|
|
Joined:
October 2009
Posts: 22
Location: Novi, MI | So for the most part I do most of my set ups on my own... I tweak my own truss rod and saddle height and so on... But my Tangent was a little odd so I took it in to be set up "professionally" by my friend's buddy.
He gave me a GREAT deal... so I took them up on the offer.
He sanded and leveled all the frets (6 needed to be worked on) and we were able to take the saddle strips from 3 to 1 (let me write it out... ONE... basically the thickness of a business card.) My action was acceptable before this but now my Ovation is set up so you think a chord and it gets played.
I have always been a DIY guy, but this is worth it!!! Spend the $$$ to get the frets leveled and have your guitar done right with the right tools. It took my mid level ovation and made it BETTER than the high end Martin I was debating buying. It is so fast now and easy to play. It's like having a brand new guitar all over...
Ok, just had to share with you all... I have to get back to playing my new guitar.... we'll new feeling guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | "now my Ovation is set up so you think a chord and it gets played"
That's the kinda guitar I need!
Congrats on getting the Tangent playing so well! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Never underestimate the difference a shim or a slight turn of the truss rod can make. Removing the former and tightening the latter can make your chords practically play themselves, but will thin the sound out a bit (and buzz if overdone). Conversely, adding a shim or loosening the truss may raise the action a bit, but it will also fatten the sound.
I found a nice compromise by using extra light strings but raising the action a bit to give my gits a nice fat and still easy to play sound. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2009
Posts: 22
Location: Novi, MI | What strings are you using? 11s... I have 12s on it right now. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | 11s, but on a T (as in textured top), not on a Tangent. To my ears 12's will sound better on a Tangent than 11's. My very first O was a Tangent. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 288
Location: New Hampshire, USA | Originally posted by ''Jukebox Joe'' Tuñón:
Removing the former and tightening the latter can make your chords practically play themselves, but will thin the sound out a bit (and buzz if overdone). Conversely, adding a shim or loosening the truss may raise the action a bit, but it will also fatten the sound. I'm curious. Why exactly does that affect the thinness/fatness of the sound?
The sound of a string is transferred to the top of the guitar through the bridge, and then reflected out through the sound hole(s), correct?
Why would a difference in distance between an unfretted string and that same string fretted affect that process?
Or, put another way, once a string is fretted what difference does it make (soundwise) how far it had to be pushed down to get there?
Not saying you're wrong - I just don't understand the phenomenon. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2009
Posts: 22
Location: hitchhiking | Originally posted by scooterboy:
I'm curious. Why exactly does that affect the thinness/fatness of the sound?...The sound of a string is transferred to the top of the guitar through the bridge, The second sentence is the key. There's an optimum break angle for the strings coming off the saddle and down to the bridge. If you change that angle by lowering the saddle you transfer less energy through the bridge to the top. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Originally posted by scooterboy:
Not saying you're wrong - I just don't understand the phenomenon. I don't pretend to understand it myself. Is it the string to surface distance? Is it the difference in angle tension on the bridge? Is it a combination of both? I have no idea. All I know is that it sure makes an audible difference! Oh, and I can say it makes a tangible difference too in the vibration of the guitar against your body, especially our round back O's ;)
If you found the right playability and sound, don't tamper with it! But if you have a git that you would like to sound fatter or conversely brighter, consider adjusting the action to your ear as much as to your fingers. The difference can be amazing. I was ready to sell a guitar whose sound was too thin, then I figured, might as well give it a shot before selling it. To make a long story short, it's no longer for sale!
That being said, it's not like a computer where you can just "undo"! If you don't like the difference, it's not always easy to put it back the way it was. If you don't know what you're doing, or if you're weary of losing a sound that you already like, I suggest the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" rule. |
|
| |
Guitar set up... done right.
