This video is of the set up of Chris's 2017 Taylor GS Mini acoustic. The video doesn't show the replacement of the shims (I did that at home while taking the various measurements required to request new shim pairs from Taylor). But it does show the process of replacing the nut, cleaning up the guitar and completing the set up. At the end of the video I noticed that the target action wasn't quite at my preferred height... I worked out that this was because only two strings were on when I assessed which pair of shims worked best i.e. the guitar neck wasn't under full load. This gave me a 'false reading' - and in fact the desired target action needed a different pair of shims. This was simple to do at home the day after the set up. Original shim pair was heel 10, extension 4; first pair I fitted (as in this video) was h16/e10... in fact the required pair was h28/e22. This sounds like a massive difference but the actual physical difference is very small between each pair of shims. But it DOES go to show how big a difference it makes between using just the two outside E strings partially tightened to judge the required shims vs. the full 6 strings tuned to pitch. Noted.
The thumbnail refers to the fading glue that I've encountered a several Taylors over the years - in this instance, the glue is failing on the headstock veneer so some CA glue was required to keep it on. On other guitars I've seen the glue holding the back of the guitar to the sides fade and come apart; I've even been sent a Taylor Baby with the headstock completely off - and the complex CNC'd neck joint free of any effective glue. As it happens, it was relatively easy to re-glue that headstock but it does suggest a lack of quality glue or careless application in the factory.
5 сен 2024
