Technical Info

For those that use room humidifiers

feeds@yuku.com (Guitone) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:41:02 GMT

what do you try to keep the room at, 40%?

Humidity Levels: Sound and Playability

feeds@yuku.com (Carped35) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:10:06 GMT

I'm really noticing the dry weather's notorious effect on my rosewood dreads, especially the HD-28V. It sounds especially crisp and clear these days. The phenomenon is especially noticeable up the neck. In the more humid summer months, I experience a general sense of mudiness as well as a slight but distinct and unpleasant "pinging" sound as I get up past the 5th fret, most bothersome on the G, b, and e strings. That sound has now cleared up, with the whole-house...

Guitar resonance ?

feeds@yuku.com (Hankak) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:56:14 GMT

I'd like to know the different ways to measure the natural resonant frequency of a guitar. My ear isn't good enough for tapping so I need some other ways.
Thanks
Hank

Standard and forward shifted bracing

feeds@yuku.com (Newf) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:42:43 GMT

Hi, Folks,

As an unabashed, inveterate tinkerer and having been left at home alone, it's turning out to be a great day - a little guitar playing, a little tinkering, some more guitar playing and now for a bit on the forum then back to guitar playing.

But while tinkering I was looking inside the guitar - a beautiful distraction looking at the craftsman ship that goes into making any reasonable good guitar - and measured the distance from the "V" of the main...

Thuddy Low E String

feeds@yuku.com (brians356) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:25:37 GMT

I have a Gibson flattop '07 Jackson Browne "Roy Smeck" prototype with a thuddy low E string. When tuned to concert pitch, the low E is dead pretty much dead at every fret. I am used to flattops with dead nodes or notes on certain strings, but this seems to affect the entire scale on low E. The frets are nearly new, no flat tops, the action is high enough to avoid buzzing, the other strings are fine, and I've tried a couple of sets of strings (D'Addario mediums 12-56.)...

Pick guards on originals

feeds@yuku.com (Newf) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:23:11 GMT

Hi, Folks,

Just saw this link on another forum - it's Mr. Rogers and a trip to Martin to see how the guitars are made - really a nice introduction of the world of guitar manufacturing.

http://pbskids.org/rogers/video_guitars.html

The last part of the demo shows a pickguard installation right on top of the finished gloss top surface.

When this pickguard is removed, will it...

Bridge pin hole tapering

feeds@yuku.com (Newf) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:50:05 GMT

Hi, Folks,

It seems as if the high string pin is now standard on most new guitars and I found this to be a bit irritating - felt like your wrist was held way above the strings even though it was only 1/4".

I happened to be in Harbour Freight earlier this week and for $3.50 purchased a 1/8" to 1/2" tapered reamer - I'm not sure if is exactly 5º taper but it looks an awful like the one advertised on the Martin website.

Here's a pic of both...

Luthier help - repair or replace this bridge

feeds@yuku.com (spock) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:56:29 GMT

As mentioned in the vintage section, I just recently acquired a 56 Gibson CF-100. Although in great condition otherwise, the bridge is cracked wide open. I wasn't aware this could be restored until someone asked me if I might pursue that approach. What is involved, what are the drawbacks, if any, and would a replica bridge be a better idea, and if so, why?

Thanks, Tim

silver nut

feeds@yuku.com (vibratingstring) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:19:03 GMT

I am holding an old (circa 1850-1867) Martin 1-21 for a friend which has a silver nut. This guitar sounds great.

I am wondering if anyone out there has a SILVER nut on their guitar. It would be interesting to try a silver nut on a modern Martin. I am tempted to try one.

Larry

Fine scratches on brand new sunburst

feeds@yuku.com (MRBABAR) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:06:57 GMT

Hey all - I was hoping someone would have some ideas on why this happened and how I can a) perhaps reverse it and b) prevent it from happening again.

