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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I know full well how unhealthy and ultimatly disappointing a quest for perfection can be.
Yet, I strive.
Not in my playing... heck no. I know better than that.
My Ute has the p-e-r-f-e-c-t action. Just purrrrfect.
Yet I get the slightist buzz from the E, B and sometimes G string about in the middle of the neck.
So here I am sitting on the proverbial fence. Do I live with the buzz or change the action???
Before you ask, I don't have a set of feeler gauges to read the string hieght at the 12th fret. I do need to get some of those.
This time I'm going to leave the truss rod and shims alone and try a slightly heaver string gauge. The extra tention might give the neck the little tweek it needs.
The devil is in the details. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Don't have feeler gauges? A pick works. They come in various thicknesses.
Since I was gonna say tweak the truss-rod...
But you say that you are gonna try heavier strings...
The heavier gauge strings oughta do it... I'm guessing. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4028
Location: Utah | Hmm. If it were me, I'd tweak the truss rod ever so slightly and then taper a shim to raise the offending strings. Or, go to the heavier strings, though that will likely raise the action at the upper frets. Heavier strings do sound a bit better but they are a lot tougher on the fingers. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | You probably won't even notice a slight tweak to the TR but, the guitar will... I wouldn't even touch the shims. The TR twist should take care of it... |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I went from 11's to 12's. There was one thin shim under the bridge, I added another thin one.
I'll put in a good 3 hour practice with this set up this afternoon. That will tell the tale. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | The .12's should do the trick. I'd never put anything lighter than that on an acoustic guitar. Lighter strings won't drive the top and you'll lose tone and volume.
If you're ever feeling manly (just teasing!) try mediums on your wood topped O's. The AD and the Balladeer will both just pop with mediums. Only takes a few days to get used to them.
I've got mediums (Cleartones -- never tried them before but they're good) on Noah's 30th CL. Along with bringing the saddle up and slightly tweaking the neck, this guitar has come alive.... |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | +1 on that, Paul. 11's don't get the top moving enough.
I've had the Cleartones mediums on the Longneck and the 1581 and I like em. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | After a three hour practice, I'm happy.
Adding one thin shim did not make it a cheese grader. And no more buzz.
And I'm reminded once again just how powerful this guitar is.
And thanks for all the advise. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Brad, I've got a couple like that, but I keep tweeking hoping to get them "just right". Keeps me so busy, I don't get to look at Ebay much anymore... |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Which brings me to my next point. Isn't it a pain having to replace/remove shims when O's don't have pins? Pinned bridges are so much easier. (ok, I'm done now) |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
Which brings me to my next point. Isn't it a pain having to replace/remove shims when O's don't have pins? Pinned bridges are so much easier. (ok, I'm done now) Aw, TJ, you're just setting us up for a blast aren't you? All praise to the pinless bridges. Why on earth do other manufacturers still use pins? The few times I've had to change strings on a non-Ovation I've cursed getting those little SOBs out when it feels like they were whacked in with a 10 pound hammer.
Anyway, even if shim replacement is easier with a pinned bridge, it is a rare activity, string replacement is a much more frequent activity. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Actually, I've just figured it out. TJ's never had a guitar long enough to have to change the strings, but he removes shims to make them more sellable. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Richard, Richard,... I have changed more slot head strings than I can remember. Since I bought some string tubes, it has gotten a lot easier. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I got out the 30th CL this weekend. It still has the same Nanowebs that were new when I bought it from Randy. Every time I go to change strings on that thing, I end up playing it because it sounds so good and then never get around to changing the strings. I think they're mediums and sort of tough on the fingers, but they really make that guitar sound good. Maybe next weekend. |
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UTE Set-Up
