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Location: Salt Lake City | Hello all,
I hope someone here can help me. Does anyone know how to add a little relief to the neck of a model 1639 Balladeer Special?
Thanks
Pier Calacino |
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Location: Utah | Pier, welcome aboard! It's nice to see another SLC member.
If you have a truss rod cover on the headstock, take it off and you'll see a nut or hex socket. If you don't have a truss rod cover, look inside the bowl where the neck attaches. There may be a socket or nut at that end.
Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey. To get more relief, loosen the truss rod. Make a small adjustment, about 1/8 turn, and see what effect it had. Don't make more than about a 1/4 turn change on the truss rod in a day. Let it sit overnight and see where it settles. |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | Pier, this might help:
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Tim, I love this diagram. I remember you said it wasn't quite right when you first posted it.
Is this what you were looking for?
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Location: NW of Philadelphia | That about 'splains it all! |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | iffy,
The thing that bothers me is that I don't have a correct "righty" arrow. I like your version, but would like it to be the same as the "lefty" only mirrored. That's something I cannot do with the setup I have here at work...
Also, please ANYONE, feel free to "tinker" with this diagram to suit.... it's only a visual intended to help others.... ;) |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I think the '39 would be in the bowl, if there is one. |
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| Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
Tim, I love this diagram. I remember you said it wasn't quite right when you first posted it.
This any better?
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Bingo Serge! By Jove, I think you've got it...  |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | Spot on! Great Job!! Now I can retire my hackneyed attempt! Very Cool! |
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| Thanks - I'll post it up to the ning site. |
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| Up on ning:
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ...uh, thanks for the credit, but I'd prefer a check. :rolleyes: |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | OK! Just fer Tim...
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ...thanks. I'll send it to the bank. Should cover everything. If not, I'll have them contact "Deep Pockets Iffy" direct! |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
OK! Just fer Tim...
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ...here? There's always an opportunity to crack wise! |
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Location: Salt Lake City | All,
I really do appreciate all the advice provided here and the time everyone took to post but there is one problem. As mentioned in my first post, my Balladeer is the “SPECIAL” what this means is that it does not have a truss rod. It is what Ovation has listed as the foam neck which I think is the polyurethane neck they used in circa 82-83 I believe. So with this being said I still have an issue and no way to adjust the neck other than possibly putting on heaver strings.
Is there another solution any of you are aware of?
Thanks in advance.
Pier |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I've seen similar diagrams in a "Men's Health" mag. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | You didn't really tell us what the problem was. We seem to have assumed the neck had some warp or bow, but that is not likely with a urethane neck. Is the action too high or low? If you can't get it right with shims under the saddle, the neck may be pulling into the body. It may be removable with 2 bolts and could be reset. That might be something you'd want to send to the factory or a luthier. If you are the original owner, the factory might do it under warranty. |
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Location: NJ | Have you looked at the OTHER end of the neck (inside the body) for the truss-rod adjustment? |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Originally posted by (Mauvais) Beal:
I think the '39 would be in the bowl, if there is one. So it's possible he actually doesn't have a truss rod to adjust, Beal? |
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Location: Salt Lake City | thanks again folks and no there is not a truss rod in the neck to make an adjustment (that would be too easy). The neck needs some relief added to allow a little more clearance between the 1st - 4th frets for the E, G and B strings.
the neck is straight or flat with no relief and it would help if I could add just a little relief to the neck. It seems the only choices I have is to try heavier gauge string to see if that will bow it a bit or shim-up the bridge which I don't really want to do because its set perfect for my style. I just need some more clearance. Yes I am the orignal owner;I purchased it in 1983 or 84 if I remember correctly.
Pier |
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Posts: 5
Location: Salt Lake City | thanks again folks and no there is not a truss rod in the neck to make an adjustment (that would be too easy). The neck needs some relief added to allow a little more clearance between the 1st - 4th frets for the E, G and B strings.
the neck is straight or flat with no relief and it would help if I could add just a little relief to the neck. It seems the only choices I have is to try heavier gauge string to see if that will bow it a bit or shim-up the bridge which I don't really want to do because its set perfect for my style. I just need some more clearance. Yes I am the orignal owner;I purchased it in 1983 or 84 if I remember correctly.
Pier |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | The slots in the nut may have worn down, which would be the easiest fix next to adding shims. Get a new nut with slots that aren't cut as deep. Resetting the neck would add to the height at the upper frets. I doubt you're going to bow a urethane neck. That was the purpose. You might only get a buzz at the upper frets. |
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Location: Salt Lake City | Replacing the nut would have no effect since the buzzing on the frets only occur when the strings are being fretted, thus taking the nut out of the equation. |
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Location: NW Washington State | I didn't see that you posted an answer to this question- you did look carefully into the bowl to see if there's a truss rod adjustment at that end of the neck?
If the 1639 is a Matrix and it's a foam/aluminum neck, then no truss rod might make sense. Can you post pictures?
A fret leveling job might do the trick. Could this have an aluminum fretboard and frets? If so, you don't want to take much off those.
If you're the original owner and have some documentation, you might be covered under warranty.
-Steve W. |
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Neck Adjustment Help?