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Post by fatfingerjohn on Feb 16, 2014 14:50:29 GMT
I quite 'enjoy' changing strings on my 6-strings because it is easy and I enjoy giving the guitars a good clean at the same time; and the anticipation of that first playing session with new strings is good.
But not so the dear old 12-er. I've been putting it off for a while now and trying to pluck up the energy and will power to do it. I know I'll be pleased when its done but I find the 12-er a bit of a chore. I also seem to find that after I've changed the strings I get a bit of buzz on the bottom two E's as if a fret is a bit high; it seems to settle down after a while. Is this something to do with loosening the strings off to change them and retighten them? I don't know. I prefer to take all strings off at once to give it a good clean but do you guys and gals do the a pair at a time on your 12-ers??
I might just watch a bit of footie first ..........
John
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 16, 2014 15:04:19 GMT
I'm with you on that one John - it's quite a chore. And, for that reason,and provided that the plain strings are still intonating OK, I mostly just change the wound strings. Every two or three changes I'll maybe do them all... if I can be bothered! I think, as you suspect, your temporary buzz is just the neck straightening up without any strings on at all, and then gradually curving back to its normal position under string tension over a period of time once the strings are back on - it may well be made more obvious as a result of a possibly high fret, and/or maybe not quite enough neck relief, but if it settles down I wouldn't worry overmuch. You could maybe confirm/refute the "all strings off" theory by just changing a pair at a time and see if it stays OK or not..... Or you could just watch the footie... Keith
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Post by Akquarius on Feb 16, 2014 16:27:23 GMT
I put'em all off, do a bit of cleaning and restring the guitar immediately after the cleaning process is done.
No trouble with string buzz on my Seagull S12.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Feb 17, 2014 9:47:25 GMT
So, just to prove that I can multi-task I changed strings WHILST watching the footie! And what a difference it made having put this off for too long. I did a Berndt, all off, clean and all on because they had been neglected but may follow Keith's method and just do the wound strings next time but not leave it so long; Keith, do you buy singles for this or a full set and just keep the others?
Regarding the bit of buzz, the new strings are better than the old but still a bit of buzz if I hit hard on the bottom E. I wonder if the change I made last time from the medium strings that the guitar was bought with and which I then changed to lights is part of the problem and I'm not getting enough tension with the lighter strings and need to change the setup a bit. I had tried to drop the tuning half a step previously as well but went back to standard (E) because the buzz was worse. Its also a bit more noticeable with capo on 2 or 3. It's not a big problem now but I may drop it into my local setup wizard sometime (I'm not very experienced in changing the set up or truss rod myself).
Just need to find more time to play it more often for now! Would love to do some fingerstyle on it.
John
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Post by delb0y on Feb 17, 2014 10:01:13 GMT
I recently put a new set of strings on the Fenix 12 I bought last summer. Wish I'd done it sooner. It made an amazing difference to intonation, playability, and tone. But I suspect it'll be a long time before I do it again...!
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 17, 2014 10:18:41 GMT
John, re your buzz, and your change from medium to light strings - if you have the correct tool, a quick loosen of the truss rod by 1/4 - 1/2 turn to add a little more relief to the neck might sort out your buzzing. It really is simple to do, and easily reversible. The first time is the hardest!
Re string changes - I tend to just use the wound ones out of a whole set if I have a set in stock, and just hang onto the plains. If I don't have a whole set lying around I'll get some single wound ones.
Keith
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Feb 17, 2014 11:18:55 GMT
John, re your buzz, and your change from medium to light strings - if you have the correct tool, a quick loosen of the truss rod by 1/4 - 1/2 turn to add a little more relief to the neck might sort out your buzzing. It really is simple to do, and easily reversible. The first time is the hardest! Keith Hi Keith
The adjuster looks to be just inside the sound hole at the neck end, but impossible to see what king of 'tool' is needed without taking the strings off. ('There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza.....', or a bit of Flanders and Swan Gasman as well!) ).
