Posted 2015-10-13 12:13 PM (#516095 - in reply to #494306) Subject: Re: 1967 Balladeer Rebuild...
Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15651
Location: SoCal
Also Dan, when I see you, I've got 4 sets of strings to donate to you. Elixir light 80/20 HD's. Bought 5 sets, tried one and didn't care for it. But I know you like those. I seem to be too lazy to send them back so I'll give them to you if you want them.
Posted 2015-10-15 11:47 PM (#516182 - in reply to #494306) Subject: RE: 1967 Balladeer Rebuild...
Joined: June 2012 Posts: 2303
Location: Lake Forest, CA
I cut the nut slots, then strung up the guitar with D'Addario PB Extra Lights to set the action.
I tuned up the guitar because I was dying to hear what it sounds like and in the words of Moody, "Wow! Just, wow!"
The sustain is incredible. It's got a deep resonant voice with clear highs. And, that's just with the PBs. I can't wait to hear what it sounds like with 80/20s on it.
Here's the YouTube video of me plucking each string just to demonstrate the sustain and voice. I would have posted a video of me playing it, but since the action is so high, it doesn't really show how good the guitar can sound. There's a lot of background noise because I shot the video with my snapshot camera.
Posted 2015-10-16 4:08 AM (#516184 - in reply to #494306) Subject: Re: 1967 Balladeer Rebuild...
Joined: October 2012 Posts: 1018
Location: Yokohama, Japan
Wow! Incredible! Just a few more steps to go...It's been so exciting following your progress. You could be the West Coast Mothership for crying out loud. One of these days, DanSavage restored Os could have a value all their own! A 1967 Balladeer like no other...
Posted 2015-10-16 11:13 AM (#516196 - in reply to #494306) Subject: Re: 1967 Balladeer Rebuild...
Joined: June 2012 Posts: 2303
Location: Lake Forest, CA
I want to see which sounds better, PB or 80/20s. So, I'm going to use these strings to set the action and play and record a couple of songs.
Then, I'm going to change these strings out for the Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 Extra Lights and do the same thing.
I personally prefer the brighter sound of the 80/20 over the PB. I was playing the guitar again this morning I must say that the PBs do sound really good.
Posted 2015-10-16 11:54 AM (#516200 - in reply to #494306) Subject: Re: 1967 Balladeer Rebuild...
Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15651
Location: SoCal
Strings are so personal. The right strings are whatever sounds and feels right. Question Dan, do you think this guitar would be fine with mediums or should Jay not go heavier than lights?
Posted 2015-10-16 12:18 PM (#516201 - in reply to #516200) Subject: Re: 1967 Balladeer Rebuild...
Joined: June 2012 Posts: 2303
Location: Lake Forest, CA
immoody - 2015-10-16 9:54 AM
Strings are so personal. The right strings are whatever sounds and feels right. Question Dan, do you think this guitar would be fine with mediums or should Jay not go heavier than lights?
You're correct about personal preferences WRT string choices. Like I say, I like the brightness of 80/20s, but recording with the PBs and 80/20s will give everyone a chance to hear this guitar on both.
Personally, I wouldn't go any heavier than extra lights. But, if he wants to go to lights, then the guitar would be fine with them. I would not use mediums as it'll just warp the belly of the guitar and accelerate neck misalignment.
When I rebuilt my 1619, I had the soundboard sanded to .094" instead of the standard .10". I strung it with my then-go to light strings. After a few weeks I noticed the guitar was starting to belly, so I restrung it with extra lights and the bellying went away.
Now, I'm of the opinion that the less amount of tension you put on a top, the better, hence my preference for extra lights. This guitar has lots of volume already and the extra lights are super easy to play.
As an aside, after playing this guitar I went back and played my 1619. There is a noticeable difference with this guitar sounding much more alive. Don't get me wrong, the 1619 still sounds great, but it doesn't compare to this Balladeer. I am really glad Jay and I went back and put the torrefied top and braces on this guitar.
EDIT: I'm going to set the action tonight, so let's get together either Saturday afternoon or evening. I'll PM my phone number to you so we can set up a time.
Posted 2015-10-16 10:19 PM (#516253 - in reply to #494306) Subject: RE: 1967 Balladeer Rebuild...
Joined: June 2012 Posts: 2303
Location: Lake Forest, CA
Sounds good, Paul.
I set the action tonight.
I also made the shims to go under the saddle to allow easy saddle height adjustments in the future.
Instead of making them from plastic or fiberglass I decided to use some East Indian Rosewood scrap I had left over from my 1619.
I made two thick and one thin. The thick shims are about 1/32" and the thin one is about 1/64". (I know what you're all thinking --now he's just showing off. LOL!)
I put a thick and a thin under the saddle and I'll throw the extra thick one in the case when I send it back to Jay.
Except for mounting the TR cover, the guitar is done. I'll shoot some video with the PBs, then change to the 80/20s. I'll wait to shoot video of those until Paul and I get together.
Posted 2015-10-17 11:16 AM (#516268 - in reply to #494306) Subject: RE: 1967 Balladeer Rebuild...
Joined: June 2012 Posts: 2303
Location: Lake Forest, CA
Good suggestion, but I don't know any Carly Simon.
In any event, the video is up. Please overlook my less-than-stellar playing. Also, the condenset mic on the video camera doesn't capture the full fidelity of the guitar.
That being said, enjoy! I'll post another clip of the same 'song snippets' after I've changed strings to the 80/20s.
1967 Balladeer Rebuild...
