BR-40 problem

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ABOSWORTH	BR-40 problem	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 (02/09/09 08:39 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I'm having a problem, when I try to play notes on the 10th through the 14th fret on my guitar the string is hitting the 15th fret so I can't play any of those notes. It is bottoming out on the wrong fret so to speak. I'm sure you know what I mean. I was planning on taking it somewhere but was wondering if there was anything I could do to fix this myself? It's almost like the bridge is worn down. It has groves in it that might be making the action too low. The guitar had low action when I got it which was one of the things I liked about it so I'd like the action to be kept as low as possible with out bottoming out or rattling on other frets. The problem is more so with the G B and high E strings. Thanks for the help. Last Edited By: ABOSWORTH 02/09/09 08:41 AM. Edited 1 time.
dmcowles		#1	[-]
Posts: 2407 (02/09/09 09:35 AM) Admin Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	First, welcome to the UBGF! Anytime I hear of a problem such as you are describing, I immediately think of a guitar which has been under-humidified. Is your guitar in a dry environment ( meaning cold winter, furnace running, and no humidifier?) If so, try using an in-case humidifier for a few days to get some moisture back into it. When a guitar dries out, the top tends to sink and the neck loses relief, hence the fret buzz near the neck joint. If this cures your problem, then we'll discuss the grooves in the saddle. Dave You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!
ABOSWORTH		#2	[-]
Posts: 2 (02/09/09 09:44 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thank you. You are correct, my guitar is in a dry environment and I have not had a humidifier in the guitar. I do have a humidifier so I will try that for a few days to see if it cures my problem. I didn't think that the guitar being dry could cause this. So you think if I use the humidifier it might correct this problem? I thought I remember hearing that you are only supposed to use distilled water in the in case humidifier, is this true? Thanks for the nice welcome and the help.. Abos
dmcowles		#3	[-]
Posts: 2408 (02/09/09 09:51 AM) Admin Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Some fanatics may claim only distilled water must be used. I'm an old codger who figures tap water will make the guitar as moist as any other, more expensive kind. And, yes, being dry is most likely the cause of your problem. Dave You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it! Last Edited By: dmcowles 02/09/09 11:04 AM. Edited 1 times.
ABOSWORTH		#4	[-]
Posts: 3 (02/09/09 10:57 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I wondered about the distilled water. It seemed a bit far fetched that I needed to use distilled ONLY. Hopefully this fixes my problem. If not, I will report back and ask for further advice. Thanks again!
Pappy		#5	[-]
Posts: 311 (02/09/09 05:19 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I think the distilled water reference comes in when you use something like a room humidifier. If you've got hard water ( lots of dissolved solids) they will be left behind and gunk up your humidifier over time, just like your coffee maker too. Running vinegar thru the system will generally clean it up. But to avoid the solids precipitating out you can use distilled water. The good news is only the water and very few solids if any make it to your guitar, all the solids percipitate out at the source ( the gunked up humidifier). So many guitars....So little time.
TaylorMartinGuild.theunofficialma...		#6	[-]
Posts: 211 (02/09/09 07:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You use distilled water for the sake of the guitar humidifier, not the guitar. Tap water has minerals that will plug the humidifier and cause it to quit taking on water. I have 5 Planet Wave sound hole humidifiers that all went bad within a year of purchase because of using tap water. I cut the top off of the humidifiers and replaced the foam with regular plant foam. They are all working again. [Oasis brand] I also add chlorine [clorox] to control mold. Keep your guitar inside it's case, with a humidifier for 4 or 5 days, and you should see some improvement. When you are not playing your guitar, keep it cased with a humidifier any time the room humidity gets under 40%. I always keep my guitars in their cases and use humidifiers all year round. Why take chances?
intune66		#7	[-]
Posts: 1256 (02/09/09 07:58 PM) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hello and welcome...... Excellent advice from all these guys, Ab. I'll just add that if the humidifier doesn't do the trick for you, a saddle issue is not a big deal to rectify either..... Good luck! Let us know how it goes..... Ryan Some of my Guitars: Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57
Grenvilleter1		#8	[-]
Posts: 229 (02/09/09 08:11 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Right now ! go to the kitchen and grab a sponge and a ziploc baggie. Soak the sponge and squeeze out excess. Place in baggie and poke some holes in 1 side of the baggie. Place the baggie and guitar in it's case and store it so any remaining water can't leak out. If it was real serious, which it might be, I would also consider placing 1 right inside the guitar for a day or 2. Seal off the sound hole with plastic cling wrap so moisture must pass through the guitar body in it's attempt to equalize with the average R.H. Really important your bag don't leak water inside the guitar. You should know within a week. It probably took it 2-3 months to get as dry as it could possibly, currently be. FWIW, I saw one a couple weeks ago with identical problem. Borderline excessive relief and bad hump at the 15th. Owner claims humidity was maintained however it had exact symptoms as you describe.
ABOSWORTH		#9	[-]
Posts: 4 (02/26/09 08:27 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks for your advice. I have had my humidifier in since the day I made this post but it doesn't seem to be getting better. Do you think putting the sponge in the case would help even more than the humidifier? I have a Planet waves drop in humidifier. Should I continue to wait or should I try putting a sponge in the case or in the guitar? Last Edited By: ABOSWORTH 02/26/09 08:31 AM. Edited 2 times.
dmcowles		#10	[-]
Posts: 2494 (02/26/09 09:45 AM) Admin Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	At this point, it is clearly time to take it to a tech and get a professional opinion. Two weeks should be more than enough time to rehumidify with a Planet Waves. Dave You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!
Pappy		#11	[-]
Posts: 381 (02/26/09 09:47 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Rehumidifying shoud have changed things by now. How much saddle height doyou have above the bridge? It may have been at the very limit of playability before, and now is just a hair too low for whatever has changed with your guitar. Adding a shim below the saddle may be an easy and quick fix. So many guitars....So little time.
intune66		#12	[-]
Posts: 1478 (02/26/09 11:57 AM) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I agree with Dave. Have a tech look at the guitar if you have one available nearby...... Ryan Some of my Guitars: Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57
ABOSWORTH		#13	[-]
Posts: 5 (03/03/09 11:09 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks for the help and advice everyone. I was hoping to avoid having to bring it in but I will have to do just that.
ABOSWORTH		#14	[-]
Posts: 6 (07/02/09 11:27 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Good news, now that the weather has gotten nice and warm and humid, I do not have this problem anymore. I noticed this a couple months ago and meant to share. Looks like it was just dried out a bit. I'll make sure to use the humidifier all winter next year.
dmcowles		#15	[-]
Posts: 2932 (07/02/09 11:48 AM) Admin Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Excellent idea. Anywhere there are great variations in humidity from season to season, it's critical to keep an eye on the RH, and humidify the guitar if it gets below 45%. That will prevent the problem you had. Glad you found your answer. You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!

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