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Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Hello crew,
my FD14 worries me a bit lately. I said it before: the cedar top is extremly sensitive, which I found out after a few days. I played a little aggressive and the top was full of little scratches and it is even pushed in a little at one spot (probably by tapping on the wood while playing). This is the point that scares me most.
I checked if a brace is loose, but everything seems fine on the inside.
Another issue is that the high e-string doesn't stay in tune anymore (tune - good - play a second - out of tune) and there is an extreme fretbuzz on the h- and the e-string (the action is very low, so this could probably be a reason, but the buzzing wasn't as extreme when I first received the guitar).
Well... this is the description of the problem. What is the solution? ^^ Is it a good idea to change the strings and raise the action to see if it will get better?
I am a bit scared since the issues came like over night and I still have this horrible photo in mind where the bridge of another Fud "flew off".
I will gladly hear your opinions.
Thanks in advance!
Meuti |
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Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | What has been the change in the humidity?
What height you got at the 12th fret?
If the bridge is thinking of letting go the movement will be up, ie increase in the action.
My 2771LX Balladeer is really sensitive to changes in humidity
AJ |
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Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | I don't know about the change in humidity. The guitar stayed in one room after she arrived. The humidity in this room is very constant.
I can't measure the heigt right now as I am at work, but it doesn't look high at all, so this is probably a good sign ;) |
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Location: Brisbane Australia | Hey I work for a German company!!
Head office is in Stuttgart.
AJ |
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Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Oh nice :) What company is it? Stuttgart is about 300 kilometers from me |
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Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Daimler, Mercedes Benz
AJ |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | AJ, do you give away free samples? |
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Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | :D I prefer Audi but you chose a very good company ;) Uhm... back to topic please :D |
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Location: Michigan | Check the neck relief first. Try putting a capo on the first fret and then fret it at 14 with your finger. You should have at least .006 gap, about the thickness of 2 pieces or printer paper. (.010 is better I think) between the bottom of the string and the top of the middle 2 frets. Better yet use a set of feeler gages. If you don't have that kind of gap I would back off on the truss rod (lefty loosy)a quarter turn and let it sit for a few hours and measure again. That is all in the manual.
If that is taken care of you can measure the height at the 12th fret. I find anything lower than 2/32 will buzz when picking single notes especially at frets 7-10. This can vary depending on how aggressive you are picking. If after checking the first item, you don't have at least 2/32 then I would add a shim or two. Each shim will raise the action at the 12th fret one half the thickness of the shim. The manual says 3/32 on the low E at 12 but I have found you can go a bit lower without too much problem. I have had to make tapered shims to keep the 2/32 on the high E and about 5/64 on the low E. You probably wont notice a extra .010-.015 at the 12th fret when you play in either case.
You can change the strings at this time to see if that string is the problem for it coming out of tune. It could be unraveling at the end or slipping on the post. I read that going to a heavier string is also a cure for fret buzz, but if you at using at least 12s you should be able to work it out with those. You can always throw a 13 on the high E after your are done with all the above (if you still have a buzz) to see if it helps.
I found through trial and error that if the string is buzzing when fretted you pretty much have to follow that order. No sense in adding shims if your neck is bowed the wrong way.
If your string is buzzing when you play open and not fretted than I would look at the nut. It is probably too low.
This is what I have read, tried and has worked for me. If anyone else has corrections to this, post em. I am by no means an expert, just a guy who likes to tinker with stuff. |
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Meuti:
where the bridge of another Fud "flew off"
Meuti,
That was mine. In retrospect, I recall having to tune up the high E string a couple of times prior to the bridge 'peel up'. Closely inspect the bridge base!
My FUD is now at the MS awaiting a new top and bowl. Sure miss her!
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | My FUD is now at the MS awaiting a new top and bowl. Sure miss her! Mine too. And having the neck glossed.
The bridge was fine on mine, USPS / Parcelforce kindly cracked the top when it was in their "care".
