Hidden Clauses

How many times did we ogle at the many beautiful guitar photos on the internet? After reading the best descriptions of a given guitar, we made mental calculations regarding the exchange rates, freight charges, GST, etc. and after some hesitation we click the “buy now” button. The rest of the administrative processes are self explanatory to most experienced online shoppers, I presume.

Eagerly the buyer waited for the package to arrive praying for a safe delivery. Finally when it arrives, very quickly the guitar is tuned up and the first sound was produced … by and large there are two typical outcomes. The quality met the buyer’s expectations and they both live happily ever after until the desire to sell it comes back in the future. The other one is a sad story … both live unhappily but never ever after. The buyer will be thinking of ditching this “not up to expectations” piece soonest.

Generally, most common visible blemishes should not escape the capture of photography. If there are certain visible issues, they should show up in the pictures unless the seller “photoshop” the pictures or deliberately avoided angles that will illuminate the blemishes. In any case, the outcome is not going be desirable. Not limited the issues listed below, these are the common ones related to acoustic guitars that pictures will not reveal their presence.

1. Truss rod is broken
2. Loose braces
3. Inoperative electronics
4. Thin or Low Saddle

Certainly there are ways to surface these “hidden clauses”. For online purchases, the buyer can probably ask some relevant questions to evaluate the true conditions of the on-sale guitar. Below are a few sample questions.

1. Is the truss rod working?
2. Are there structural issues with the guitar? (This implies any lose joints on the guitar)
3. Are the electronics devices operative?
4. What is the maximum height of the saddle above the bridge?

Will these questions eliminate the possibilities? Well, it will probably not but it is wiser to ask than to leave it to pure trust. Judging the responses from the seller, you can sense if the transaction is worthy of proceeding. If you’re confused by the seller’s responses, send it to some experienced friend for another opinion.

As for local purchases, you can inspect the on-sale piece with great thoroughness to surface any hidden issues. However many buyers are simply struck dumbed in the presence of wood beauties (amygdala hi-jacked) to remember to inspect. Try your best to remain compose … Here are 2 real examples. Without mentioning the guitar brands and models, both acoustic guitars possessed the same issue, i.e. thin or low saddle. See below picture for better illustration for example one.

Saddles and Shim

The picture above shows a regular saddle, a piece of wood shim and one of the guitars’ saddle. Shim functions to increase the saddle’s crown height in the event the saddle is made with insufficient crown height to achieve a good set up. While shims are good for such quick fixes, there is a trade off in terms of tonal qualities. Too thick shim will affect the tone of the guitar. This stems from the fundamentals of wood density and hardness. We know that hard materials conduct sound better than softer materials. Sound is actually vibration of air molecules. Likewise, a thick enough wood shim can absorb the strings’ vibration significantly until the overall tone of the guitar is diminished.

The wood shim in the above picture measures at 1.5mm at its thickness section. The wood shim will occupy a certain amount of space within the saddle slot, which means the saddle is making less contact it should with the saddle slot and in turn the bridge. Moreover the bottom of the saddle is not making direct contact due to the wood shim. If the shim is thin, the effect may be insignificant but with a thick shim and made of soft materials, tone will suffer nevertheless. All these are contraindicative to the principles of good saddle fitting.

Fortunately it is not irrecoverable but it will make well-made guitars to sound like a dog. A change of saddle will solve the problem … provided the new saddle is properly made.

Example two: One of my clients encountered this issue with one of the guitars that were purchased online. After the guitar has arrived, it was played and left in the case. My client sensed the lack in tonal quality even this guitar was expected to perform well. By chance, I had a conversation with the buyer who is also my client and I mentioned the possibility of a thick shim as the woe was the quality of tone. A quick inspection indeed revealed a plastic shim seated in the saddle slot. The saddle was low in its crown height which wasn't surprising. This plastic shim was 1 over mm in thickness, and it was made of soft plastic. See pictures below.

Thin or Low Saddle and Plastic Shim

Original Bone Saddle View 1

Original Bone Saddle View 2

After some discussions, my client decided on replacing the original one with a handcrafted saddle. I got my client to snail mail the shim and the saddle to me and I duplicated the saddle with factoring the shim thickness using Fossilized Mammoth Ivory (FMI). Here are a few pictures of the finished FMI saddle and the original. By the way, FMI is totally legal and traded internationally.

Original and duplicated FMI Saddle View 1

Original and duplicated FMI Saddle View 2

Original and duplicated FMI Saddle View 3

Ideally the new saddle should fit like a glove to the guitar but many unexpected things can happen. It is not unusual to do some fine sanding to get the saddle into glove fit with the guitar even it is a duplicated one.

So the next time before you commit to any pre-owned pieces, do exercise some prudence and you can avoid such situations.

