houseisland
Member
I finally decided to change the strings on my X-180 PA.
It came with what I assume were D'Addario Chromes ECG23 Extra Lights, 48-10 - they had the feel of new strings and there was an empty ECG23 package in the case. As I have said elsewhere these strings were a little light for my taste, and the action was incredibly low, way too low for my playing style/heavy-handed incompetence. Also I have never really used flat wounds before - the experience was interesting - but the guitar didn't sound guitarish enough for me.
So looking through what I had at hand, I found a package of D'Addario XL EJ21 Jazz Light Gauge round wounds, 52-12. I put them on, and the immediate results were disastrous. The truss rod was wound up tight so that the neck had no camber whatsoever, and counter-intuitively the heavier gauge strings only made my problems worse - raising the action did not really help. So out with the truss rod tool. I made four 1/8 turns with about an hour in between turns, before I noticed much change. Then I played around with the action some more. I was concerned at first, because there were suddenly neck hump issues where the neck joins the body - very deadish fuzzy notes in the 14th to 17th fret area - D, G, B strings - but this has disappeared now as the neck settles in. I will wait a few days and re-evaluate things. I may have to re-tighten slightly.
What is most interesting is the Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde personality change in the guitar. It is acoustically quite loud now. And plugged in, it is quite scary. Gone is the polite, sedate Dr. Jekyl. The heavier round wound strings bring the pickups to life. It is entirely a different guitar. There is now a reason to use the tone controls. I will try it like this for a bit, and then maybe try a heavier set of round wounds before I make a final decision on what to keep on it.
Of major concern, however, is that the bridge appears to be glued in place - seems to be pretty much immovable without resorting to a hammer - I hope it is not something really stupid like Crazy Glue. I looked the seller in the eye and asked him if the bridge was free or fixed. He said it was free. Hmmm.... I know where he lives if he hasn't sold his house, yet. :boxing:
Luckily the change of strings did not require any change in the bridge position for 12th fret intonation - so I am OK for the moment - maybe even for the long run.
I may take my poor abused baby to the hospital to get a professional opinion. A good luthier will have seen far worse. :concern:
It came with what I assume were D'Addario Chromes ECG23 Extra Lights, 48-10 - they had the feel of new strings and there was an empty ECG23 package in the case. As I have said elsewhere these strings were a little light for my taste, and the action was incredibly low, way too low for my playing style/heavy-handed incompetence. Also I have never really used flat wounds before - the experience was interesting - but the guitar didn't sound guitarish enough for me.
So looking through what I had at hand, I found a package of D'Addario XL EJ21 Jazz Light Gauge round wounds, 52-12. I put them on, and the immediate results were disastrous. The truss rod was wound up tight so that the neck had no camber whatsoever, and counter-intuitively the heavier gauge strings only made my problems worse - raising the action did not really help. So out with the truss rod tool. I made four 1/8 turns with about an hour in between turns, before I noticed much change. Then I played around with the action some more. I was concerned at first, because there were suddenly neck hump issues where the neck joins the body - very deadish fuzzy notes in the 14th to 17th fret area - D, G, B strings - but this has disappeared now as the neck settles in. I will wait a few days and re-evaluate things. I may have to re-tighten slightly.
What is most interesting is the Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde personality change in the guitar. It is acoustically quite loud now. And plugged in, it is quite scary. Gone is the polite, sedate Dr. Jekyl. The heavier round wound strings bring the pickups to life. It is entirely a different guitar. There is now a reason to use the tone controls. I will try it like this for a bit, and then maybe try a heavier set of round wounds before I make a final decision on what to keep on it.
Of major concern, however, is that the bridge appears to be glued in place - seems to be pretty much immovable without resorting to a hammer - I hope it is not something really stupid like Crazy Glue. I looked the seller in the eye and asked him if the bridge was free or fixed. He said it was free. Hmmm.... I know where he lives if he hasn't sold his house, yet. :boxing:
Luckily the change of strings did not require any change in the bridge position for 12th fret intonation - so I am OK for the moment - maybe even for the long run.
I may take my poor abused baby to the hospital to get a professional opinion. A good luthier will have seen far worse. :concern:
