Played a 25th and Sillouette today

[mesavox]

...at GC in Amarillo. Last time I was there I just looked up at them and had to leave... This time... I finally have played a Sillouette and the mighty 25th.

The 25th was set up terrible... very high action and the neck was bowed awfully...

But, the neck shape on the back... OH MY. Me likey... LOL Kinda like the Sillouette, but flatter radius, and a bit thinner.. just a smidgen. I like a bit more round radius, but the sounds... oh the sounds... and boy is it light.

This is a non trem version, and boy was I jonesing...

But then I played the cream colored Silo...

Oh wow. Set up better... um... not perfect, but you know.. the temperature changes and all that. Well, both of them had moderate to severe fret edge burr. The 25th was like little razor blades up and down the neck. I'm guessing just shrinking. It's dry in Amarillo, and maybe they have the humidity and whatnot a little out of whack. I don't know if it's fixable at this point, but I've played A BUNCH of Music Mans, and I've NEVER felt something like that.

I'd hesitate to file them down without talking to CS or a luthier since sometimes the wood reexpands when it gets to its new home.

Anyway, I loved the Silo... I mean, there will have to be one in my collection someday... Not something that would replace JPs for my main work, but I really liked the feel for something different... I kept thinking, (I need to get one of those Japan ones with the Floyd and put JEM pickups in it...!!! LOL)

I just wanted to share... I was really excited to finally play the Silo, and now I just need to find and Al and a Morse, and I'll have played all of the Music Mans. lol Oh.. I forgot the 20th... need to find one of those too.

 

[the24thfret]

To me at least, setup is everything. It's sad when great guitars in shops are setup terribly, ruins the whole experience. But glad you found those two and got a chance to play!

 

[ScoobySteve]

Just buy the 25th and the SIlo!

No more being torn!

Being a 25th owner though, I must say, get the 25th at any opportunity you can!

 

[Ripper]

^ What he said.

Set the 25th right, and you'll all over it.

 

[jakedawgwhite88]

hmm

well maybe your saving it but I figured you would have posted some other news today guess i'll have to wait

 

[Big Poppa]

what store was this we need to contact them and get these straightened out

 

[paranoid70]

Well, both of them had moderate to severe fret edge burr. The 25th was like little razor blades up and down the neck. I'm guessing just shrinking. It's dry in Amarillo, and maybe they have the humidity and whatnot a little out of whack. I don't know if it's fixable at this point, but I've played A BUNCH of Music Mans, and I've NEVER felt something like that.

My Sterling kind of has that issue. (I really didn't get the feeling that the previous owner gave the bass the TLC it deserved - but I got it for a great price.) I don't play the bass that often, but lately I have really noticed that. Is that a real expensive thing to get fixed?

 

[mikeller]

A few weeks ago I bought a new JP6 (in Columbus) - way different climate, but must chime in and say the set up was excellent and the fret edges were so smooth you can't tell there are frets there....very good stuff.

 

[Hendog]

That's too bad.

All of the MM's at the GC in Rockville where I buy mine have been setup perfectly. It's probably one of the reasons that I bought a JP, sold it, bought another one, sold it, bought a Silo, etc...

 

[bkrumme]

The 25th is a mean machine! Love mine to pieces (thankfully it's still in one big piece, though )

what store was this we need to contact them and get these straightened out

I think he said Amarillo, Texas.

 

[conan02919]

That has me wondering about the way temperature, humidity, etc.. has effect on a guitar. I just order a JP6 and it is being shipped to me from a dealer that is located in KC they are getting it from EBMM which is on the West Coast and I live on the East Coast. So before I get this guitar it will have traveled 3,000 miles, in I assume some cargo holds of planes and in a few FedEx warehouses before it is put in the back of a FedEx truck and driven to my house where the temps are in the low 30's . You do start to wonder how all those temperature changes will actually effect the guitar before you get your hands on it. What effects a solidbody guitar more changes in temperature or humidity? Can a guitar be effected by siting in a warehouse in cold temps for a few days?

 

[mesavox]

Yep.. it was Amarillo.

I couldn't buy the guitars, but I did buy 5 packs of strings. lol And another Mesa DC3 for a backup. lol Thanks Mom! lol Gotta love graduation presents and Mom.

 

[mesavox]

That has me wondering about the way temperature, humidity, etc.. has effect on a guitar. I just order a JP6 and it is being shipped to me from a dealer that is located in KC they are getting it from EBMM which is on the West Coast and I live on the East Coast. So before I get this guitar it will have traveled 3,000 miles, in I assume some cargo holds of planes and in a few FedEx warehouses before it is put in the back of a FedEx truck and driven to my house where the temps are in the low 30's . You do start to wonder how all those temperature changes will actually effect the guitar before you get your hands on it. What effects a solidbody guitar more changes in temperature or humidity? Can a guitar be effected by siting in a warehouse in cold temps for a few days?

Temp and humidity can both affect GREATLY. Wood expands and contracts at different temperatures.. and if more humid... added moisture can cause expansion, while decreasing humidity can cause shrinking. You can see this in older guitars with bound necks and bodies really well. The cracks in the binding will grow when dry, and seem to disappear when humid.

This is why you have to adjust trus rods. Especially on unfinished necks.

As for the cold temps for days thing... I don't think colder temps would drastically affect things if constant for a long period of time. The guitar will kind of get used to it so to speak. Plus, the paint does a lot to protect the wood. Maybe an unfinished neck would be more sensitive to the cold, but again... it seems like everything I've heard says that it will get used to it.. it's the drastic swings that guitars hate more than anything.

I really think the issue here is the lack of humidity. We are classified as an arid region. Amarillo less than where I live, but it doesn't rain a great deal there either. lol Cold and dry combined... bad mojo. Thats why people get itchy after they take showers in the winter... skin all trying to shrink and the pores get squished and... itchy itchy. lol

 

[bkrumme]

Temp and humidity are definitely factors, but nothing a good set-up can't fix.

Just be sure to let your new guitar acclimate to the local environment before trying any adjustments. Let it sit at least for a few hours in your house before you tweak anything.

And if you're unsure about the set-up, take it to a professional.

 

[beej]

That's good advice.

Up here (Southern Ontario) we get big temp/humidity swings. I've never had a problem with my EBMMs that a truss rod tweak couldn't fix.