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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 2
Location: Houston, TX | I have this great Matrix 1132 that I really enjoy playing however over the last few years the action has gotten to be just too much. (Oh, by action I mean the distance between the strings and the fret board.)
How can I fix this? The neck and frets are in great shape but it's bolted to the bowl in a way that doesn't appear to offer any adjustments.
The bridge and pickup seem fine, but the top right behind it does have a slight bowing. I figured this was part of the design but now I'm starting to fear that it's gotten to be too much.
Any ideas? Thanks! |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Phred, I'm afraid your Matrix is "going through the change". All of us tend to get a "belly roll" with age. Actually those necks are real adjustable, cuz they're bolted on. Get yersef a Coke can an' cut up some shims for the neck pocket. That will change the neck angle easily, and (hopefully) return yer critter to younger, trimmer days. Might play a bit of havoc with the intonation, up the neck, but it beats pulling the bridge off and trying to reset it, like, 1/64". |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Actually it would be easier to put the shime under each side of the neck since the center tang wasn't designed to touch the back of the neck slot. Maybe a .010" shim, 1/2" long on each side of the neck up next to the fingerboard. If that's not enough add another one. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 2
Location: Houston, TX | OK let me make sure I have this right.
So I should:
- loosen the bolts holding the neck on
- place shims under portion of the neck that sits on the top, down near the sound hole
- tighten back up the bolts
Having never worked on a guitar before I just want to make sure I get it right - the concept sounds right and makes sense though. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Yeah, you got the idea. It should work, and it won't take much more than a couple of those shims to make a big difference. I think it takes a 7/16" socket & a 4" extension on the ratchet for the neck bolts. I have no idea what the torque specs are; just don't "gorilla" on it, OK?! |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Yeah, you got the idea. It should work, and it won't take much more than a couple of those shims to make a big difference. I think it takes a 7/16" socket & a 4" extension on the ratchet for the neck bolts. I have no idea what the torque specs are; just don't "gorilla" on it, OK?!
Wait a minute. You're putting the shims in the top of the neck joint, not under the fretboard extension. You're altering the "set angle" of the neck to the body at the neck joint, by placing a bit more material at one end of the joint (at the top where the neck meets the top of the body, at the soundboard. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Hi,
I have a question. Do Ovation's come from the factory with shims under the neck joint? |
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Fix for too much Matrix action?