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Posted by: Jakub Luptovec Dec 23 2010, 03:32 PM

(nostalgic GMC chit-chat, how I love you guys..)

Its been a while guys, its 4 years since I started guitar playing by subscribing to gmc, its one year since I disappeared from here - I found a touring band and I dont really have much time to practice, other that practicing our songs and my solos etc..

But now I have a problem and I am back and beg for your help my friends....

(end of nostalgic GMC chit-chat)


As some of you know, year and half ago I bought a high range ibanez from 1996, its really a great guitar, unbelievably comfortable neck... but then one day, I went to guitar tech and just for the kicks I told him to install Zakk Wylde boomer strings, those extra thick ones. So he did it, but from that day, the action is UNBELIEVABLY HIGH. Like, worse on my crappy ashton stratocaster. The problem is my guitar tech doesnt know what is the problem and I lost my confidence in him.

And the worst part is, the guitar is really dificult to play now and as a student I cant afford a new one.. and we play every week. For now I just easied down my solos but heck.... i can shred and my guitar is blocking me.

The problem seems to be in the tremolo - i cant turn the screws on it anymore lower then they are now => to push the trem lower into body => thus lowering the action.

Too long dont read: How is it possible, that changing strings on extra thick (i got my favourite 11' daddarios back on now) screwed my action so much? Is it beyond repair? Should I blame the guitar tech for damaging my guitar?

Posted by: Fran Dec 23 2010, 04:55 PM

I'm sure it's not the guitar, unless it's a fawlty product.

The way I see it, you should just have to increase the tension on the trem springs in the back of the guitar to make for the extra tension provided by the thicker strings.

But I can't believe that your guitar tech didn't think about that, since it's the way all trems work in the world

Posted by: MickeM Dec 23 2010, 05:54 PM

Is that what he calls himself?

The strings have higher tension than your old ones so they pull harder.
Losen the strings, open the back of the guitar, like Fran says - tighten the screws that run into the body, tune up and repeat until the tremolo is aligned with the body.
It will take some time to get it perfect, just be patient.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Dec 23 2010, 11:58 PM

The guys are right. It could be the extra tension if pulling your trem up so it's leaning forward a bit and wrecking your action. Or, the tech could have thought the action was set "Too Low" and raised it too reduce fret buzz. I"ve had this happen several times. I kid you not.

Todd

Posted by: Jakub Luptovec Dec 24 2010, 12:04 AM

Yeah, but the thing is - now I have daddarios 10-52 on it - I gave it to the same guitar tech to change and re-set it, and he said, the action cant get any lower ANYMORE and that he doesnt know why, he just suggested its that tremolo depth thing. But changing the strings to normal gauge should fix it, if its just that neck thing, shouldnt it?

Posted by: Frederik Dec 24 2010, 02:30 AM

Lol change your tech, he seems incompetent, and get a money refund + coverage of damage done

Posted by: jstcrsn Dec 24 2010, 03:05 AM

is your neck straight or bowed ?do you need to adjust the tension bar
i do most of my own adjusting and i don't think that he did any damage to the guitar
just needs some good tweaking!!!!
also check for any cracks on the guitar
i droped mine at a gig and loosened the fret board, it would not stay in tune till it was epoxied

Posted by: fkalich Dec 24 2010, 05:41 AM

Don't touch the tension bar unless you know what you are doing. I won't even touch a fender truss rod, it is way too easy to strip the nut on a Fender, I let a pro mess with a fender. I am happy adjusting that on a Gibson or my Parker though.

I am 99% certain nothing is broken, you just put heavier strings on it, that pulled the bridge up, and you need more springs, or adjusted springs to bring it down. Or heavier springs as would be the solution with my Parker. It depends on the make of the guitar. Fender has a tilt neck that can deal with this issue. Or you can tighten back the spring anchors.

Posted by: MickeM Dec 24 2010, 12:34 PM

Yes, right, that's the first thing you should check! If you can add more springs and if not, maybe add heavier gauge dittos.

And I think it would help if you posted one picture of the tremolo taken from the side and another taken inside where the springs sit.

Posted by: Jakub Luptovec Dec 24 2010, 01:11 PM

I got that ibanez in my bands rehersal room atm.. since today is the chrismtas day in czech republic, I cant get anywhere.. by sunday/moday itll be here, for now thank you guys

Posted by: Jasonius Dec 24 2010, 05:46 PM

I would definitley take a look at the neck relief. The increased tension from the new strings could be creating a bow. Hold the guitar up to a light and look from the bridge forward towards the nut at the edge of the neck. On a low action guitar, a bit of curve is barely visible around the 12th to 14th fret. On a bad one you can see the curve from one end to the other. Use it to shoot arrows at unruly audience.
Is the base plate of the bridge level with the body? If it is leaned forward it will make the action higher as Todd mentioned.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 28 2010, 03:19 AM

There are 3 general ways action can get higher:

Problem causes:

1. Tremolo has raised
2. Neck relief got bigger
3. Neck is not parallel with the Body (less than 180 degrees angle on the upper side).

Solutions:

1. Add more springs, and screw in the screws on the back side of the guitar (behind the plate) into the wood.
2. Take Allan key, and tighten up the truss rod in the neck (be careful, and read a bit about adjusting the truss rod on the web before you do it. It's not hard at all, but just as a precaution).
3. is rare and tricky one, you will need a guitar tech for that fix, specially if it is a set body neck.


BTW, I would suggest that you stay away from that tech, he obviously doesn't know what he is doing. I would ask for a refund as well.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Dec 31 2010, 03:15 AM

Do you have a possibility of taking the guitar to a different tech/shop? I don't think its anything major but someone has to take a look at it as several reasons can be causing it. You don't actually know what your tech did in the first place when he changed strings. Did he touch anything else? Don't worry much, take it to someone else and ask the first guy for refund!