minorkey
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My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
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Post by minorkey on Dec 2, 2022 16:15:15 GMT
My lovely Tanglewood super folk had the same strings on it for many years, and was quite playable. Was that is until I put Martin Monel 13-56s on. Yes they sound good but it seems the action is higher now, making fretting a strain. I'm guessing the extra tension has pulled the neck upwards slightly. The 13s are great on my big Fender dread, but they don't work as well on the Tangler. Might have to get some light mediums for it...11s maybe?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Dec 2, 2022 16:57:20 GMT
.. the truss rod is there to compensate for such things - a little judicious tightening may solve the situation.
Check the neck relief first - press at 1st fret and the fret where neck joins body. Look halfway in distance between these points - there should be a very slight gap under eg the low E and the top of the fret. If the gap is more then eg the thickness of a top E string then your diagnosis is correct, and my "treatment" should solve the problem. if the gap is very tiny or non-existent then it may be that the bridge/top has risen under the tension - in which case get those 13s off right away! I suspect these guitars are delivered with 12-52/3 to begin with though I don't know a lot about them.
Loads of stuff on the net about truss rod adjustment - it is straightforward if you proceed carefully with the correct tool. By all means shout if this is as clear as mud!
Keith
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minorkey
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Post by minorkey on Dec 3, 2022 12:26:36 GMT
Thanks Keith, I will try that later. The strimgs have become like cheese wire...
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colins
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Post by colins on Dec 3, 2022 13:01:33 GMT
If the 13s are raising the action it is more likely the top is bellying, rather than the neck bending, and yes I'd take them off.
I always used a 'Custom Light' set on my guitars, and always fitted them to the guitars I made as this is what they were set up for. The gauges I used were 11, 15, 23, 32, 42, 52, which is what I would recommend for your parlour. These are a well balanced set of gauges and mix light with mediums and they suit finger players well. My guitars were never built for 13s as I only built for fingerstyle, not flat pickers who had to compete with a banjo, mandolin and fiddle.
Martin and D'Addario both sell these sets, not sure of the more boutique makers.
Colin
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minorkey
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Too many instruments, too little time
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My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
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Post by minorkey on Dec 3, 2022 18:59:28 GMT
Its not a parlour guitar per se, Tanglewood call it super folk. I guess that's like Martin's OM size?
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dogwheel
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Post by dogwheel on Dec 3, 2022 19:25:35 GMT
I became very wary of heavy gauge strings when they did a "not-a-lot-of-good" to a 1960 Hofner 12 string we had from new.--ok it did get wound up to concert pitch for the occasional studio session5 I now very happily use Adagio Phosphor Bronze Pro Light .011 to .050 (from on my 5 all quite different 6 string acoustics,(2 Jumbos. 1 Dread, 1 small Parlour and an OM size custom) I can make much more noise with them than is polite! Looks like I can't add where I buy them "an online auction site".
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colins
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Post by colins on Dec 3, 2022 20:22:54 GMT
Its not a parlour guitar per se, Tanglewood call it super folk. I guess that's like Martin's OM size? My mistake, though the rest of my advice remains, take the 13s off and put custom lights on. Once a top bellies for any extended period, you'll have a hard time (and expense) getting it back to shape.
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minorkey
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My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
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Post by minorkey on Dec 4, 2022 21:17:38 GMT
Thanks In the meantime I guess I should loosen the strings
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dogwheel
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Post by dogwheel on Dec 4, 2022 21:53:52 GMT
Don't wish to sound facetious, but why not just take the old heavy strings off ready for the new Light Gauge ones, from your local shop if there is one, or, when I buy mine (Adagio)via Ebay they arrive very quickly. Hope that is of some use. Robin.
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minorkey
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Post by minorkey on Dec 5, 2022 7:50:22 GMT
1 we have no local music shop other than online and 2 I'm skint at the moment.
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minorkey
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Post by minorkey on Dec 5, 2022 7:55:00 GMT
.. the truss rod is there to compensate for such things - a little judicious tightening may solve the situation. Check the neck relief first - press at 1st fret and the fret where neck joins body. Look halfway in distance between these points - there should be a very slight gap under eg the low E and the top of the fret. If the gap is more then eg the thickness of a top E string then your diagnosis is correct, and my "treatment" should solve the problem. Keith Just tried that keith and it looks like I could slide a nail file under the low E string at the half way point. Not sure if that's good or bad.
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minorkey
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My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
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Post by minorkey on Dec 5, 2022 8:03:06 GMT
Couple of pics of the 12th fret
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Dec 5, 2022 11:03:23 GMT
.. the truss rod is there to compensate for such things - a little judicious tightening may solve the situation. Check the neck relief first - press at 1st fret and the fret where neck joins body. Look halfway in distance between these points - there should be a very slight gap under eg the low E and the top of the fret. If the gap is more then eg the thickness of a top E string then your diagnosis is correct, and my "treatment" should solve the problem. Keith Just tried that keith and it looks like I could slide a nail file under the low E string at the half way point. Not sure if that's good or bad. If that was the gap at the midpoint when pressing at first and body frets simultaneously (capo at fret one can help) then the neck relief does sound to be on the high side then an eighth or quarter turn on the truss rod (tightening it) might help, though obviously won't address any possible issues with the top having bulged. I'd agree that 13-56s are not necessary or ideal for your guitar. Your pics do seem to indicate that the action is one the high side. I usually go for around 2mm possibly plus a hair or so on the bass E, 2mm minus a hair or three top E. Keith
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Post by borborygmus on Dec 5, 2022 11:40:19 GMT
I haven't watched this all the way through, but it's from StewMac, so it's probably OK:
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minorkey
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Too many instruments, too little time
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My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
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Post by minorkey on Dec 5, 2022 12:03:41 GMT
Cheers borborygmi, will watch that later
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