#16
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Shims
I've removed several UST's and used Bob's shims and it's always improved the tone and/or sustain. But......cardboard?!
What surprises me is that Sweetwater would take a guitar back and not go through it before putting it back on the rack, especially if there was any indication that it had been changed in any way (you mentioned the mismatched bridge pins). It certainly doesn't paint them in a good light, does it?
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1995 Taylor 412 1995 Taylor 612C Custom, Spruce over Flamed Maple 1997 Taylor 710 1968 Aria 6815 12 String, bought new |
#17
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Guitar is within the return period, and I wanted to see if raising the action would make the guitar less "plinky" since the action was quite low. My local shop wanted to charge me $50 for a new saddle plus install, and most bone saddles I've seen are $25-30. Rather than spend the money on a guitar that I was thinking of returning, I ordered a $2 ebony shim to test out the action. In the process, I discovered the cardboard shim, installed my new ebony shim and discovered that the guitar came alive without the cardboard in the bridge. So, in essence a $2 shim helped me know for sure I was going to keep the guitar. I wasn't going to spend another $30 when I was on the fence about keeping it in the first place. |
#18
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I can't see Sweetwater doing anything like that. It must have been the previous owner. Glad you found the problem. |
#19
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I just felt that the guitar had the potential to be great, but something was off the whole time. Glad I found it. |
#20
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#21
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I've had two really bad experiences with Sweetwater and therefore do not do business with them.
Both involved my receiving repackaged instruments represented as new that were way sub-par. FWIW, they had no issues with taking it back, refund etc. I am sure they put them both back into stock and sent them right out again. I know other folks love them, but not me. I am happy you were able to fix your issue.
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~Dave ~Music self-played is happiness self-made |
#22
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#23
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if you live in an area of that sees high humidity in the summer season, then you can use your old saddle as a summer saddle, for the months that the top rises a bit.
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#24
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I admit I have thrown shims made of old cut up credit cards in there as a quick fix. I have also used wedged pieces of cardboard between the string and the saddle to raise the action in a pinch. I am, however, not the Martin Custom Shop.
Personally though, I would have just swapped out the saddle if I did not like the action. I just did it to raise the action on a Harmony Sovereign that returned home all gussied up and ready to rock.
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"You start off playing guitars to get girls & end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails" - Ed Gerhard |
#25
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My 000-28 was listed as a demo, but it was actually a customer return. I received it with old dead strings, mismatched bridge pins, scratches all over the body, trash in the case, and a loose pick flopping around in the case. They gave me $100 off the guitar and sent me a very nice "care package." |
#26
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Sweetwater should NEVER permit stuff like this to happen in the first place. As others have already mentioned, so much for Sweetwater's "55 point inspection" on every instrument. I guess that just just marketing hype.
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#27
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For future reference, a compensated bone saddle . . . from the Martin 1833 Shop . . . is $15. I would go with a solid saddle because IMHO one solid saddle gives more structural integrity than a saddle and a shim. But if you get the sound that you want I guess it doesn't make any difference. I'm constantly playing with saddle height. (I'm retired. I don't have anything else to do. ) I have screwed up one or two times and taken too much off the bottom of a saddle. I've never used shims to try to fix the mistake. I just buy a new saddle. |
#28
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Shame on me for not inspecting it myself. |
#29
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Sweetwater didn't give me any excuses and said they just missed it. Much better response than trying to claim they did inspect it. They made it right, and I've got no issues with ordering from them again.
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#30
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deleted post
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Santa Cruz 000, Samick classical Last edited by hifivic; 12-11-2017 at 09:43 AM. Reason: deleted |