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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 25
Location: jacksonville, fl | I just bought a 2003 1866 12 string from a friend of mine with very high action. Guitar was strung with light gauge .012 strings at tuned to concert pitch. Probably subjected to high humidity all summer here in Jax, Fl as well. I'm thinking the top has bulged a bit as I've laid a straight edge across the top below the bridge and it rocks quite a bit. I'm thinking maybe with the high string tension the top has pulled away from a brace or two.
Has anyone encountered high action on a 12 string and if so, what was the fix. I took the shim out of the bridge . Thanks for any input. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | It's always a risk with all that tension. However, most guitars will have a bit of bulge below the bridge. My Adamas 12 string had a high action, but this was fixed via a neck reset. Are you sure the neck is set correctly?
If there is a loose brace, you should be able to get your hand inside and find it - just grab each brace and wriggle it - they shouldn't move.
Edited by TAFKAR 2013-12-18 10:26 PM
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4230
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Several years back, I had a super shallow bowl Legend like yours, only a six string, that also had high action. Eventually , I discovered that you could slip a piece of paper between the heel of the neck and the bowl. Those necks are bolted on, and tightening the bolt took care of both the heel lift and the high action.
Otherwise, it may well need a re-set, which is much easier with the bolt on design. |
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Joined:
November 2013
Posts: 163
Location: Phoenix, AZ | I have a 1991, model 1758 Elite 12 string that had a similar issue with high action. It has some "Belly Buldge" as well. I have only had it for a couple months, but most likely it has been stored with the strings at full tension for the past 22 years... Luckily, it has a bolt on neck, so I was able to reset the neck myself as Patch described. I made shims using small plastic pieces cut from clear plastic packaging. The shims and neck angle change are un-detectable, but it lowered the action perfectly!
Hopefully yours is a bolt on neck as well... Good luck with the fix. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 25
Location: jacksonville, fl |
You guys are absolutely correct. I never thought about the neck being the issue. I compared the Legend to my 1999 Elite Standard and the Legend neck aims much lower towards the bridge than the Elite. Thank you. I will now attempt to remove the neck and shim it . Hope I don't destroy the binding. I've owned Ovations for 35 years, mostly Balladeers, Legends and Elites. All my Taylor friends look at me like I'm crazy until I plug them in and play. Shuts them right up. |
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Joined:
November 2013
Posts: 163
Location: Phoenix, AZ | Rick, the neck on mine came off easy. I removed the 2 bolts, and there was nothing else holding it in place.
I expected it to be glued as well, and would have given up... but was pleasantly surprised. Good Luck! |
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Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 152
Location: Corpus Christi, TX | My 1866 has the fretbord extension glued to the top so removing the neck requires more than taking out the bolts. When I bought it the neck was partially unglue so sent it to the mothership, they refinished the neck, replaced the binding and reglued the extension. They sure do some nice work. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 25
Location: jacksonville, fl | Yeah, I had a feeling this wasn't going to be a walk in the park. I removed the one bolt holding the neck in place and yes, the fingerboard extension is indeed glued on to the body. I put the bolt back in the neck and for the time being will be using her as a six string tuned a half step down with light gauge 12's. The action falls right on factory specs. Go figure. I still want to reset the neck but I think I'll wait until I get a bit more courage and knowledge. Thanks to all . |
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1866 Legend 12 string
