Post by rm on Aug 11, 2014 7:59:05 GMT
Thanks everyone. As suggested, I first tweaked the truss rod until I encountered resistance. That has straightened out the neck, and the 7.5 mm gap at 12th fret became about 6.5mm. And if I hold down the first and last fret, there is hardly any distance between string and fretboard at the 10th fret, meaning it's fairly straight.
I then cut the saddle down - I've taken as much off it as I can - the strings now rest in the saddle only about 1mm above where the metal t-bridge starts. I've taken off about 3mm, which is quite a chunk. And as suggested above by Zak, that reduced the height by 1.5mm.
So the strings are now 5mm above the fretboard at the 12th fret. The fret is about 1mm. So it still feels too high, but its starting to be playable at least with the left hand. I've ordered some files,so I think i can take a TINY bit off the nut, but not much -maybe lowering the action by a further half millimetre.
I think the culprit might be the bridge - either the t-bridge metal is too high, and/or the resonator part with cones has not been sunk sufficiently deep, thus raising the bridge.
I've just put new strings on, but next time I open it up, I'll measure the exact height of the t-bridge to see if it's the same as other tricones.
Incidentally, when I opened it up, I noticed that the manufacturers had put a screw through the plate where the cones rest. It's located right on the rims of where the 2 bass cones sit, that would probably rub against the cone when they vibrate. Rather poor workmanship I believe! But no buzzes so I'll leave it for the moment.
I then cut the saddle down - I've taken as much off it as I can - the strings now rest in the saddle only about 1mm above where the metal t-bridge starts. I've taken off about 3mm, which is quite a chunk. And as suggested above by Zak, that reduced the height by 1.5mm.
So the strings are now 5mm above the fretboard at the 12th fret. The fret is about 1mm. So it still feels too high, but its starting to be playable at least with the left hand. I've ordered some files,so I think i can take a TINY bit off the nut, but not much -maybe lowering the action by a further half millimetre.
I think the culprit might be the bridge - either the t-bridge metal is too high, and/or the resonator part with cones has not been sunk sufficiently deep, thus raising the bridge.
I've just put new strings on, but next time I open it up, I'll measure the exact height of the t-bridge to see if it's the same as other tricones.
Incidentally, when I opened it up, I noticed that the manufacturers had put a screw through the plate where the cones rest. It's located right on the rims of where the 2 bass cones sit, that would probably rub against the cone when they vibrate. Rather poor workmanship I believe! But no buzzes so I'll leave it for the moment.