#1
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CONFOUNDMENT
I'm asking this for a proverbial friend. He has a guitar that has a strange feature: At the end of the fretboard, just before the sound hole the treble e is 1/8 from the edge of the board--the bass e is 1/4" from the edge. Has anyone ever seen this before?
The guitar has fine intonation and plays well, but the strings are clearly not centered. Any thoughts? |
#2
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Both my Emerald X20s are actually set up this way, but nowhere near an 1/8” difference. I don’t know why your friend’s guitar would be like this, though. Not something I’d expect on a higher end instrument like a Savoy, but it wouldn’t surprise me on a lower end Ovation. For example, of course
__________________
Martin 0-16NY Emerald Amicus Emerald X20 Cordoba Stage Some of my tunes: https://youtube.com/user/eatswodo |
#3
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my v3 emerald x7 had that issue, where the treble e was significantly closer to the edge than the bass e. It honestly drove me nuts as i would constantly pull the string off when fretting since I paid attention to it more, eventually just sold it and moved to a v2 that was a much better match all around.
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#4
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David;
Astute, as usual. The question is, what would you do presuming it was a top of the line instrument? Iluv; Yes, it is something that once noticed becomes increasingly irritating. My friend is not likely to sell the guitar since he is embarrassingly candid and can't see anyone buying a guitar with an ad that reads "Expensive Guitar With A High E That Flops Off The Fretboard." He is more likely to make an attempt to sell it back to the seller or (worse case scenario) just send it to the maker as a gift, an instrument that should not be floating around. It would be a monetary loss but less an irritant than hanging on to it. |
#5
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As you say, it sounds like one that should not have been let out. I wonder if any kind of repair might be possible? Most likely the bridge is misaligned.
__________________
Martin 0-16NY Emerald Amicus Emerald X20 Cordoba Stage Some of my tunes: https://youtube.com/user/eatswodo |
#6
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My thinking exactly. It was not new and the seller will be approached. And yes, it looks like the bridge is just a hair off--not sure if the maker would do a free fix or if that would end up costing yet more money and time.
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#7
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The opposite set up seems like it might be good for a lefty. But I imagine if the originally referenced guitar was actually left-handed, it would have been mentioned. |
#8
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I actually deal with this now and then with my guitars. Both of them have necks that are bolted on, and every now and then an airline will get too rambunctious and things get knocked slightly out of alignment. It drives me nuts. But I carry a torque wrench and have the force adjusted as per the luthier, and if necessary, I can, with great trepidation and anxiety, slightly loosen the nut and gently tap things back into alignment. I think a good repair tech or luthier would do this without hesitation or qualm because that's their work and business and they're good at it. It just makes me want to hide under the sofa.
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#9
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David; I, too, think that the bridge is misaligned, but I'm not sure how that would be fixed. I've had no experience with ball-end strings but would think that moving the bridge would create a wide gap in the face of the guitar, one that might allow a ball to wallow around. It might be better to change the bridge from ball-string to string tie???
Kray; As my response to David indicates, I think the problem is at the other end of the fret board, at the bridge. |
#10
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Otherwise, I think your best resort is to contact the builder, especially if you’re leaning toward hanging on to this guitar. Quote:
__________________
Martin 0-16NY Emerald Amicus Emerald X20 Cordoba Stage Some of my tunes: https://youtube.com/user/eatswodo |
#11
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David;
I've had very little experience with bolt-on necks and had no idea they could lead to misalignment. Thank you and Kray for new information. My friend has the assumed guitar and clearly plans on keeping it (once fixed) and the instrument has been shipped to the maker. Pretty exciting stuff. |
#12
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I've had a lot of experience with and a high regard for the maker in question. He received the guitar and responded immediately--the guitar will be repaired at no cost. He is an honorable, as well as creative, man.
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#13
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Any particular reason why you’re being so coy about who the maker actually is?
__________________
Martin 0-16NY Emerald Amicus Emerald X20 Cordoba Stage Some of my tunes: https://youtube.com/user/eatswodo |
#14
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Yes. I dislike it when someone uses the forum in an attempt to pressure a maker or dealer to some outcome. I know that sometimes the best way to get some action is to engage in public shaming, but I'd prefer direct conversation.
My coyness is an attempt to use the forum for information and suggestions without ad hominin overtones. As you have noted, however, I am shallow enough that a discerning forum member knows who and what I'm talking about. The proverbial approach was not really needed as I could have just dealt directly with the maker. But I like the sober judgments found here and they helped in my decision making. In short, coy got me there. Thank you. |
#15
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Looking forward to hearing good things about the resolution.
__________________
Martin 0-16NY Emerald Amicus Emerald X20 Cordoba Stage Some of my tunes: https://youtube.com/user/eatswodo |