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August 2005
Posts: 130
| While I love my Breadwinner, an annoying problem has popped up that I can't get rid of with any degree of adjustment. When I play an "E" at the 24th fret on the first string, it's nearly a half-step flat relative to the open "E" string's pitch. I've had the guitar intonated and I've played around with the saddle for the first string, but the problem persists. Is there anything I'm missing that would fix this? |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13986
Location: Upper Left USA | Some possibilities:
- Bad string, try more. Probably did so go to next.
- Any warp in the neck? Possible twist up on high e side?
- the saddle is worn and the "sweet spot" the string rests on is actually 1/8"-1/4" forward of where it should be.
Since you can adjust the bridge in three plains I would:
Take a look at pictures of other Vipers, BWs and Deacons to see whaere the individual saddles are set. Is yours similar?
Loosen the strings, undo the back nut and lift the bridge off. Check the seating surface of the two posts for uniformity and seating.
resecure the bridge and adjust it so that it is parrelel with the body/pickguard.
Send it to me and I will play with for about six months or so! :rolleyes: |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Send it to me. I don't play up the neck that far. :D
MWoody has some good advice. Give it a try. :) |
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August 2005
Posts: 130
| The neck's warped. Horribly.
The headstock is twisted about 4 to 5 degrees from true. It looks worse every time I view it. God...
...
Well, what's the next step? Can this be fixed? Or do I need a new neck? If the latter is true, I'd better just part it out, as there's no hope for finding a similar neck anywhere.
The slime who sold this thing to me in its current state will never be seeing my business again, although it's my fault for not checking.
It was good while it lasted... |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Contact the customer service guys at the factory. You never can tell what they might be able to pull out of a hat.....
Recently, they found in storeage a 1987 Collectors neck and put it on a guitar for me. They do work some wonders. Also, send an email over to Miles, one of the founders of the board (Baron Audio, found on the front page). He's got some old necks that never went on guitars.
Don't give up hope. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13986
Location: Upper Left USA | Take a deep breath, now.
In a few weeks I may have a Breadwinner neck available. I just received an unfinished 12 string neck and bridge parts that I will be caressing and whispering to... well, you know.
There are other necks available possibly as well.
Before you give up on it remember that you are among friends.
Friends with stuff... |
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March 2005
Posts: 417
Location: Cicero, NY | I know this has been said before but you're a good man, Woody. I think we all heard the disappointment in Kat's posts (and, unfortunately, some of us have even been there).
Just thought that needed to be said again. |
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Posts: 130
| I'm taking it in to a local tech tomorrow night to see what can be done, if anything.
I'll pursue the factory route as soon as I know what can and can't be done. If they could find an original neck and finish it in the proper color, that would be an excellent solution.
Of course, the inevitable question: how much would such a neck cost? |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | this can be fixed...most likely with out a new neck...steam is an amazing thing...in the proper hands |
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Posts: 130
| Wouldn't the neck just warp again after the steam treatment? |
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Posts: 13986
Location: Upper Left USA | If there is an unfinished neck sitting in the bell tower of Hartford it can be had and put to service for a reasonable price.
I was hoping there might be a few extra necks laying around at someones house as well.
Restoring a Limited would be a worthy cause both for the value and the instrument.
The factory is the ONLY place that could match the tone and it would still be considered original. I will expound on my 12 string neck in another post.
Thanks Weaser - I guess I've just been reading too many of Tony's posts and the niceness has clung to me! It'll pass! |
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August 2005
Posts: 130
| I just emailed Ovation customer service-if they have one, I'll know soon enough.
Could the factory attempt to repair the neck? |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by Katana6506:
Wouldn't the neck just warp again after the steam treatment? First, Give good creedence to Woody's advice.
Second, If steaming it can be done, and if it is done properly, it should hold, as long as the moisture level in the wood is maintained after setting i.e....humidity level is properly maintained
....Yes, the factory is the place to get any of this work done...unless you have great faith in a local luth... |
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Posts: 13986
Location: Upper Left USA | If you get a chance to call John Budny, do so!
The warp usually happens when uneven heat is applied to one side for a period of time. Leaning it against a radiator or heat source for a day or more will create a casualty.
The fix I heard of is to remove the frets and mill the Fretboard. Applying heat, moisture and counter pressure is slow and may not be successful. Easiest fix is a neck replacement.
An Addanecktomee? |
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Posts: 130
| And so the waiting period begins... |
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Posts: 13986
Location: Upper Left USA | Use the time to shop for your next O! |
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Posts: 130
| Another question:
Who is John Budny?
Also, a belated thanks for everyone's help. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | just be nice to him...
and make sure he is an allowed sender from @Kaman.com in your email address book |
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December 2003
Posts: 13986
Location: Upper Left USA | He and Kim Keller (others?) are the chief consogniers (sp) of Customer Service at Hartford. They handle all your bent, broken and bruised instruments.
They have a perfect record with the exeption of one poor Celebate that ended up with Slipkid!
And Kim did that - so talk to John! :rolleyes: |
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August 2005
Posts: 130
| Ovation no longer has any necks for these instruments, if an email I recieved from Customer Service was any indication. If anyone has a good-condition Breadwinner neck that they'd be willing to part with, let me know.
The email was from askus@ovationguitars.com, if that's any help. What's John's email? |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Don't forget to check with Miles. |
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August 2005
Posts: 130
| I had the guitar at the tech's tonight, and while the warp is irreparable, the intonation issue was not caused by the warp. The neck isn't sitting quite straight in the pocket, causing a slight intonation problem. That's fine with me, as the thing still plays fine. I won't urgently need a new neck, but I'm still waiting for a response from Miles on whether he has anything available.
Thanks for all the suggestions! |
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January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | If the twist is uniformly distributed along the length of the neck it shouldn't be a problem. For example:
http://www.lacemusic.com/store/product.asp?id=66&catid=6 |
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August 2005
Posts: 130
| Funny...my neck looks like that, although not quite as extreme.
It's fine from the 6th to the 24th fret, but around the 5th, it begins to twist upwards towards the 1st string. |
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Breadwinner intonation issues