I have a 3 day old brand new Martin '35 sunburst OM-42 and after playing the hell out of it the last few days it was pretty dirty, especially where my arm leans on the guitar and above the soundhole. I took a BRAND NEW 100% flannel rag from FQMS and some Petros (I think it was the finish restorer) and started to clean it up and it...

Problem with LXM just received today

feeds@yuku.com (Tom52) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:57:23 GMT

I just received a used LXM guitar today via UPS. I no more than got it out of the packaging and noticed a loud rattle. At first I thought it was something that got in thru the sound hole. Oh No, there is what appears to be a loose square nut, probably with internal 1/4" threads rattling around that you can see, but not reach up thru a round access hole where I assume you make a truss rod adjustment. I honestly do not see how you could ever get this nut started back on the truss rod,...

Anybody put the sponge-in-baggie-humdifier inside the guitar?!?!?

feeds@yuku.com (kydave) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:36:02 GMT

I hadn't heard of this until today on the AGF. Even wrung out very well, it would never occur to me to put the baggie inside the guitar. Rather, when needed I've put one (or two in extreme cases) inside the case.

Anybody actually put them in the guitar? I wouldn't, but maybe I just don't know, not living where humidity's ever a BFD.

Tweak number 2 on my HD-18LE...

feeds@yuku.com (tonguy) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:36:37 GMT

Yep - got out the little saw and files and ramped the string slots to get a little more string break over the saddle. I'll post picks later. On top of the extra clarity I got from switching to bone pins, I now have a little more volume, longer sustain, and I think even crisper sounding notes on the low strings and a little more cut on the highs. Glad I am over my fear of cutting into bridges, although I may hold off on slotting the bridge on this one. Stay tuned...

Does a humidifer deaden strings?

feeds@yuku.com (steam furnace) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:21:02 GMT

I'll admit that the phosphor bronze strings on my HD-7 weren't real fresh, but after putting my PlanetWaves humidifier in the case last week, and playing the guitar last night, I was shocked at how dead the strings sounded. Has anyone else experienced this?

No lemon oil on fretboards

feeds@yuku.com (Jim Bowman) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:35:21 GMT

A Q&A from Maury Music reads:

Can I use lemon oil on the fingerboard of my Martin guitar?
Martin does not recommend using lemon oil on their fingerboards. The acids in lemon oil break down the finish of Martin guitars. It may also aid the corrosion of the frets and lessen the life of the strings.

I have used lemon oil for some time now. Should I stop?

Strings and truss rod adjustment

feeds@yuku.com (Jim Bowman) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:29:48 GMT

Should truss rod adjustments be made with the strings up to pitch? I have heard it both ways.

12 string

feeds@yuku.com (desoto357) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:47:20 GMT

How is a 12 string guitar tuned in standard tuning? Also what is the standard tuning for each string on a Do-Bro?
Thanks

Sensitivity of humidity levels

feeds@yuku.com (ECarter) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:56:20 GMT

I'm sure this has been asked before but do different guitars require different humidity levels? Currently the room where my two guitars are stored has 35-40% RH in winter. Up until last year I did not use any type of in the case humidifier for my Guild D-15 made in 1983 and never had any issues with cracks. But after having it set up and a minor repair on the bridge the music store recommended that I use a humidifier and I did.

Now I have a Martin DM which was made in 1999 and...

Golden Era bracing

feeds@yuku.com (MRBABAR) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:32:11 GMT

Can someone explain to me or let me know where I can see illustrations/pics of "Golden Era" bracing vs other bracing types?

Thanks!

Looking for relief...

feeds@yuku.com (GlenbenGurian) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:14:35 GMT

In getting to know my new-to-me OMJM, I'm beginning to wonder if the neck relief is correctly set. It's hard to explain, but the fingerboard doesn't seem to be where it should be in places; it seems to jump up at my fingertips a little too soon in some places as if it's not fading away like my other guitars...

The action is also very low and comfy at the nut but gently escalates until it's higher -- still playable -- but significantly higher up the neck...
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