NGD Further adventures at the cheap end of the guitar market
Sept 8, 2019 9:39:05 GMT
Wild Violet and bleatoid like this
Post by PistolPete on Sept 8, 2019 9:39:05 GMT
So, some of you may recall I had made a purchase of a Takamine with a somewhat primitive neck repair to use as a house guitar at an open mic I run a little while ago.
Shortly after making the purchase I was headed to London for a gig and, usually being a little jumpy about someone else helping themselves to my Gibson from the luggage rack of the 12.55 to Euston, I decided to take the Tak along. Alas my £11.99 ebay gig bag proved to be something of a false economy & 200 yards outside the station the shoulder strap un-stitched itself and the guitar bounced a little way along the clean-swept Bloomsbury pavement. Unfortunately that neck repair did not survive the adventure. Remarkably with a combination of slide playing & a capo I managed to get through that evening's gig with cracked neck, but upon returning home & making a close inspection it was apparent the guitar was in serious need of some attention. I put it in the corner for a few weeks and stared at it in a forlorn manner.
Meanwhile the JJB pickup I'd ordered for it on Wild Violet's recommendation turned up.
So I went back to the chap who'd sold it to me, who re-glued the neck & I installed the JJB in place of the soundhole pickup, but alas, although I'm pretty happy with how the guitar sounds I just can't get on with the fact that the neck now changes direction somewhat abruptly around the 3rd fret, making playing up the neck fine, but open chords in root position rather hard work...
Which brings us to...
I spotted this Vintage on FB marketplace for £130 including a £65 hard case, posted by a place in a neighbouring town I didn't know about that does key-cutting and instrument repairs. It doesn't have the acoustic tone of the Takamine but is very playable and is in much better condition. The factory UST can be a bit toppy & quacky, so last week I drilled a second hole in the end block and did a temporary install of the JJB with sticky tape & will probably make that permanent this week.
I'm sad to consign the Takamine to the dustbin especially as it has a great sound, but I can't really see it ever getting another lease of life, unless it's as a shelving unit.
Shortly after making the purchase I was headed to London for a gig and, usually being a little jumpy about someone else helping themselves to my Gibson from the luggage rack of the 12.55 to Euston, I decided to take the Tak along. Alas my £11.99 ebay gig bag proved to be something of a false economy & 200 yards outside the station the shoulder strap un-stitched itself and the guitar bounced a little way along the clean-swept Bloomsbury pavement. Unfortunately that neck repair did not survive the adventure. Remarkably with a combination of slide playing & a capo I managed to get through that evening's gig with cracked neck, but upon returning home & making a close inspection it was apparent the guitar was in serious need of some attention. I put it in the corner for a few weeks and stared at it in a forlorn manner.
Meanwhile the JJB pickup I'd ordered for it on Wild Violet's recommendation turned up.
So I went back to the chap who'd sold it to me, who re-glued the neck & I installed the JJB in place of the soundhole pickup, but alas, although I'm pretty happy with how the guitar sounds I just can't get on with the fact that the neck now changes direction somewhat abruptly around the 3rd fret, making playing up the neck fine, but open chords in root position rather hard work...
Which brings us to...
I spotted this Vintage on FB marketplace for £130 including a £65 hard case, posted by a place in a neighbouring town I didn't know about that does key-cutting and instrument repairs. It doesn't have the acoustic tone of the Takamine but is very playable and is in much better condition. The factory UST can be a bit toppy & quacky, so last week I drilled a second hole in the end block and did a temporary install of the JJB with sticky tape & will probably make that permanent this week.
I'm sad to consign the Takamine to the dustbin especially as it has a great sound, but I can't really see it ever getting another lease of life, unless it's as a shelving unit.