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PostPosted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:35 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:27 pm
Posts: 716
Location: United States
First name: Dave
Last Name: Livermore
State: Minnesota
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
But I just can't stand that "New Guitar Sound"

Please tell me I'm not alone in this.

It's sort of like all of the REALLY horrible things that have happened to me... I can remember them, but the hurt is so far in the past, I barely remember the pain.

I know every guitar I've built didn't sound 'quite right' right off the bench, but I at least liked it.

Tonight marked the end of guitar build #7. It started on September 27. The dang thing just doesn't sound quite right. It is loud, bassy, plays nice, and looks better than anything I've ever built. But... the treble absolutely stinks. It is dull and lacks the rich overtones that I'm used to hearing.

So, someone please tell me to hang tight and play it a few more days and things will be fine. It HAS been almost a year since I last strung up a brand new guitar. Something in the back of my head says that it too was like this. But I must have repressed that memory like a bad nightmare.

Looking for reassurance,

Dave


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:26 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:03 am
Posts: 6680
Location: Abbotsford, BC Canada
They do get better Dave. The few nights is always interesting. Over time though they do get better. Hang in there, don't do anything rash!

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:41 am 
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Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:31 pm
Posts: 1877
First name: Darryl
Last Name: Young
State: AR
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Dave,

I've never strung up a new one so I'm interested in how this play out. If your up to it, keep a blog on theis post of how the sound changes over the next month or so. It will sure be helpful for when I string up my first one.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:27 am 
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Koa
Koa
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Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:56 am
Posts: 1825
Location: Grover NC
First name: Woodrow
Last Name: Brackett
City: Grover
State: NC
Zip/Postal Code: 28073
Country: USA
Focus: Build
I hate brand new strings, even on old guitars. Even my 1955 Martin D18 sounds like a stick with new strings until an hour or so of playing. After the strings are played in it sounds like an organ.

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:52 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:27 pm
Posts: 716
Location: United States
First name: Dave
Last Name: Livermore
State: Minnesota
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Update,
After having fits and nightmares all night long, I took the thing to church and played the daylights out of it for the Sunday School kids. By the end of the session, the strings were broken in, and so were the trebles. I did identify a few frets that need more work, but overall, it is sounding ok.

I just keep telling myself that this is as bad as it will ever sound. I don't know if it is good or bad that gutiars are that way. But they definitely get better with age.

Upon comparing a few of my guitars last night, I found that #1 sounds like a toy store guitar compared with this one.
And I thought that one sounded GREAT just a few years ago.

For the newbies who read this, I don't know what to tell you about the first time you put strings on.
With your first guitar, even if it's bad, unless you're used to playing $3000 instruments, you'll probably think it's magnificent.
After that you get spoiled.

Dave


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