[Guncho]

The strings are a little high on my Martin D-18 and I'm a little scared to mess with it to be honest.

Any recommendations for somewhere to get a setup done in the Oakville/Burlington area?

Gear Music?
Long and McQuade?

 

[Guest]

http://www.folkwaymusic.com/
They specialize in Martin.
If don't mind driving to Kitchener.

 

[Wardo]

I just shaved a bit off the saddle on my D18 brought it down no problem.

Check the relief first though might need a 1/4 turn.

 

[Morkolo]

I'm not an expert but I do my own work, so I have a couple of suggestions. First is the guitar wet? What I mean by that is is it getting too much humidity. Some people go overboard with those little humidifiers and the top can create a bit of a belly, which could easily raise your action. I have a hygrometer that I lay in the case with my guitar every so often to see if the humidity levels are within reason. The next thing I'd check would be the relief and action, something could be out of wack that you didn't notice until now. Here's a site Brian Kimsey has up that I've found to be an excellent resource for setting up my acoustics.

Index

I can completely understand if you just want to take to someone, but there's a good chance it might be something simple. A capo, ruler and set of feeler gauges can go a long way. Good luck either way.

 

[Guncho]

http://www.folkwaymusic.com/
They specialize in Martin.
If don't mind driving to Kitchener.

Too far. 1:20 drive.

 

[Guncho]

I'm not an expert but I do my own work, so I have a couple of suggestions. First is the guitar wet? What I mean by that is is it getting too much humidity. Some people go overboard with those little humidifiers and the top can create a bit of a belly, which could easily raise your action. I have a hygrometer that I lay in the case with my guitar every so often to see if the humidity levels are within reason. The next thing I'd check would be the relief and action, something could be out of wack that you didn't notice until now. Here's a site Brian Kimsey has up that I've found to be an excellent resource for setting up my acoustics.

Index

I can completely understand if you just want to take to someone, but there's a good chance it might be something simple. A capo, ruler and set of feeler gauges can go a long way. Good luck either way.

In the case it is 67F and 46% humidity. (A little cold but humidity is good)

At the 12th fret the low E measures 7/64". (Within factory spec but the highest end and I have lights so should be able to get down to almost 3/32")

Relief at the 6th fret like .013 so a little high.

Ok so I tightened the truss rod and now I'm at 3/32" at the 12fret low E and the relief is like .009. Too little?

 

[Wardo]

On relief I usually don’t measure it just look for a slight amount of clearance - the string just barely moves when you tap it. Although some guitars might need more.

If it’s not buzzing anywhere and you are ok with action height then you are done.

Just checked my 18 and 28v as they are sitting on the couch anyway. Both are 3/32 at the low E and they haven’t needed to be adjusted since I first set them. For the 18 that was six years ago - probably because the humidity is always 45.

 

[Morkolo]

In the case it is 67F and 46% humidity. (A little cold but humidity is good)

At the 12th fret the low E measures 7/64". (Within factory spec but the highest end and I have lights so should be able to get down to almost 3/32")

Relief at the 6th fret like .013 so a little high.

Ok so I tightened the truss rod and now I'm at 3/32" at the 12fret low E and the relief is like .009. Too little?

You're pretty much right on with what I have mine set up with. My D18 has .008 in relief and .095 at the 12th fret (.001 over 3/32). Personally I like the way they play like this, not too high for playability but not too low that you start pulling the bottom end response out of the guitar.

 

[knight_yyz]

Talk to Fred at Freddies Frets in NIagara on the lake

 

[DaddyDog]

How about Mike Spicer at The Peghead in Hamilton? Mojo Music in Oakville uses Spicer (along with a couple of other guys), and the turn around was quite good: about a week or two.