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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 17
Location: Ontario, Canada | I know you are going to get tired of this topic but I just took the strings off of my Balladeer to put a shim under the saddle. I was told that the saddle would just pop out. It really doesn't seem to want to come out at all. Am I missing something? I've even tried to pry it out (very carefully of course) with a precision screw driver....not happening. How bad is it to leave the strings off of the guitar? Will it affect the neck? |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Omaha | It won't hurt the neck of the guitar ... as to your saddle, someone else will have to chime in... :confused: |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | If it has a pickup try to push, easily, the lead from inside the guitar. watch the pieces if it separates. There is a diagram in the Owner's Manual (at the Ovation site as well).
If no pickup then grab some vice grips and a couple of popsicle sticks for protection.
Don't force it but you might have to pull real hard. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 17
Location: Ontario, Canada | Leftover/Mwoody
Thanks so much for your quick reply..that was amazing. The pliers with the popsicle stick worked, got the saddle out, the shim in, (I don't think it was quite thick enough) the strings on and I'm back playing Blackbird. Does the width of the shim matter? The one I put in was narrower than the ones that were already in there. the action is a bit better but now I'm pretty confident in making it a lot better.
Thanks again |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Guy,
What are you playing? Is it the acoustic only?
As long as there is significant width to prevent rocking or an uneven seat the shims don't need to be exact.
Those with pickups need solid seating though and if I made my own shims I'd get as close as I could without touching.
Glad your back up!
Now, did you steel wool and oil the fretboard and lube the bridge while the strings were out? :D |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 17
Location: Ontario, Canada | Mwoody, tell me about oiling the fret board and lubing the bridge. I knew about the steel wool but didn't know what kind of oil to use. Lubing the bridge is new to me.
I have an accoustic guitar...BUT...I had a pick up put in a few years back. I wish I hadn't...this guitar was really made to be played accoustically (word?) I noticed when I took the saddle out that there was a wire attached to one end of it. I'm pretty ignorant about pick-ups. At one time I just thought I wanted one in the guitar to avoid having to mic it all the time (easier to play and sing at the ame time)..it doesn't sound that great through an amp...and besides it squeels like crazy. So is this all bad. Thanks for your expertise Mwoody, I really appreciate all this new knowledge |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Since I did leave the hook I should probably pull you into the boat as well.
For other views run a search on Fret oil, linseed oil and lemon oil.
The ritual - upon the removal of the strings - is to use 000 steel wool and boiled down linseed or lemon oil (not pledge but some meant for instruments) and coat the fretboard and bridge. a Q-tip can get the string cavities. this is a maintanance issue as well as a way to "bond" with your instrument.
After removal of the excess oil it is a good time to polish the rest of the guitar. Then put the strings on ensuring that the ball ends are perpendicular to the top!
Enjoy! |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by MWoody:
[QB]...ensuring that the ball ends are perpendicular to the top!/QB]
I thought the ends had to go parallel to the top. This allows for two things:
a) Tension is spread evenly over the top
2) The string energy is transmitted in the same plane as the string is plucked. The resulting wave travels down the string to the bridge, then into the top. If the balls are perpendicular, the wave has to 'change direction,' resulting in a 'deadening' of the sound. Most non-O-fanatics don't know this and that's why they think O's are just plastic salad bowls. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I'm talking the long edge which means the line of the holes (when there) are paralell to the top.
Long Day! :o |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by MWoody:
I'm talking the long edge which means the line of the holes (when there) are paralell to the top.
Long Day! :o
Ah, then we are in agreement!
And all that other stuff I said was just crap. Not even real crap, though...fake crap. Which would really be k-rap, like fake 'crab' is k-rab. K-rap. I made it all up. But, man it sounded freaking great, didn't it?
HAHAHAHAHHAHA!
:) |
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