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Setup
Jul 10, 2016 15:25:58 GMT
Post by flamenco on Jul 10, 2016 15:25:58 GMT
Hello to all
Just recently entered in the world of resonators. Bought a Blues from Michael and am finding it with a higher action that I want and very little angle at the bridge to lower it.
I come from a world of flamenco and acoustic guitars and this lack of angle would be bad news.
I know nothing about resonators and would aprecciate informed opinion.
Suerte
Flamenco
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Setup
Jul 10, 2016 17:42:30 GMT
Post by Michael Messer on Jul 10, 2016 17:42:30 GMT
Hi Suerte
Can you show me a photo of the break angle of the strings behind the bridge to the tailpiece? Then we can see how much you can lower the strings.
Shine On Michael
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Post by flamenco on Jul 10, 2016 18:37:49 GMT
Sorry for the confusion Michael: Suerte is Spanish for "cheers" or "good luck". My nick is Flamenco because I mostly play flamenco guitar, but you know me as Sean: I imagine you have sent very few resonators to Spain.
I shall try to make some photos.
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Setup
Jul 10, 2016 20:58:08 GMT
Post by Michael Messer on Jul 10, 2016 20:58:08 GMT
Hi Sean, It's you! Now you've said it, I just wasn't thinking! Your username is Flamenco and I know that Suerte is a Spanish word. I am so used to copying strange usernames that I didn't take in which was which! Show a photo of your break angle... Shine On Michael
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Setup
Jul 11, 2016 9:03:51 GMT
Post by flamenco on Jul 11, 2016 9:03:51 GMT
Hope these photos are appended. Hard to see the angle, but to lower one milimetre at 12th fret needs 2 millimetres at the bridge, which would leav it with virtually no break angle.
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Setup
Jul 11, 2016 12:04:53 GMT
rbe likes this
Post by Michael Messer on Jul 11, 2016 12:04:53 GMT
Hi Sean,
The only way to lower the strings to the height you want, is to have the neck reset. However, before doing that, I think you should try lighter gauge strings. If you still have the 13/56 set that we fitted, try fitting a much lighter set, maybe 12/52 or 11/52 and see how that feels. You can also lower the strings slightly by tightening the truss rod a quarter or half turn or so.
I would try strings and truss rod before doing anything else.
I hope that is helpful
Shine On Michael
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Setup
Jul 11, 2016 15:40:41 GMT
Post by flamenco on Jul 11, 2016 15:40:41 GMT
Michael, a neck reset on a guitar of this quality is out of the question. Perhaps I should say that one of my friends here was a luthier of handmade flamenco guitars, which sold for 3000 euros. I worked for several years in his shop, doing all the repairs and setups on Spanish, steel string acoustics and electrics and learned a lot. A neck reset with a traditional Spanish heel is almost impossible. When a customer had a break angle problem, my approach was to drill the bridge for 12 holes, which allows the strings to be tied in a different manner which gives more angle. More extreme was to remove the frets, plane the fingerboard to a different angle and refret. (Dovetail joints are much simpler). I shall take your advice and see how it goes. However , I should like to make an observation; the tailpiece is poorly designed: the strings exit much higher than necessary and contribute to the break angle problem. If it were a Spanish guitar, I would be thinking of drilling the bridge. Please do not take this post as a criticism: I am happy with the guitar, especially since finding my favourite tuning (Drop D). Here it is an object of fascination since none has ever seen a resonator. You have guitars of high quality at a very reasonable price and, very important, an excellent after sales service. Suerte Seán
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2016 6:18:33 GMT
Maybe the dreaded understringing is the best option in this case? TT
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Setup
Jul 12, 2016 7:55:46 GMT
Post by Michael Messer on Jul 12, 2016 7:55:46 GMT
Hi Seán
Thank you for your kind words. I am pleased you are happy with your guitar.
A neck reset on a National-style resonator guitar is a completely different thing to a neck reset on a Spanish or steel string acoustic guitar. This job, if done by an experienced resonator repairer, is a few hours work.
I would try the lighter strings and truss rod adjustment, and see how that goes. If after trying those options, you are still trying to get the strings down, come back to me and we'll talk again.
Suerte, ciao and cheers :-)
Shine On Michael
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Post by flamenco on Jul 12, 2016 16:30:56 GMT
Maybe the dreaded understringing is the best option in this case? TT
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Setup
Jul 13, 2016 11:17:50 GMT
Post by Michael Messer on Jul 13, 2016 11:17:50 GMT
TT, understring is a quick-fix way of lowering the strings behind the bridge, but as you know it's not a great thing to do.
Before people understood how to work on Nationals, understringing was common practice. I bought old Nationals from Gruhn's in Nashville in the early 80s and they were understrung. I don't think it was thought of as a quick-fix back then, just that very few people knew how to work on them.
Shine On Michael
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Post by snakehips on Jul 13, 2016 12:07:23 GMT
Hi tere !
Under-stringing tailpieces still goes on - even from guitar shops dealing in high-end guitars : (see recent video)
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 13, 2016 16:30:08 GMT
Understringing is the least of Norman's problems Shine On Michael
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Jul 13, 2016 21:19:55 GMT
Post by snakehips on Jul 13, 2016 21:19:55 GMT
....with that Tricone ? How do you mean ?
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Jul 14, 2016 7:49:27 GMT
Post by Michael Messer on Jul 14, 2016 7:49:27 GMT
....no, not the guitar, that's fine.
Shine On Michael
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