increase the playability

[funkywon]

yo guys, again me

got a takamine eg530ssc

got strings of strength 12 on there

but i got kind of a hard time gripping chords...i mean its ok....but i think its not really well playable (not so smooth).

do u think id be better off with lowering the saddle or buying maybe 11 strings?

or both? thnx for any advice

[JasmineTea]

Set up is about $30. A good tech can make it play like a dream.

[funkywon]

hmm...could u explain a lil bit more what exactly he will do? just curious...

[JasmineTea]

A $30 set up is just a truss and saddle adjustment.

 

A $100 set up by a luthier includes leveling the fretboard, fret dress, truss and saddle adjust.

[Tony Burns]

a simpler plan - Put extra light gauge strings on it ( phospher bronze ) tune the guitar down two steps and capo the second fret- something like an old fashion dunlop capo ( not too big to get in your way) - the trick is to leave it on the guitar , the decreased tension is better for your guitar , you wont throw the bridge- yes ive seen it This advice was given to me about thirty years ago and its the best and cheapest fix you can get-- you will also eliminate warped necks and other potential problems, the ex light strings also make it easier to bare chords ----I use to use earthwood PB EX- LIGHTS strings ( not sure if their still made ) but get the lightlest gauge PB you can get ------I would try not to play with the tension rod etc. , unless you know what your doing - over tightening it can get you into more problems --- 12 string guitars strings put about twice the tension on the neck that normal 6 string guitars do-- thats one reason why the necks are usually so fat- with heavy Tension rods --- Try it ,it works

Tony

[Onswah]

shop around on a set-up. I have a place that for $45 and a set of strings will level the frets and adjust everything. i had to check the serial number to make sure it was my guitar when i got it back

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by Onswah shop around on a set-up. I have a place that for $45 and a set of strings will level the frets and adjust everything. i had to check the serial number to make sure it was my guitar when i got it back

That's darn cheap. Is he a luthier?

[Freeman Keller]

Start here

 

Is My Guitar Sick

 

Then go here

 

How do I Fix my Sick Guitar

 

Or take it to a good guitar technician and pay her $30 to 100 to do it right.

[Andrewrg]

The most important part of a set up is getting the string height at the nut correct. Many guitars leave the factory with the nut slots cut too high giving an uncomfortable action in the first position where the string tension is greatest.

Merely lowering the bridge saddle wont help here.

The truss rod should never be used to correct a high action. Its purpose is to ensure neck straightness/relief and nothing more.

A good set up will cover nut slot height, neck straightness and bridge saddle height.

On edit:Just read Freeman`s stuff and it covers what I pointed out in much greater detail.