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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I recently got another Collings, an SJ cutaway. Had it send to a friends house since I was traveling.
I got it the other day. It was nice but had a broken G string so my buddy never played it. Turns out the battery was loose inside it, it's got a Fishman installed but the previous owner. So I restring it with mediums, he had lights, and adjust the neck and it plays and sounds great. Got the battery mounted properly with some velcro.
I plug it in and the it sounds good except the high B and E have no volume and sound real hollow. Says to me the bottom of the saddle isn't level. So I take it appart today and when I took out the saddle sure enough the bottom was rounded away from the B&E. Also when this guy installed the pickup he cut too much off the bottom of the saddle so he's got 2 lenghts of a .040 A string cut and stuck in there as a shim on top of the pickup!! And this guy is spozed to know about building guitars?!?!
I haven't got an extra saddle so I make two shims (.050) from old credit cards and glue them to the bottom of the saddle, sand them flush and then flatten the bottom. Pickup works great now. This will work till I can get a new saddle.
I've seen many things over the years but never two lenghts of cut off string as a shim! |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | "I've seen many things over the years but never two lengths of cut off string as a shim!"
And I am surprised that I never thought of that!
Of course we would love to see photos of the Collings. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | One question: Who's credit card did you use, Steve's? :D |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
One question: Who's credit card did you use, Steve's? :D I would guess Loraine's! ;) |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | It was an Old AARP one with "Your Name" as the name on it. I keep a couple of these old ones in the tool box for emergencies, like this.
The reason Steve never played it is because he had the 35 and 30 D-18s and the D42 Collings and a couple of others, baby sitting while I was in Scotland. |
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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | Shims are the second-best use for a credit card…
…Al is the first…
Beal, It's amazing that someone would be so devil-may-care with such a quality instrument. They probably thought it seemed like a good idea at the time. Then, later they thought; "this guitar sounds terrible plugged-in, I guess I wrecked it, might as well just sell it…" Or worse, someone might have actually paid a "professional" luthier to install the pickup and that was the result, who knows?
Their loss is your gain,
after just a little pain…
enjoy it… |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | I've pulled a few "innovations" in my learning curve but only on the entry level projects.
For the important stuff it's best to find a Luthier, ask questions and have them do it.
Then next time the question comes up do it Yourself.
I've run across countertop laminates, copper sheeting and way too many woodscrews for pickup adjusters, but Ebay does have its risks.
I should be getting those AARP cards any day now... damnit! |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | AARP Cards! |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | "Arthritit And Retired People" |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by an4340:
AARP That's da sound I made when I got my first 'card' seven years ago! 
BTW, I was 55 waaay back then...  |
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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | Originally posted by MWoody:
I should be getting those AARP cards any day now... damnit! Based on my experience, they start sending them to you when you reach 35, or at least it seemed that way… the last thing anyone needs as they approach "retirement" age is mail from AARP reminding them that they are approaching retirement age. Yikes, why not just send a postcard with "YOU ARE OLD!" stamped on it, it would have about the same effect…
…and a bit of advice; if you need a shim but you don't have, or can't find, an AARP card, DO NOT ask SWMBO if she has one! I have never seen mail hit the shredder faster than the first time one of those AARP letters came addressed to the missus… ;) |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12754
Location: Boise, Idaho | When he said "old" AARP card, he said something about his age. Mine are only 6 years old, Iffy, but they started when I was 50.
SWMBO keeps renewing my membership. That way she doesn't have to admit she's over 50, just that she's married to an old fart. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by standing:
hit the shredder Per chance, did they come out the right width for the saddles?  |
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Funny what you can find.....