Need advise with Blueridge BR 40 with neck problem

[ceenare]

Hi,

My name is Vern and I am a total newbie. Ok... I said it. New to playing music instruments in general and new to guitars.

 

I need advice about a brand new Bueridge BR 40 guitar that I purchased less than a week ago. After getting it home, (on day one)I noticed the neck, where it attaches to the body, begins to gradually sink towards the sound hole. I missed seeing this in the store. It looks almost like it was designed that way. I haven't taken a straight edge to the body, as I've now I returned it to the store, pointed out the problem, and I was told that all the guitar needed was a set up, that it would be taken care of. I've got warrantee and free set ups for 6 months. Now I'm waiting to hear back from them.

 

From what I've read, this is a classic dryness symptom. So far, I've read that all guitar's necks should be flat all the way through. Also, as I've continued to research guitar problems related to dryness, I've never found that a "set-up" is a cure for warped guitar necks. It sounds like an extensive problem (ie man hours of labor) to repair.

 

Please can anyone arm me with information about this before my dealer gets back to me with their diagnosis. Because my dealer denied this was a problem and because I'm so new, i fear getting snowed by my dealer.

 

Thanks for any help.

[Freeman Keller]

First, most important thing, Welcome! Now, this could be a problem or not.

 

Is there any chance of taking it to someone else for a diagnosis? Look in your phone book for a "luthier" (one who builds stringed instruments) or a good technician. The necks on most guitars are like this

 

 

It will flatten out where it sits on top of the soundboard between the 14th fret and the sound hole. Sometimes they are built with a slight downward angle, but it is also one of the symptoms of a dry guitar. Look at what Jean Larrivee says about humidity in the 20 percent range.

 

http://www.larrivee.com/flash/features/education/humidity/humidity.html

 

Most of the time guitars with this low of humidity will show some other problems - the most common being sharp fret ends (they should be perfectly smooth). It is not uncommon for the finish on the top to have little grain lines in it (again, it should be perfectly smooth). If the top is sinking, you might actually be able to see that or try laying a straight edge across it at various places - the top on a guitar is not really flat but should have a very slight convex curve to it. I've seen a dry guitar that you could see a slightly depressed rim around the edge of the top. Here is a pic of a really dry top

 

http://www.bryankimsey.com/problems/Dry_edge.JPG

 

And here is the top cracking next to the fretboard extension which might be in the future for yours

 

http://www.bryankimsey.com/70s_D28/P1010043.JPG

 

Now, what to do about it. First, I think you should express your concern to the shop. Some people do find that they need to adjust the setup on their guitars from one season to the next - I think it is better to not let this happen in the first place. It is possible that by re-humidifying the guitar everything will come back into place - but again, I don't think that should be the responsibility of a new owner to fix a problem that probably happened in the shop.

 

I guess I would give them the option of replacing it or doing whatever they think they can to make it properly playable. If it has some of the other symptoms you are on stronger ground to ask for a replacement. You are also on strong ground if you can point to other guitars in their shop that are not like this.

 

However, without actually seeing it I really can't say if you have a normal guitar, a minor problem or should demand an replacement.

[ceenare]

Freeman,

As a matter of fact, I could feel the grain in the top but I could not feel the frets. And thinking, back, I tried out several guitars and I can remember a guitar that one could definately feel the frets all along the entire neck. Another guitar had a split in the top. At the time, I didn't know what that meant and now I'm way more informed.

 

Thanks for this info. I do plan to seek satisfaction. I haven't lost faith yet as these people seemed very interested in helping me pick out the right guitar in the first place. Anyways, live and learn. I suspect this is the first of many guitars.

 

Vern

[Freeman Keller]

Vern, if all those guitars were in the same shop it sounds like they have a humidity problem. As you know central heating systems dry the heck out of the air and typically this time of the year those of use in more northern locations really need to be aware if it (the humidity in my music room is running about 30 percent right now which is too low). There have been several reports of stores having big sales of guitars with split tops and other serious problems - personally I am always impressed when I go into a shop with their guitars in a separate room (and with a temp and humidty gauge on the wall) or better yet, with all their gits in a case. I hate to see a bunch of really nice guitars just hanging on the wall day after day.

 

My point was, however, that it is really hard to give you good advice without seeing your guitar. Most shops will want to make you happy and it sounds like they are trying to work with you. Good luck and please keep us posted

[guit30]

Really sounds like a humidity problem, played a BR-40, straight neck

Jim

PS- this year, lots of folk are having this trouble

[Tony Burns]

Its always a good idea to pick up a house humidifier and regulate your humidity - most have readouts to your current humidity - to cheaper to take care of things than repair them - by the way , welcome to the forum -

[ceenare]

Freeman,

That is correct, the guitars I mentioned with the fret problem and the other with the split top were in the same shop that I bought mine. It's obvious to me now this shop has a humidity problem but I just didn't know it at the time and now those two examples give me barganing power.

 

Regardless, I have to wait to I get it back. Thanks to those who replied and have given some great advise.

 

Vern, Edmonton, Alberta

 

 

 

Vern, if all those guitars were in the same shop it sounds like they have a humidity problem. As you know central heating systems dry the heck out of the air and typically this time of the year those of use in more northern locations really need to be aware if it (the humidity in my music room is running about 30 percent right now which is too low). There have been several reports of stores having big sales of guitars with split tops and other serious problems - personally I am always impressed when I go into a shop with their guitars in a separate room (and with a temp and humidty gauge on the wall) or better yet, with all their gits in a case. I hate to see a bunch of really nice guitars just hanging on the wall day after day. My point was, however, that it is really hard to give you good advice without seeing your guitar. Most shops will want to make you happy and it sounds like they are trying to work with you. Good luck and please keep us posted

 

[ceenare]

Update:

 

I took the BR 40 back. The owners offered to exchange for another but no refunds. Considering the number of instruments they have hanging around with sharp frets, cracked tops, sunken sound holes, and even one with the bridge lifting, I passed up their offer. I wont vent here, its a long story.

 

My BR 40 had a sunken sound hole, buzzing frets and I could feel the grain but so far no cracks.

 

I guess I'm going to try and save this one from turning into dust or the garbage.

 

Currently, the BR 40 is in its case with two dampits and two damp sponges in the open spaces around the neck. The humidity reads 55% at 72F. After 48 hrs, I think I can feel the grain begin to smooth out and maybe even see that the sound hole is beginning to rise. The sloping neck is less noticable.

 

One question I have is should the strings be loosened during this process?? I don't think this is the worst case of dry guitars ever and I guess I hope the top comes back without lasting damage.

 

Thanks for any replys.

 

Vern

[Freeman Keller]

Kind of a bitter sweet experience Vern, and I hope it comes out OK. I don't see any big reason to back off the strings while you are trying to get the humidity back and it might take a couple of weeks. Please keep us posted.