our Spares Directory which can be found HERE

If you live outside of the UK please contact your local music store or Faith Guitars Distributor.

No, I’m afraid you can’t buy direct.

We have a network of independent music stores across the UK - and international distributors - who commit to stock a certain level of Faith Guitars. That way you can find the models you are looking for closer to home and test before you buy. We would always recommend that you buy your guitar from a real music store rather than solely online, as you will be able to test the actual instrument you will purchase.

You can find your local retailer or international distributor HERE

No. Not any more.

We did used to, but since 2022 we have switched all traditional animal-based / gelatine-based glues to 'white' glues which are not animal derived.

Faith Guitars recognise the importance of an ethical and sustainable manufacturing process, and we are conscious that this concerns many of our current and future players.

JUST ONE Tree

As part of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring the business is ever more sustainably and ethically administered, Faith Guitars are delighted to be an official partner of JUST ONE Tree - pledging to plant at least one tree for every guitar sold globally.

JUST ONE Tree is a not-for-profit organisation based in the UK who plant trees in areas severely affected by deforestation to maximise the effect on reducing global warming. In the process they help to provide agricultural education and sustainable incomes to local communities.

But they don’t stop there. JUST ONE Tree concentrates on restoring the entire ecosystem by planting on land and in the oceans, and they also focus on helping to shape the next generation of planet-conscious thinkers by bringing environmental education into the classrooms with lesson plans and JUST ONE Tree Day.
www.justonetree.life

Faith Guitars - The Tonewoods

The Englemann Spruce, Sitka Spruce or Red Cedar is from North America, Canada or Spain purchased through large US or Canadian tonewood merchants that supply most all guitar manufacturers.
All Spruce / Cedar tops will be from FSC Certified sources with verification from Tonewood, Spain / Acoustic Wood, Canada etc. 

The African Khaya Mahogany is sourced from European tonewood merchants (usually Maderas Barber in Spain) who offer tonewood with FSC Certification. Khaya Mahogany's country of origin is usually Cameroon. 

Maple for the Maple binding is sourced in pre-cut lengths from China or Korea. This Maple would usually have originated in China. 

The Indonesian Mahogany, Sonekeling Rosewood, Trembesi, Mango and Ebony is all from Java or Makassar, and has been sourced through local, government approved timber merchants using the 'Indonesia Legal Wood' Scheme, SVLK (Sistem Verificasi Legalitas Kayu).
Under Indonesian law, SVLK certification and related documents (SVLK certificates and export licences called V-Legal Documents) constitute proof of legality for Indonesian timber products. This system was created in conjunction with the EU to ensure the legality of timber export from Indonesia into the EU. 

Each order of timber that our workshops recieve is supplied with SVLK paperwork, which is then filed and must be kept for inspection by Indonesian goverment officials when requested. 

Faith Guitars has an excellent relationship with the workshop administration with a firm agreement that all wood used in the construction of Faith Guitars must be certified as 'Indonesian Legal Wood', SVLK. 

The timber is generally supplied to the workshops fully itemised and in plank form – before being cut and spliced in house once it has fully dried and matured.

Information for Vegans:

The rosette inlays around the soundhole on most Faith Guitars are made from Abalone, and the logos are Mother of Pearl. 
In both cases, these materials are a by-product of the fishing industry and originate in either Australia or New Zealand. 
We are working however to offer animal-product-free Faith guitars throughout 2024 and beyond.