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Joined:
July 2008
Posts: 40
Location: Madison, Wis | The neck on my Balladeer is bowed up, and I am going to attempt to adjust it for the first time. I have never done this, should I keep the strings on or off when doing this? |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Definitely loosen them a bit! You don't need to take them off. At least I never have and have never had a problem. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Having only owned Ovations neck tweeks are very rare.
Putting a big ol' allen wrench to a guitar neck creeps me out. I'm afraid somthing is gonna snap or I'm going to get things out wack to the point of no return. So... I'm not the best guy to be giving advice.
However... I have found that, oddly enough, it's the UTE that gives me the most problems with the neck adjustment. Right now I have a buzzy B string at the fifth fret. I'm getting up the nerve to fiddle with it.
It seems to me that I'd want the string tuned right up so I can see the effect of the adjustments I'm making. If you loosened the strings wouldn't the distance from the fret board change when the strings are tightend up?
I've found that a change from lights to mediums alone has an effect on the neck setting.
One rule I do know is.... just a quarter turn at a time. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I don't loosen mine when adjusting. Just adjust it a 1/4 turn at a time |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | My thinking is if you are tuned in E or on the sharp end of it (because you haven't tuned),
You could possibly "snap" a String. Better safe then sorry to take the extra time to retune b/4
you check the action. So, after saying that,
I will Defer to Mr Beal and Mr Slipkid as their "Knowledge" is much greater than mine.
Humblely yours,
BT :) ;) |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I will Defer to Mr Beal and Mr Slipkid as their "Knowledge" is much greater Oh my... thanks, but to have those two names in the same sentence with the the operative word being some sort of equated "knowledge" is soooo funny to me.
I think I'll hire a little old lady to embroider that post, frame it, and hang it on the wall in the music room. |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Originally posted by Slipkid:
I will Defer to Mr Beal and Mr Slipkid as their "Knowledge" is much greater Oh my... thanks, but to have those two names in the same sentence with the the operative word being some sort of equated "knowledge" is soooo funny to me.
I think I'll hire a little old lady to embroider that post, frame it, and hang it on the wall in the music room. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | HA!
yeah... right
If you could just re-phrase that thing about being "god-like", I'll add it to the embroidery project. :D |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Originally posted by Slipkid:
HA!
yeah... right
If you could just re-phrase that thing about being "god-like", I'll add it to the embroidery project. :D How's "Ovation Geek" sound?? :D |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Keep the strings tuned to pitch. Even if you only loosen them a little, the tension they put on the neck will be less, and so you will have the "bow" come back when you retune it. (Actually, to be precise, or perhaps persnickety, it's called a warp when it is a "valley", and a bow when it's a "hill".) Quarter turn, then leave it for a day or so. You will probably find that in your area, you will have to make some adjustments twice a year. (Humid in the summer. Dry in the winter.)The action will change, get higher in summer, because the wood on the top will swell some. Once you have the neck straightened, you should adjust the action from the saddle. Shims in during winter, shims out in the summer. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | There... now I've learned something.
I've never heard of the "overnight" thing before.
Thanks CB! |
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Joined:
July 2008
Posts: 40
Location: Madison, Wis | Thanks guys.....you all have been very helpfull. Strings in. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I don't take mine off either.
1/4 turn at a time.
Overnight rest to let the adjustment take hold. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | What Canterbury said. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
What Canterbury said. What Beal said. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Ditto :) |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Triple dittos all around.
Less is more. Tiny little turns. Patience. Give it some time to settle in. You have to be at full tension or you are wasting your time. |
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Attempting to adjust neck!!!