Frequently Asked Questions: Acoustic Guitar Set-Up and Repair

Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2004 20:45:43 +0200
Subject: Can't win for losing!

Mickey

I have got a small problem. I was changing the strings on my Norman guitar and noticed that the bridge was pulling up off of the soundboard. This problem happened to my 12 string (that was destroyed in a fire last month). My problem is this, should I look at buying another guitar hoping that it might last longer than the five years that the Norman? Or is it simply a problem with a cheap guitar? The Norman only cost $175 Canadian, five years ago. Without spending more than the banjo that I have to replace, is there a line of guitars that will hold up under world travel?

Sincerely, Scott Selby

Greetings Scott,

This is really a rare problem...bridges do not usually come up that often...some contributing factors that can pull a bridge up include:
1. Using too heavy a gauge of string...my suggestion, especially on cheaper guitars, is to us a light gauge string...
2. If the guitar is left out in the heat...or if you live in an abnormally high humidity area...this can loosen up some glues...
3. Tuning beyond concert can put too much tension on the bridge...it's highly recommended to use an electronic tuner to ensure that you do not go beyond concert pitch (A = 440)

You may already be aware of all of the above...be aware, repairing this problem is usually quite easy...and isn't a major deal...We've performed this many times....repair cost should be approximately 50-75...if performed correctly, with the previous residue properly cleaned, and using the right glue, this problem should not recur...it's still recommended that you bring it to a technician to have it properly done with the right tools. Mickey

Subject: Problems with Blueridge Guitars
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 00:57:37 -0600

Hi Mickey,
I stumbled on your website tonight and you seem very knowledgeable and hopefully can help me. We have a small music studio where we give lessons and sell some string instruments, mostly to students. We have sold a few different models of Blueridge guitars and we've had problems with the necks on most of them. Our climate is extremely dry with very harsh winters - we're in northwest North Dakota. I even ordered in a BR-180 for myself and have been quite happy with the sound and playability of it but the problem is that each guitar has developed a buzz around the 12th to 14th fret. If you look down the neck it appears that the fingerboard is actually a little higher where it is attached to the body verses where it is attached to the neck. None of the guitars had this problem when we received them. I put in a higher saddle last winter on the BR-180 and that solved the problem but now a year later it is again starting to buzz on the 14th fret if you play anything above about the 10th fret. I don't¬ know if I can put in a much higher saddle. I assume that too high of a saddle will put excess torque on the face of the guitar. I had an Ovation Custom Legend for 25 years and never had any problems with that in this climate.¬

Unfortunately I am not an expert when it comes to guitar repairs. If this continues to be a problem I'm afraid we won't dare sell any more Blueridge guitars up here but I know our clientele would never consider the more expensive American made guitars. We also felt the Blueridge gave us the opportunity to compete with some of the mail order catalogs.
Any advice you might have would be greatly appreciated.
Phil

Greetings Phil,
Glad to assist:
Yes, we've encountered this problem before...on a variety of imports including the Blueridge...sometimes the frets pop up, sometimes the fingerboard dries and shrinks...and sometimes, the fingerboard will swell...such as what is happening to yours...to determine if frets are popping up, or if you're encountering swelling, place a steel ruler edge on top of the fingerboard, and move it back and forth looking for any gaps between the frets...
Here's the best preventive we know of: as soon as your Blueridges arrive, try keeping them in their cases when they're not being played...and keep a humidifier in the soundhole that's properly soaked to ensure that there's always some level of humidity...as is true of where they come from...

Do not be dismayed by this...it is quite common...and, it does even happen to high-end American makes only not quite as often...

You could also create a humidity controlled environment in one storage room...(we now have a humidity controlled showroom which consists of a large floor humidifier)

For repair, first bring the humidity level up...and wait a few days to see if there's any change...if there isn't, the frets and fingerboard may require some filing...of which you can assess by using the steel ruler...
Mickey