Presumably you'd have to at least loosen the strings anyway but don't think I'll be able to see what tool is required without taking them off. (And then don't know which way to turn it; but presumably there are loads of guides on the web or youtube to look at which I'll do). Looks like I'd better learn how to do this anyway. Thanks
John
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 17, 2014 11:39:55 GMT
... have a squint with a small mirror - probably an allen key needed, though you might have to try several to find the right size - usually possible by "feel" and, with care and fiddling, without having to loosen the middle strings, though you might find it easier the first time if you do.
Good luck!
Keith
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Post by jugbandman on Feb 18, 2014 15:17:33 GMT
John, lie a straight edge on the frets, that'll reveal any raised fret beyond the 1st. You haven't said whether it's the open string that's buzzing, but if it is, the nut may be cut a little low. Unlikely on a Taylor though. Any truss rod adjustment should be tiny, like 1/8th turn, let it settle down before going further. A quality guitar seldom needs adjustment, but a change of humidity can move the top up or down. Moving house did that to one of mine. That may need more than one adjustment to be made; consult a pro. I'm no expert, and it seems possible that you have even less experience than me in these things. In that case, have a pro set it up. There are a few things that he/she will do to ensure best playability & tone. Good luck with the fingerstyle. That's how I play 6-string, but the 12 gets the plectrum every time.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Feb 18, 2014 15:58:31 GMT
John, lie a straight edge on the frets, that'll reveal any raised fret beyond the 1st. You haven't said whether it's the open string that's buzzing, but if it is, the nut may be cut a little low. Unlikely on a Taylor though. Any truss rod adjustment should be tiny, like 1/8th turn, let it settle down before going further. A quality guitar seldom needs adjustment, but a change of humidity can move the top up or down. Moving house did that to one of mine. That may need more than one adjustment to be made; consult a pro. I'm no expert, and it seems possible that you have even less experience than me in these things. In that case, have a pro set it up. There are a few things that he/she will do to ensure best playability & tone. Good luck with the fingerstyle. That's how I play 6-string, but the 12 gets the plectrum every time. Thanks for the advice, all helpful. I'll try to check the fret height as you suggest. Yes, the buzzing occurs on the open E (wound string) and is also there as you move up the fretboard. Since yesterday I took the plunge and adjusted the truss rod. Have more or less got rid of the buzz unless I really hit it hard, but it must have taken in total over half a turn. (I didn't let it settle for a while as you suggest but will check again later today. Whilst the buzz has nearly gone its at the expense of a higher than desirable action further up the fretboard which suggests that there may be a high fret or adjustment required to either the nut notch or saddle or both. Again the high action beyond the 4th fret is not a major concern to me generally as I tend to get nose bleeds if I venture up there!
By the way my 12-er is a Crafter; nice but not Taylor build quality. My guess is that if I get more serious about playing it I will have it reset properly.
Thanks again, appreciate it.
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Post by curmudgeon on Mar 30, 2014 12:02:40 GMT
Almost all my guitars are slot-heads including my 12 string. I have developed my own strategy for re-stringing (painlessly) and have sent it to many in the US who have found it helpful.
If anyone here wants a copy - PM me and I';ll send it as a Word attachment to a reply - no charge!
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Post by kevmc1180 on Mar 31, 2014 11:06:31 GMT
Its usually a 5mm allen key very simple procedure . You can do it whilst the strings are although not advised. Just lossen the strings a bit spead 3 one way 3 the other. in your case 6 and 6. turn to the right tightens up straightens the neck. turn to left loosens gives the neck more relief...
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 31, 2014 12:59:59 GMT
Some adjustable truss rods can be adjusted with a 5mm allen key though it's by no means universal.
My main guitars use a 7mm one and a 4mm one comes in handy sometimes. And then there's allen keys in imperial measurements.
There are also plenty of rods that have an adjusting nut needing a socket spanner type of thing eg 5/16" or 1/4" are very common.
Keith
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Post by curmudgeon on Apr 2, 2014 18:11:27 GMT
American guitars use imperial allen keys - mine are 5/32" You don;t want to mess around with a loose allen key !
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Post by kevmc1180 on Apr 2, 2014 18:28:26 GMT
True I forgot the Yanks use imperial.... They should fall in with the times metric is the way to go....
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