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Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | Call me crazy, or lucky, or a bit of both. Just bought my second in a row 1117-4 closet classic on ebay. Bought one, played it for 3 years, sold it for a profit then bought another one. Both are in outstanding condition - looks like they were never played - cases looked like they never left the house - zero fretware - no marks, cracks - they look like new. The action on both is unplayably (is that a word?) high. Hence, the reason they were not played.
Was it typical in 1974 for the action to be set really high from the factory? I didn't take measurements before removing the strings. Even the nut is on the high side.
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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | Did you check the neck relief, and (if necessary) adjust the truss rod? Also, if that's a shim in the photo that was under the bridge, you can leave it out to lower the bridge.
Edited by standing 2013-10-22 5:02 PM
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Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | yeah, thanks. This thing was never played or adjusted. Been tweaking the truss rod 1/8 turn per day and its straightening up nice. I'm leaving the shim out and already cut 1/8" off the saddle bottom and I can see by laying a straight edge from the nut to the saddle that it needs a bit more taken off to get where I like it. Looks like even with a straight neck the factory setup was quite high and this is the second '74 I've seen like this. The top on this is a lot lighter and yellower than my '78 Legend. Could it be a different wood? I'll post some better pics tomorrow. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I posted on top of you. With a straight edge on the frets, does it hit above or below the top of the bridge? If it's below by much, it needs a neck reset. Was it stored with the strings on and tuned?
Edited by Mark in Boise 2013-10-22 9:07 PM
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Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | Thanks Mark - the straight edge hits about 1/16th into the wood. On my '78 1617, which has extremely low action, the straight edge sits a hair above the wood. I'm guessing it was stored tuned up in a closet with the 12/55 strings that it came with...in Kansas City. |
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Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | Put strings on for a test drive and getting 7/32 at 14 and still room to move. This thing sounds awesome. Back to my first question - were factory setups higher in the 70s or is it an age thing?
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1974 1117-4
