Newbie, Hi everyone.

[BenF]

Sounds like the luthier situation around you is dire. Now that is a problem. I'd travel just about anywhere for the right guy. What about Aberdeen, or even Edinburgh for that matter? They're not too far away, are they?

This was supposedly the best guy in Aberdeen. Edinburgh is too far to go for me (3 small children and a full time job kind of reduces play time). I am trying to learn as much as I can as I go. I am happy enough to tackle most things except a nut, but that might be on the cards here. I might be able to improve the one on there. The low E string is MILES from the edge of the fretboard, which is a pain because I am already used to a wider neck. I can't get my thumb over to it at all. The other strings all bind in the slots, making tuning a pain. It has too much relief and too much saddle too still, but that is an easy fix.

At least if I mess it up myself, I won't be bitter about it. I'll just get it right next time. I hate the scar on my Larrivee, but the dings and scratches from playing it don't bother me a jot, because they were made for the right reasons.

And I didn't pay £45 for them!!!!! :evil:

Cheers for the friendly welcome by the way, this does seem like a good place to hang out.

And you have a 'for sale' board :roll: GAS, here I come!

 

[coastie99]

BTW.

If you didn't get a case with the guitar, this thread may be of interest to you ..................... viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18294

 

[BenF]

Ben, I note the fact that you have a Larrivee, which if I'm correct, would have a 1 3/4" nut. Have you discerned a difference between the width of the Larrivee and the Guild, at 1 11/16" ?

The reason that I ask, is because I've just bought a GAD F20 on Ebay for our grand-daughter ( 10 ) and a 1 3/4" nut is too difficult for her to play. I'm hoping that she'll find the F20 OK.

This was the main reason I went with a GAD M20 for now, with a view to investing in a 50s/60s M20 in the future, if I got on with the GAD now.

I played guitar badly for many years on a fender beater, but decided to take it more seriously about 2 years ago, and ordered a Larrivee D-09. It was a great guitar. I then got an OM-03 for a snip off ebay, and found the wider nut to be a huge benefit to my playing. I sold the D-09 soon after and got my LS-03R. The OM only went for financial reasons, I miss it every minute

I was nervous about the Guild therefore, but I wanted a 14 fret, all hog (hog-like) short scale small guitar for the snappy dark tone - not to sound like Nick Drake specifically (I know, he only held an M20 for a photo shoot!!!), but that type of tone. There isn't much on the market that fits hat bill. Most parlours are 12 fret necks, and most 14 fret necks are longer scale length.

The neck profile is chunky, and similar to my LS-03R (chunkier than any other Larrivee I have played), which makes it VERY comfortable to play, and reduces the problem of the narrow fretboard slightly. I find it suprisingly nice for picking still.

It is narrower, it is a discernable difference, but not to the point that it doesn't suit all styles. I think the body shape, neck profile, and fingerboard radius play a big part in how easy a git is to play, and the M20 is excellent in these respects. It would suit a kid very well I think. I'd suggest light strings, and getting the action down as low as possible though, both would help more.

 

[BenF]

BTW.

If you didn't get a case with the guitar, this thread may be of interest to you ..................... viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18294

Ha ha, I was biding my time on this. I keep my guitars out on stands all the time, and the case seems such a waste under the bed. The case is an absolute beauty for the price of it. Tweed and leather. Perfect fit. I might put it into storage. It'll be worth more than the guitar soon!!!!

 

[coastie99]

This was the main reason I went with a GAD M20 for now, with a view to investing in a 50s/60s M20 in the future, if I got on with the GAD now.

I played guitar badly for many years on a fender beater, but decided to take it more seriously about 2 years ago, and ordered a Larrivee D-09. It was a great guitar. I then got an OM-03 for a snip off ebay, and found the wider nut to be a huge benefit to my playing. I sold the D-09 soon after and got my LS-03R. The OM only went for financial reasons, I miss it every minute

I was nervous about the Guild therefore, but I wanted a 14 fret, all hog (hog-like) short scale small guitar for the snappy dark tone - not to sound like Nick Drake specifically (I know, he only held an M20 for a photo shoot!!!), but that type of tone. There isn't much on the market that fits hat bill. Most parlours are 12 fret necks, and most 14 fret necks are longer scale length.

The neck profile is chunky, and similar to my LS-03R (chunkier than any other Larrivee I have played), which makes it VERY comfortable to play, and reduces the problem of the narrow fretboard slightly. I find it suprisingly nice for picking still.

It is narrower, it is a discernable difference, but not to the point that it doesn't suit all styles. I think the body shape, neck profile, and fingerboard radius play a big part in how easy a git is to play, and the M20 is excellent in these respects. It would suit a kid very well I think. I'd suggest light strings, and getting the action down as low as possible though, both would help more.

Thanks Ben; that makes me feel pretty confident that the guitar will suit Natalia.

When I receive it here, it will go straight to the Guitar Doc. in Christchurch for a kid-friendly set up.

 

[twocorgis]

Sounds like the luthier situation around you is dire. Now that is a problem. I'd travel just about anywhere for the right guy. What about Aberdeen, or even Edinburgh for that matter? They're not too far away, are they?