Are all FUDs prone to this problem? I doubt it. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by dweezil:
I doubt it. Agreed. Mine had had the bridge replaced shortly after the original purchase, prior to my adoption. So, hopefully it was just a one in 50 issue. |
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Location: Yalova/Turkey | Ooops Meuti, I hope your problem will not become as bad as Iffy´s mentioned above. I cross my fingers for you. |
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Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Thank you Twisted for the very good explanation. I will do it step by step as soon as I find the time.
And thank you Chris for crossing your fingers. I hope all will end up good for me and my baby :)
But... Iffy. You are scaring the shxx out of me...
Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
Meuti,
That was mine. In retrospect, I recall having to tune up the high E string a couple of times prior to the bridge 'peel up'. Closely inspect the bridge base!
My FUD is now at the MS awaiting a new top and bowl. Sure miss her! This doesn't sound good at all. You are lucky to have the MS in your country. I hope you'll have her back soon.
I think I should hand her over to a friend of mine who worked as a luthier a few years ago. Oh boy... I need a lot of crossed fingers now... |
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Location: Upper Left USA | "Uhm... back to topic please "
There's that German efficiency shining through again!
For the Cedar tops you might want to invest in some of that clear non-stick pickguard material. It clings but there isn't any glue and it can protect during those "Aggressive" performances.
Cheap and disposable. |
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Location: Michigan | Johnny that just makes me sick whenever I see it. You should post a "warning, graphic violence" in the future. |
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Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Originally posted by MWoody:
"Uhm... back to topic please "
There's that German efficiency shining through again!
For the Cedar tops you might want to invest in some of that clear non-stick pickguard material. It clings but there isn't any glue and it can protect during those "Aggressive" performances.
Cheap and disposable. Sometimes it does come in handy :D But, hey, I joined the small off-topic-route before I steered back ;)
The aggressive performance is not going to happen anymore. I'm using the 1614 for this kind of playing now, she can take it :D I just wish I knew the soft heart of the FUD before it went through with me. *sigh |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Meuti:
I think I should hand her over to a friend of mine who worked as a luthier a few years ago. Oh boy... I need a lot of crossed fingers now... That's a good idea!
Didn't mean to scare you. I truly think mine was a fluke. Nonetheless, I'll cross my fingers for you too! |
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Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Hi Meuti,
my friend, don't worry! If the bridge ist still fast at the top, I think your problem is the trus rod adjustment. Thats no not a charm. Please feel free to call me or visit me for your trouble. I've repaired a lot of guitars with much greater issues. My phone number: 01632490915 or email: burg.b@pg.com
Keep your head up!!
Bernie |
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Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Thank you Iffy :)
Bernie, thank you for your very friendly offer. I might really give you a call when I finally have some time to take care of the Fud. Thanks my friend. |
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Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | *ALL-CLEAR* *ALL-CLEAR* *ALL-CLEAR* *ALL-CLEAR*
Good morning everybody,
well... Christmas is close so probably miracles are popping up more often than usual.
Yesterday night I decided to go for it. I took of the strings, cleaned the baby and put new strings on... What can I say - No more issues. NOTHING! She plays and sounds perfect again... I feel a little embarassed for all the "panic" I made in my first post. :D
Still: thanks to all that have built me up here and for all the crossed fingers. Maybe THAT was the reason for the cure ;)
BTW I added a shim before I put the new strings on. I was baffled to see, that there were already 3 shims put in... The action was (and is) so incredibly low, I was certain, that all shims had been removed. |
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Location: Yalova/Turkey | That´s good news, Meuti, happy to hear them... Play some nice Christmas songs :)
Regards, Chris. |
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Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Glad to hear that good news Meuti.
Bernie |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Thta's gerat... oops <uncross fingers> That's great news, Meuti! 
I don't recall ever adding a shim on my gits. That FUD must really be sweet now.
Congrats! |
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Location: Michigan | oils well that ends well, play us a tune! |
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Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Thank you guys! I am more than happy. I don't know what was wrong, but I decided not to think about it anymore. All is good ;)
The shim-thing really surprised me. Now there's 4 shims and the action is still extremly low. What a nice guitar :D |
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The Fud's giving me a hard time