| Author |
Message |
Aiden
Username: Aiden
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 3:07 am: | |
I bought an AF-105-NT just befor a foreign work assignment. It's an amazing instrument with an extraordinary tone, but I had to leave the guitar behind. (Thats how I came to buy a 2nd artcore, an AG85, but anyway ...)
4 months later I got the 105 out of the case, but there was something not right. The 105 had started buzzing badly (I mean very badly) on the 13th and 14th fret on top E and B. The strings were in tension during storage but the instrument was kept in the case under reasonable temperatures and humidity.
I have raised the bridge a notch or two which fixes the problem but now the playability of neck has really suffered, the AG85 has a way better action.
I guess the truss rod needs adjustment. Is this normal for archtops, that they need a 2nd setup after a few months of settling in?
Anyone else experienced this? |
Phatphred
Username: Phatphred
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 6:08 am: | |
Aiden, one thing you should not overlook is whether the fretboard has been allowed to dry out. Often, these are neglected for years by otherwise very caring owners. If the wood has shrunk, it will displace or dislodge the frets. A good rubbing in with boiled linseed oil or lemon oil will give it a new life.
I'd leave the fretboard to settle for 4 days or so, even giving it a second oiling, before going anywhere near the truss rod.
Buzzing at the 13th-14th frets seems to be happening a long way down from the maximum relief point. Once the board has been fed with oil, a couple of gentle taps on the frets may reseat them and solve the problem. Then the truss rod can require slackening but with those hard maple necks that just go on getting harder, the neck may take a very long time to bend, if at all. After that, it's a trip to a luthier who may have to steam the neck.
In general terms, changes in temperature and humidity have more marked effects on acoustics and semi's than on solids and a change in location and climate from the seller's conditions, and storage away from the guitar's normal playing conditions, will make it change shape. As we all get older, it takes us longer to adapt to change. That's only human and some of us are guitars.
Maybe part of the answer is to keep the guitar out on display on a stand in your playing room for some time and see how it acclimatises.
If humidity is a problem you could consider keeping it in its case with a bag of silica gel. |
Phatphred
Username: Phatphred
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 6:19 am: | |
I should add that, if it's a new guitar, it will almost certainly need a second set-up after a few motnhs and setting it up before will only be good for demo purposes, not for life. This will also be necessary if you prefer different guage/tension strings from those originally fitted. |
Garyelcrrt
Username: Garyelcrrt
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 2:49 pm: | |
Aiden, so sorry to hear of this. My AF105F(NT) was darn near perfect right out of the case from the factory. I chose to change over to the optional rosewood bridge (which I understand is not included with the dual pickup model) to get a little more "wood" in the tone - so of course I had to reset height and intonation - but I thought they all would be this good. I feel bad for you that it should disappoint you (and happy for me that I didn't have the problem)... |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 7:29 pm: | |
Dear Aiden,
You wrote, that you raised the bridge a notch or two, which solved the problem but lead to a high action. But the buzz was only on the treble side on the E and B string. So all you had to do was to raise the bridge only at the treble side.
If the neck has a torsion problem, which can happen if heavy bottom strings were installed, you might be able to solve the prolem by buying the treble strings of a set that's two gauges heavier and installing them in combination with the lighter gauge bass strings you have now. So now you have created a heavy trebles set instead of heavy bottoms. The reverse torque might correct the problem within a month or so.
After the torsion is gone, you can leave it this way or install a new complete normal set (no heavy bottoms!) that is one gauge heavier than the original set (and one gauge lighter than your heavy trebles that compensated the torsion).
But first look if there is any torsion. Ask a luthier to take a look, and if it's the case, ask what he thinks of trying this solution before trying a steam treatment. In the case of my second hand Yamaha SG-400 with this torsion problem my luthier told me to give it a go.
I play a heavy treble set: the trebles of a 011 set and the bottoms of a 010 set on this guitar.
I left it that way.
But the Yamaha has a mahagony neck, not the rock maple neck... so what PhatPhred says about the steam treatment might be necessary. But it's far more expensive than the string experiment.
Yet a cheaper solution:
If the guitar is only 4 months old, it's a warranty case. You can go back to the dealer and tell him to solve the problem.
Greetz,
Ginger Ale |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 1:23 pm: | |
Hi Aiden,
I wouldn't panic. Take the guitar to a good guitar repair person. He or she will know the best way to troubleshoot and resolve your issue. I suspect your issue is very repairable (and most likely minor), so don't worry. All guitars need adjustments from time to time.
Let us know how it turns out.
Darryl |
Aiden
Username: Aiden
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 2:04 am: | |
Thanks everyone who took the time to reply, this is a really friendly board!
Checking with the store I bought it from (musik-schmidt) they offer a free 1 year luthier overhaul of all guitars. I'll contact them and see if they can take a look ahead of time.
Probably I could swap it under warrenty for another identical model but, heck, this thing is MY guitar. If I gave it back I'd lie awake at night worrying about what happened to it. I think you understand.
If that doesn't work out for any reason, are there any readers here who could recommend a luthier in the Rhein Main area of Germany? |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 5:49 am: | |
Aiden,
You are already one step ahead...
Don't!
You still have warranty!
Musik-Schidt must fix it for free!
And they will. Whole ICW is watching. It's a matter of honour.
Keep us posted.
Greetz,
Ginger Ale |
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