10,000

Since the creation of this blog in September 2010, it has been rewarding for my personal growth in many aspects. In particular the craftsmanship relating to guitar restoration has been challenged and augmented repeatedly during this short journey from 0 to 10,000 visits. This posting contains my thoughts and revelations that are derived from this journey.

Firstly, I should pay tribute to guitar4christ, a members' drive online forum. Joining this online forum has moved me to step forward in providing my services. They have played an important role in marrying the guitar players onto a common platform in creating learning and sharing opportunities. Before that, I have been volunteering my services at my friends who play guitars, and nothing more. With some pushes and encouragements from those friends who have benefitted from my help, I made the decision to engage the guitar community through my guitar services.

Knows the market, wins the battle. As such I did some facts finding that allowed me to appreciate the desires of the local acoustic guitar players, a.k.a. consumers. Along with the consumers’ taste, I have learned the strengths and weaknesses of these existing guitar restorers operating within the local guitar community. The sentiments for these local guitar restorers are not homogeneous; instead there are great disparities when viewed from various aspects like, prices, workmanship, turnaround time, attention to details, customer services, and the highly subjective likableness. Possessing the knowledge helped me in pitching the angle of entry into the market.

The contrast between a restored and tarnished tuner knob

More than a decade ago when I started learning guitar, I was not even aware where to seek help when my guitar was in trouble. Today, the many guitar restorers are marketing their services through internet and reaching them has never been easier. The standards of restorations have definitely increased not only through time, very likely through the opened competition among the providers as made possible by the internet.

I was aware of my interest in restoring stuffs beyond just guitars since young. Meddling with spoiled items was as exciting as playing with my Darth Vader action figure. As I grew, so has my knowledge for guitars. The curiosity to restore my own guitars was overwhelming. It was a matter of time before a series of adjustments were made on my second acoustic guitar. There were both successes and failures. Through years of playing guitars, I have also experimented repeatedly on all my guitars in various aspects. All the outcomes have contributed to the craftsmanship I have obtained today. The progress has been gradual and I have not expected my work to yield any monetary rewards from other guitar players.

One of the many radical experiments ...

It wasn’t about guitar restoration only. There were many benefits beyond my expectations. Many clients have turned into my friends. There were great guitar players who I have met. Watching these great players expressing themselves through guitar tunes in close range was simply elating. Some possessed great knowledge about guitars and I have learned tremendously through conversations. The beginners form the most impressionable group; they are so eager and curious to learn. Certain critical customers went no holds barred when offering their comments on my work, which has indirectly augmented my level of craftsmanship. As the blog resides in the open domain, it has invited its fair share of criticisms too. It was indeed interesting to manage these external fires. One of the greatest perks is the chance to play many guitars, regardless they are top-notched pieces or budget line guitars I have enjoyed playing them thoroughly.

Very few guitars are build with such fine craftsmanship
like the Yamaha LL36. It was a pleasure to play it.

There were numerous literatures written about guitars, especially in the technical aspects. As such, it was tricky to determine the appropriate angle to pitch the blog content. Well, certain clichés weren’t avoidable; yes I have included them in the blog on the basis of functional requirement. The tricky part remains; how to benefit the readers? Apart from showcasing efficiency and fine craftsmanship on this blog, I hope to share with the readers who presumably are guitar players too, certain implicit perspectives about guitars and the interest in learning to play it. From my lens, playing guitars isn’t just a mere past time activity. There lies tacitly tremendous amount of insights that will help us in personal growth in the form character building. I have met youth who are disoriented with lives but have found their anchors and foundation in learning to play guitars. There are full-grown adults who have found peace through playing guitars in the midst of this ultra paced society. The patience to attain success in playing guitars is analogous to building a successful life, shared by some of my clients. Most profoundly, during my quest to be a better guitar player, I have discovered the essence of creating music from reading interviews publications of many accomplished players, i.e. playing the right note, at the right moment and with the right touch. How different is life from creating music? I personally saw many close connections that have opened my sights.

Play only what is good for the tune

Taken from: http://leebrownhill.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/johnmayer.jpg

Not forgetting the supporters and friends who have helped me in one way or the other, regardless indirectly or directly. The blog exists because it serves your interest. It was certainly humbling and fulfilling to create something useful for the community. Guitaring Passionately greatly appreciates you and is deeply gratified by your active responses. It will continue to change to adapt to your needs.

Above all, there is God. In year 2009, I was still meddling with my guitars and things took a turn. It was like a tipping point for me. Things about guitars restorations have became vividly clear to me. The reasons that account for aesthetic, feel and tonal qualities were readily comprehensible and crafting guitar parts were never been more interesting and enjoyable. It has reached a point that I felt ready to benefit the community. I could not determine any rhyme or reason for the sudden growth in interest and ability except to attribute to God's blessings being bestowed onto me.

Still honing by God's grace

Last but not least; “And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.” - Exodus 31-3.