|
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 36
Location: Tampa, Florida | Hey everybody,
I was out today pawn shopping for a cheap piece of crap beater acoustic when what do I find but an old 1621 artist!
So I ask the clerk to take the guitar off the wall for me and the tag says $99! It had light cracking in the top and I eventually got the guy down to $75!
It still plays and sounds great even with the cracks, and the electronics are still working well. :D Other than the action, it plays and sounds better than my $300 celeb!
Anyway, I've been trying to give the guitar a little truss adjustment, but the end of the rod is different from newer guitars I've seen- it looks like a screw with a centimeter long hex shaped nut on the bottom of it. My guess was that I should just find another wrench and twist the nut thing, but I'm really having trouble getting ahold of it with anything.
Any suggestions?
Brian |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Because you found such a bargain to begin with how about spending just a little more and have it set up by a pro? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | Congratulations! It is fun to find an O at such a great price. Enjoy it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| If you chose to do it yourself, get the appropriate truss-rod wrench and gradually adjust it a 1/4 of a turn (at a time) clockwise to straighten out a warp in the neck, or counter-clockwise to straighten a bow in the neck...
Steve |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I admire those who are able to take a file to the frets or a wrench to the neck. Bridge and saddle adjustments I'll do but when it comes to necks and frets, I'm afraid I'll do more harm than good. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| hi brad, i had an artist when i was a kid, i've adjusted all the models over the years, it's no bid deal if you are cautious; i chose to loosen the string tension while adjusting the neck, but others don't although it always seemed risky, they say the neck was made to be adjusted under tension, but i have never had a problem either way...
Steve |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I don't know why I'm shy to try. I mean what's the worst that could happen? Snap or crack the neck? Destroy a fret? Strip a thread? Put my eye out? My Mom always said I'd put my eye out someday. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Vignette scene: Brad on Santa's lap in a Mall-
Santa: "And what do you want for Christmas little boy?"
Young Brad: "I want a roundback twelve fret slotheaded twelve-string with the piezoelectric pre amp and carved bridge and headstock?
Santa: "All those strings?" "You'll poke your eye out!"
It is ok to tension the Truss Rod up to where it can be backed down under full tension and adjusted just right - no buzz. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 36
Location: Tampa, Florida | Yeah I've adjusted truss rods plenty of times before, but the end of this one isn't for an allen head. Thats what Im trying to figure out- it has this thing that looks like the end of a screw with a centimeter long hex shaped nut on the bottom of it. Maybe the end of the rod is messed up or something, but I was thinking it was some older style of truss. Has anybody seen anything similar before? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | Brian,
UKII neck has a nut for adjustment and I think possibly my legend and 1613 also have the same. (didn't want to take the trc off to check)
I use one of those screwdriver looking tools that has a 1/4 socket at the end of the shaft, for interchangeable tips, phillips head, torx, etc. The shaft is slim enough to go into the recess at the trussrod nut, often a regular socket is too large. Has a large handle for good grip and also gives good "feel" for the amount of torque you are applying.
(Took the trc off my 1613 and it does have the nut for adjustment.) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Slip, woody's got the right idea there, i remember loosening the tension, then adjusting the neck with a very slight bow, then tuning the strings back up and backing off on the neck tension slightly until the strings stop buzzing, worked out great...
Steve |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | The Pawn Shop here in town, Blows Goats. Ridiculously over priced on guitars even IF they were in mint shape. Most aren't even in good condition.
I saw an old model used FP360 Tak for $699.00. He asked if I saw anything I was interested in. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | I happened to find an Ovation on the wall at one of the local Pawn Shops and I got all excited. Then they took it down and it had a chiped ear ofthe head stock laquer cracks the Strap button had been moved on the side of the neck leaving a hole in the bowl and the back Strap pin was all butstuffed in the bowl. Turned out to be a celebrity model tha they wanted $300 for. I simply told them everything that was wrong with th eguitar and said no thanks! It's the only Ovation I've seen in this town in the 6 years
I've lived here. Just once in a while i'd love to find a prize!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | We have several pawn shops here, but one has a lot of good guitars. That's where I got my Applause 12 string. Only "problem" is that the guy who runs it is a great guitarist and has owned everything from an Adamas to Spanish flamenco guitars. When he gets something good, he either keeps it or asks what it's worth. The other real problem is that he moved from downtown a couple blocks from my office to a strip mall where I never go.
It used to be a nice lunch hour diversion. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 36
Location: Tampa, Florida | I just picked up a deep socket 1/4" wrench at the hardware store- the one I had wasn't long enough.
Anyway, it did the trick. While it may be a bit beat up, I now have a 74 artist in great playing condition! :D I dont know what to do with my celeb- this guitar I paid 75 bucks for sounds twice as good as that one I paid $300 for! |
|
| |
Pawn shop steal!
