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June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | Hi guys...Just acquired a 2004 used balladeer special, with the cedar top...the one's Ovation makes for guitar center...
I need some advice for a problem..
In all the years of owning O's, I've never had a problem adjusting the neck and action to suit my tastes. Mind you, I don't know that much, but usually a small tweek of the Kaman bar, a shim here or there, and I'm ready to go.
This one has me stumped.
No matter how much I adjust the bar, or remove or replace shims, this guitar won't fret the 4th string at the 11th fret. Currently it has Adamas 1818 lights on it, with one shim. Before retiring for the night, I put some serious relief into the neck, loosening the bar a good 1/2 turn. I figured I would let the neck settle back down, and then try again in a couple of days..
Could it be that the 12th fret is somehow not set in the fretboard correctly?...this is where the buzz is coming from....the neck looks straight.
any advice would be greatly appreciated before I break down and send it to John and Kim...
this guitar has a nice loud and full sound, it just doesn't play like butter yet..
Thanks in advance..
Ernie |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Ernie, lay a straight edge on the neck and see if the 12th fret is high or the 11th fret is low. |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | ok, thank you waskel, if it turns out that the 12th fret is high, is there something I can do at home to fix?....how do you sand down a fret?
or if the 11th is low, then i'm in trouble..
i'd hate to send this to the mother ship for a simple repair...
ernie |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Dressing your own frets can be done. It is very tricky and you run the very real risk of marring your fingerboard. It also calls for some "specialized" tools to make the fret the proper shape.
If you want to undertake this project I highly recommend a book entitled
"Guitar Player Repair Guide" by Dan Erlewine.
It is generally regarded as the DIY guitar repair and maintance bible. He explains this process precisely. |
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May 2005
Posts: 327
Location: Evansville,IN | I had one like that on an electric, like to have drove me nuts, before I figured out what was wrong with it. :rolleyes:
Took it to a local luthier, who said the fret just wasn't "settled" enough. He said it was raised up, as it hadn't been fully seated on one end. He "settled" it, now it plays fine, and only cost $15, so I was happy. :D |
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June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | thanks for all the input, i called the 2 closest factory ovation service centers, one guy who is only about 10 minutes away is buried, won't even look at it for 2 weeks, the other is about 30 minutes away said he could do it tomorrow, said it should take about 90 minutes, will cost 35 dollars..
deal. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | You could try takin' a hammer to that pesky 12th fret, Ernie... jest a leetle tap rat here... |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Waskel:
You could try takin' a hammer to that pesky 12th fret Which model Hamer would you recommend ??? |
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June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | yeah, i'll look at it when i get home..
the repair guy said it would be free if it needed a tap. the 35 dollar quote was if he had to resurface and shape..
thanks to everyone.. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Standingovation:
Originally posted by Waskel:
You could try takin' a hammer to that pesky 12th fret Which model Hamer would you recommend ??? |
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October 2005
Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | You might try a smooth mill file, 10", and work down the fret. Keep the file flat on the frets below, and stay parallel to the neck. Put pressure only on, or near the offending fret. If you are not comfortable with a file, leave it to the pros. It's not a difficult job, once you get over the "dread" factor. Of course, the first step would be to try the tap it down method. Use a piece of hardwood, or plastic, to protect the fret. If the problem is a burr, or slight warp in the fret, the file method works fine. Good Luck, Buck |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Professionals are the first choice.
StewMac has a couple of handy curved fret tools if you want to dress your own. Tap it down and run medium honing stone across to level out the high spots.
You could go broke outfitting your Luthiery shop via the internet though. Fleabay has some tools go for cheap from time to time. |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | Took it in this morning, took about an hour, seated the high #12 and polished the rest, oiled up the board, good to go, 20 dollars out the door.
thanks to everyone for their input..
ernie |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | See? You coulda done it with a hammer. Or a Hamer. |
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October 2005
Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | Susha deal. Where do you find these $20 dollar repairmen? For that kind of money I'd take my own gear in for work, and I'm a DIY kinda guy. Buck |
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Need help, buzz at 11th fret on my S771-4c
