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Location: Cicero, NY | I'm taking a good look at my O-1616 and I see that the strings are coming off the fretboard a bit as they come up the neck. With virtually no experience in that area should I venture into "setup territory" and try to adjust the neck myself or am I just begging for trouble? Thoughts? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | What do you mean "coming off" the fretboard? |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Sorry if I'm being vague. The strings are just higher off the fingerboard the higher up you go. They're very close (with no buzzing of course) at the first fret, higher but still fine at 5-6, then a bit higher yet at 9-10, etc. Hope that makes more sense. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | they should be 4/32 high on the bass side and 3/32 on the treble. Measure from under the string to the top of the 12th fret. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | So if they're higher than that, do I put the old wrench inside the bowl and try to adjust it? Is it that easy or are there things to consider first? Again, I'm a player, never been a fixer...(not that I won't try)... |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Does nobody want to touch this??? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Depends how straight the neck is, or how many shims there are. You got a local repair store? They can walk you through all this or take two asprins call Customer Service in the morning, 860-379-7575. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Understood. Thanks for the advice. By the way, I've always wanted to ask - where is Amelia Island? I bring the family down to Anna Belle Island every other year or so. Is it over that way? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | It's 1 mile from Georgia, the northern most barrier island. The intracostal waterway is behind us, the Atlantic in front of us. |
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Location: Minden, Nebraska | Weaser - you need to check for neck relief, and a search should lead you to some set up tips that include how to check this. String height and neck relief are related issues but not the same. A guitar can have the proper amount of shims for correct string height, but it will get harder to play if the neck is bowed. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | step 1 --- adjust action by adding or removing shims (think of those as a gross adjustment)
step 2--- adjust neck relief
NB There is supposed to be an increase in distance between the neck and string as you go down the fret board because the string will vibrate more at its center than at the ends. As such, you may have no problem. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Very good, guys, I'll see what I can find out there on neck relief, shim work and proper string height setup. If you know of any sites, epecially specific to Ovation guitars, I'd be very interested. But I'll start checking and, when I find something, I may be back in touch to discuss it in more detail. The neck doesn't look bowed at all but I know how vision can be altered by wishful thinking too. |
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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | A bit of friendly advice. If you don't know what you're doing, it's a good idea to take in for a professional set up. It's not that expensive and makes all the difference in the world. |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | I second that! Where's Cicero, NY? |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Not out of the realm either, John. As a bit of a do-it-yourselfer, I've had my share of success as well as disasters and the last thing I want to do is screw up the beloved O. I'll look up some detail and see what I can do - if it creates any doubt whatsoever, off to the shop it'll go. |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | But where's Cicero? |
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Location: Dayton, Ohio | dad! you're back! i thought you couldn't post anymore. glad you got that problem fixed. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Cicero is upstate just 10 minutes north of Syracuse. Out of the war zone of the Big City. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Another heart warming OFC moment! ;)
I absolutely love the adjustability of these Ovations! |
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Location: WV | A good place to gather information about set ups and a wealth of other things is frets.com
http://www.frets.com/
As has been suggested if you have to call in an electrician to change a light bulb it's probably best not to attempt anything major.
"I think this screw needs just one more turn!" :eek: |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Heard loud and clear and, as a true realist, I promise to consider that at every turn (read: famous last words).
That said, thanks for the link! |
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Location: Waxahachie, Tx | WeaserP,
This is a Good resource also, O Manual
"Standard action" for
all Ovation steel string guitars is 6/64" at the bass E string
and 4/64" at the treble E string (measured as the distance
between the bottom of the string and the top of the 12th fret).
This action is normally achieved with 1-3 shims beneath the
saddle.
My 1771LX is and was not setup from the factory with the "standard Action" wonder why.
I have tried to make my ajustments and have not beem able to achieve Nirvana, but it is close so it will be going back to the factory. The basic ajustments ar very doable (that a word) just take your time any truss rod ajustments make small increments then let it rest for a few hours 24, as it will settle in. The way I read the manual, first you set the relief, then you take out the shims to lower the strings accordinly.
Have fun |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Quick update: After taking the crash setup course on Frets.com, I have very smoothly come to the conclusion that the neck is not warped.
Ok, so I laid a straight edge on it and, according to the lefts and rights and ups and downs of the site, it was pretty darn close to ideal. Further, the string height is good at the nut.
So now I'm thinking it could mean some saddle/shim work as suggested earlier.
More to come as I delve into the complicated world of guitar setup...don't be shy people, I'll take any thoughts you have! |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | I've had my Std Elite LX for about a month. It came with 2 shims under the p/u...1 thick, 1 thin. Action was a little high "for me," so i bought 2 sets of the cheapest strings I could find and proceeded to change the setup. I removed the thick shim and put on cheap set #1. Still feels too high after a week so today I'll take out the thin shim and put on set #2. This is just how it goes when I get a new guitar...you just have to play around for a while till you get it right. Not a defect...not a sloppy setup...just needs tweaking to suit me. John <>{ |
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Location: Clermont FL | I used to setup Fender guitars for a music store, but for my Ovation I think I will get a pro check the action. I use very light strings, 020 for a 3rd, so I am not sure that I can ever get a great setup without some buzzing on open notes. I have never been to Cicero NY but I am from Jamestown NY, so I know where Warren PA is, my wife is from Warren. Stu |
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Location: Cicero, NY | 'Notyher update for anyone interested - took the O to one of the most reputable shops in town for a checkup. As I'm standing there sweating and waiting for the worst (i.e. "Whew! This thing is just RUINED! Fo'getaboutit."), he takes a look down the neck, looks at me and says - "Wow. This thing is straight as an arrow. What did you want me to do with it? I've only been in the business for about 35 years -including being a rep for Ovation for about 15 - but there's no way I can make this any better than it is right now."
He threw me out right after I kissed him. |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | Great News Weaser,
Glad it worked out.if you decide to remove shims to seeif it improves the action let us know. The shims would be my first hunch. Could be a matter of just removing one.Bets of lucka nd keep us posted. |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | Hey weaser...you going on the tour? |
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Location: Keller, TX | I have a desk vice and a pipe wrench. I could do it for ya. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | I would love to and am aiming for one in the future but too many things already on the calendar this year. Believe me, there is not much I would rather do than meet, sit and play with some of the characters in this club. I'm very happy to have found it as you should all be for having made it what it's turned into.
But, by all means, have fun without me...I'll just be working away thinking of you having fun...don't feel bad...(and my wife's favorite) IT'S ONLY ME... |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Hey, where's Warren, PA? |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | The answer to that Q is VERY important. Spent all my life living in Jersey...'till '89. Couldn't take it anymore (as in "WE CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!"). Moved to a place beyond NYC's influence...the edge of the Allagany National Forest. If you look on a map at the upper left-hand corner of Pa you see a BIG green area. Warren is on the edge of that. 600,000 acres of woods, nice place to live if you don't need a job. Sorry I got carried away with that answer. I was simply overcome with all sorts of warm fuzzies when I saw the question. Much too slow to suit my daughter (the rock performer formerly known as Lori Anne)...but just fine for my wife and I...with two cats in the yard, life used to be so hard, etc, etc. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Congrats on successfully making it out of the race. Gotta respect that. |
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Setup