GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
II agree, but extremely accurate intonation on a guitar is very difficult. The guitar is inherently out of tune by a small fraction due to the frets.
That's why you see these extreme solutions:
The Bassist and Guitarist thread
- Thread starter Drago
- Start date
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That's why you see these extreme solutions:
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
That's the next best upgrade for sure.
How's the action? Have a look down the neck to see if it's straight or there's some reflex.
If you want take things to next stage look at some of the videos on YouTube to see how to level the frets and set it up properly. You can do it without specialist tools.
DRM
Guru
- Location
- West Yorks
I did set the intonation up after swapping/stretching the strings, to be honest it wasn’t that far out, but it’s a new skill I’ve picked up
DRM
Guru
- Location
- West Yorks
Whilst not having measured the action, it’s not too bad feel wise, however I’ve ordered a straight edge, fret rocker, file and polishing stone along with an action gauge, initially for another project but I will check it when I get a spare moment
winjim
Smash the cistern
So I have the opportunity to buy the guitar I wanted as a teenager, for a pretty low price but... apparently the action's really high and is at the limit of adjustment. It might not be any good to play higher up the neck. Still, I'm going to look at it on Saturday and I'm sure I'll get something if not that one. I've just got to make sure I don't let my heart rule my head and come home with an unplayable lump of firewood (or helicopter rotor blade in this case).
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
winjim
Smash the cistern
It's an Ovation electro acoustic. The shop say they've adjusted it as much as they can so I assume they've removed the shims from under the bridge which is how Ovations are adjusted. The other option might be to get the neck reset but for the cost of that I could probably buy one which didn't need any work doing.
For the price it might be worth a punt but I won't be heartbroken if I have to get something else instead, I just want a small bodied electro acoustic with a fast neck.
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
one would think that an Ovation can have the action adjusted right down to the fretboard. Has its neck bowed forwards? ...which should be easily fettled by tightening the truss, or is it just ***ked? Is it in a music shop or a charity shop?
winjim
Smash the cistern
Proper music shop. They say they've adjusted it as much as they can so I assume they've checked the truss rod. It's a fairly old guitar, so I guess the neck will have pulled forward over time?
Condition otherwise is described as 'very good'.
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
The truss rod stops that from happening, and if it does, adjusting it should pull it back.
my acoustic Ibanez must be 35 years old at least... neck's as straight* as a die
*with a little relief
There is of course a slight chance that some music shops are like some local bike shops, and could be staffed by people who haven't got a clue what they're doing.
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winjim
Smash the cistern
I meant pulled forward at the heel rather than bowed. Truss rod adjustment won't fix that, it needs a neck reset.
I'm gonna have to go look at it and see if I think it's worth taking a chance. If the shop don't know what they're doing and, say, haven't even removed the shims or something then happy days. But it's kind of difficult to ask them to their face whether they think they're competent or not.
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
Fair enough. But if it is pulled at the heel, I'd probably not bother. Guitar repairs can be pricey so would potentially cost at least another £100
winjim
Smash the cistern
Yeah I know. For the additional price of the repair I could get one that plays alright straight off. I'm not sure if I'll be able to tell just by looking and playing it though. I'm hardly even a decent guitar player, let alone luthier.
GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
I had an Ovation Electric Legend in the 1980's, beautiful built necks, one of the best necks I've played on an acoustic. The round body was a pain, slipping off your knee all the time when playing sitting down, even with a strap.
