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Larrivee Frets too wide or Neck Shrinkage


JoeJazz

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A few years ago I purchased a Larrivee PV-09 from Notable Guitars.  I should have gone back to Dave at Guitar Adoptions but anyway after I received the guitar the sound was great and I was initially very pleased with the purchase.  However, I soon noticed the frets came too close to the edges of the neck for my comfort.  It was hardly noticeable but if you ran the tip of your thumb and index finger up and down the neck you could definitely feel the frets.  Since I knew Dave and I had bought a G&L electric & THD amp from him I had the nerve to call him about the Larrivee.  He said that Larrivee had the least fret taper of any of the acoustics he sold.  Dave said he was sure the issue probably wasn't neck shrinkage.  Although the guitar sounded great It just really bothered me to the degree I traded it and I'm sure I lost money. 

I might also add that the PV-09 I bought had been built for a well known classical guitar player and the nut and string spacing were slightly wider than standard.  I have very large hands so I didn't think it would bother me.  Because the guitar wasn't a stock PV-09,  I saved $200.00 off the asking price.  I was so close to trying to file the edges myself.  I had the tape in place and the whole Stew-Mac accessories on the ready but I just couldn't bear taking a file to such a beautiful guitar.  Besides, I'm sure I would've screwed it up.

My reason for the post is to find out if anyone else has ever had a Larrivee where you could just slightly feel the frets close to the neck and do you think the shortest angle idea has any merit?  I understand the logic but I would take a wider taper any day rather than feel the frets.

 

 

 

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Sharp fret ends is usually a sign that the fretboard has dried and shrunk slightly - its usually the first indicator that the guitar needs humidification.    Any good tech can file the fret ends and put a little radius on the sharp edge, and can change the angle if it is not to your liking.    I normaly file the ends at about 35 degrees, but if you want them a little more angled that is pretty easy.

I haven't played very many Larrivees but I've never noticed the ends of the frets feeling particularly sharp.

btw - if the cause is low humidity normally rehumidifying the guitar won't totally correct the problem - you'll probably have the have them filed.

edit to add - ironically, Jean Larrivee has written one of the best on line articles about the effects of humidity on guitars.   I point to this all the time when people start having these problems

http://www.larrivee.com/features/humidity.php

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Freeman Keller wrote:

 

 

Sharp fret ends is usually a sign that the fretboard has dried and shrunk slightly - its usually the first indicator that the guitar needs humidification.    Any good tech can file the fret ends and put a little radius on the sharp edge, and can change the angle if it is not to your liking.    I normaly file the ends at about 35 degrees, but if you want them a little more angled that is pretty easy.

 

I haven't played very many Larrivees but I've never noticed the ends of the frets feeling particularly sharp.

 

btw - if the cause is low humidity normally rehumidifying the guitar won't totally correct the problem - you'll probably have the have them filed.

 

edit to add - ironically, Jean Larrivee has written one of the best on line articles about the effects of humidity on guitars.   I point to this all the time when people start having these problems


 

 

 

Thanks Freeman,

The first thing one always thinks about is low humidity and shrinkage.  Thank you for the 35 degree angle info, I didn't know what the average would be.  I could see too much of a fret angle would make the high E string tougher to nail when playing fast single lines.  I remember a cheap Strat knock-off I had that was very generous on the angle but I don't remember it being a problem.  On the other hand that was back in the 3 chord song days of mine.

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JoeJazz wrote:

 

 

A few years ago I purchased a Larrivee PV-09 from Notable Guitars.  I should have gone back to Dave at Guitar Adoptions but anyway after I received the guitar the sound was great and I was initially very pleased with the purchase.  However, I soon noticed the frets came too close to the edges of the neck for my comfort.  It was hardly noticeable but if you ran the tip of your thumb and index finger up and down the neck you could definitely feel the frets.  Since I knew Dave and I had bought a G&L electric & THD amp from him I had the nerve to call him about the Larrivee.  He said that Larrivee had the least fret taper of any of the acoustics he sold.  Dave said he was sure the issue probably wasn't neck shrinkage.  Although the guitar sounded great It just really bothered me to the degree I traded it and I'm sure I lost money. 

 

I might also add that the PV-09 I bought had been built for a well known classical guitar player and the nut and string spacing were slightly wider than standard.  I have very large hands so I didn't think it would bother me.  Because the guitar wasn't a stock PV-09,  I saved $200.00 off the asking price.  I was so close to trying to file the edges myself.  I had the tape in place and the whole Stew-Mac accessories on the ready but I just couldn't bear taking a file to such a beautiful guitar.  Besides, I'm sure I would've screwed it up.

 

My reason for the post is to find out if anyone else has ever had a Larrivee where you could just slightly feel the frets close to the neck and do you think the shortest angle idea has any merit?  I understand the logic but I would take a wider taper any day rather than feel the frets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larrivee has had some issue with their frets over the years.  Leaving aside neck shrinkage dues to lack of humidity, they can come loose and, as you observed, can be too close to the edge of the neck or not tapered at the edge enough.  Nevertheless, fret work is easily done and not too expensive to make it the way you like it best.  The most recent Larrivee I bought (used) needed fretwork similar to this.  Once done, it plays great.

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JoeJazz wrote: I was so close to trying to file the edges myself.  I had the tape in place and the whole Stew-Mac accessories on the ready but I just couldn't bear taking a file to such a beautiful guitar. 

 


 

I don't understand. You sold a guitar instead of doing a minor repair that you had the tools for?

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Filing down the fret ends is simple.  If they really stuck out of the board that much then its kind of hard to screw up filing down the frets to fit the board.

Also, if the guitar was made for a well known classical player, I'm sure he would've noticed this before it even got into your hands.

 

This story just doesn't add up.

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