This was supposedly the best guy in Aberdeen. Edinburgh is too far to go for me (3 small children and a full time job kind of reduces play time). I am trying to learn as much as I can as I go. I am happy enough to tackle most things except a nut, but that might be on the cards here. I might be able to improve the one on there. The low E string is MILES from the edge of the fretboard, which is a pain because I am already used to a wider neck. I can't get my thumb over to it at all. The other strings all bind in the slots, making tuning a pain. It has too much relief and too much saddle too still, but that is an easy fix.

At least if I mess it up myself, I won't be bitter about it. I'll just get it right next time. I hate the scar on my Larrivee, but the dings and scratches from playing it don't bother me a jot, because they were made for the right reasons.

And I didn't pay £45 for them!!!!! :evil:

You've got a little more intestinal fortitude than I have. :lol: I'm so horrified of messing up any of my babies, I take them right to my luthier whenever need be. After that guy in Aberdeen hacked up your Larrivee I'd have made him make it right, but maybe that's just the New Yorker in me! There's few things worse than a bad luthier IMHO, though I guess if there's nobody around that kinda paints you into a corner.

Cheers for the friendly welcome by the way, this does seem like a good place to hang out.

I just joined here in January, and these are flat out some of the nicest folks you'll ever come across. They've made me feel welcome here right from day one, which is something that doesn't often happen on guitar boards.

And you have a 'for sale' board :roll: GAS, here I come!

Oh yeah... If you need any help on this side of the pond, just ask!

 

[killdeer43]

Welcome to the Guilded crew, Ben.
You certainly started with some outstanding photos, music, etc.
I'm pretty sure you're a keeper! :wink:

Stay in tune,
Joe

*I spent a week camping around Loch Ness in summer of 1964. It's easy for everyone to guess what I was hoping to see.
Didn't see her!

 

[BenF]

*I spent a week camping around Loch Ness in summer of 1964. It's easy for everyone to guess what I was hoping to see.
Didn't see her!

she is a shy soul!!!

Loch Ness is very pretty though, nice place to go camping.

 

[BenF]

Well, since my membership was confirmed on here, I figured there were people in the know who could help me out if I made a mess of things, so I tackled some setup work on my M20. Have to say it was very successful, and the action and relief are now super slinky, and the playability seems (initially at least) vastly improved.

Truss rod needed about a turn and a quarter tighter to take the relief out, and the saddle came down about 1/32". Thankfully, I think the nut is OK, so the 'difficult' job doesn't need tackled.

It is true that a good setup on a guitar makes a huge difference.

 

[twocorgis]

Well, since my membership was confirmed on here, I figured there were people in the know who could help me out if I made a mess of things, so I tackled some setup work on my M20. Have to say it was very successful, and the action and relief are now super slinky, and the playability seems (initially at least) vastly improved.

Truss rod needed about a turn and a quarter tighter to take the relief out, and the saddle came down about 1/32". Thankfully, I think the nut is OK, so the 'difficult' job doesn't need tackled.

It is true that a good setup on a guitar makes a huge difference.

It sure does, Ben. Towards that end, the Gibson is going to my luthier today for a setup, and for the bone nut and saddle that it should have had all along. For the life of me, I can't understand why you get a bone nut and saddle on mid-grade Chinese guitars like GADs and Masterbilts, but not on high-end Gibsons and Guilds. :?

 

[BenF]

I'm with you there Sandy, if it wasn't for cheap tusq nuts my Larrivee would be scar free. Annoying thing us the nut is excellent, he just destroyed my guitar taking the old one off. If they insist on using poor materials, they should at least not stick them in with superglue.

That said, there is bone and bone. The saddle in my GAD M20 is very soft. I think a Bob Colosi upgrade will happen soon.

I do believe there is huge merit in learning simple setup and repair skills. I have read a lot, and am gaining the confidence to put it into practice. The frets website is great.

 

[twocorgis]

I'm with you there Sandy, if it wasn't for cheap tusq nuts my Larrivee would be scar free. Annoying thing us the nut is excellent, he just destroyed my guitar taking the old one off. If they insist on using poor materials, they should at least not stick them in with superglue.

That said, there is bone and bone. The saddle in my GAD M20 is very soft. I think a Bob Colosi upgrade will happen soon.

I do believe there is huge merit in learning simple setup and repair skills. I have read a lot, and am gaining the confidence to put it into practice. The frets website is great.

I'd agree with you there, but I don't have the stones to turn a wrench on one of my good guitars yet. I'm just too afraid of screwing them up. I need a real beater like my old Hohner Contessa to practice on.

Of course if I were in your position, I'd be learning too. It's easy for me to take my guitar to my luthier, and he's a lot more reasonable than the guys that do it full time, because Mike has a "real" job (so to speak). I keep telling him he should charge me more, but he never does. I got a quote from this guy of $220 to do a bone nut and saddle on the Gibson while it was there to fix the electronics under warranty. I'll bet Mike does it for half that.

 

[adorshki]

HI Ben welcome aboard! Pretty guitar! What you said about bone, that's how I've heard it too.