greywater Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 I just received a used 2016 J15 and I'm disappointed with the action. I can't barre effectively as the middle D and G strings produce a "plunk" when barred. The four lower strings are wire wound. Is this a "normal" configuration for a J15 ? I've attached a photo of the guitar neck ( I hope.) The neck doesn't appear to be bowed. I'm new to acoustics but I think there's a problem. Would smaller gauge strings help ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassetman Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Nearly all guitars come with the action quite high from the factory. The lower four strings E,A,D.G....Are wound in most string sets. B and first E are plain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greywater Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 Nearly all guitars come with the action quite high from the factory. The lower four strings E,A,D.G....Are wound in most string sets. B and first E are plain. Is lowering the action something I can do ? THX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greywater Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 Here are some photos of the bridge. Does it look normal to you guys ? [/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassetman Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Yes you can do this yourself if you understand what you are doing . The worst you can do is need to get another tusq saddle blank and start over. But if you have never done this a good tech can do a setup adjustment quite inexpensively. Lots of info online on the process. Make sure to keep the adjustments even , don’t drop the treble or bass side too much. Don’t do too much at one time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassetman Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 You say you are new to acoustics. What do you play ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 I would suggest that you take the guitar to a good tech for a set-up. Shouldn't cost more than about $50-75 or so. he should check the action height, adjust the truss rod if required, and make sure the nut slots are properly cut. As a starting point, you should be using light gauge (12-53 or 12-54) strings. Because you are not experienced with acoustics, you should let someone knowledgeable do the job for you the first time. The way the bridge pins on the low strings are popped up suggests that the strings may not be properly seated against the bridgeplate. Look inside the guitar with a mirror. The ball ends of all the strings should be snug against the underside of the bridgeplate. If they aren't, the guitar isn't properly strung for starters. Players who are moving from electrics to acoustics for the first time may be surprised at the additional force necessary for barre chords on many acoustics. Acoustics generally use heavier-gauge strings with more tension, which may require extra effort when fretting. You'll get used to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Needs a truss rod tweak and possibly a little height taking off the saddle. I’d take it to a Tech who can give it a proper setup and make it play like butter...the good news is it all looks good-the saddle has plenty of height so adjustment has plenty of scope. J15s are great guitars, once it’s set up the way you like it you’ll take a ton of pleasure from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greywater Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 You say you are new to acoustics. What do you play ? A new-ish Telecaster. It's effortless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greywater Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 I would suggest that you take the guitar to a good tech for a set-up. Shouldn't cost more than about $50-75 or so. he should check the action height, adjust the truss rod if required, and make sure the nut slots are properly cut. As a starting point, you should be using light gauge (12-53 or 12-54) strings. Because you are not experienced with acoustics, you should let someone knowledgeable do the job for you the first time. The way the bridge pins on the low strings are popped up suggests that the strings may not be properly seated against the bridgeplate. Look inside the guitar with a mirror. The ball ends of all the strings should be snug against the underside of the bridgeplate. If they aren't, the guitar isn't properly strung for starters. Players who are moving from electrics to acoustics for the first time may be surprised at the additional force necessary for barre chords on many acoustics. Acoustics generally use heavier-gauge strings with more tension, which may require extra effort when fretting. You'll get used to it. Thank you. The bridge pins got my attention right away. They should all be about the same height I gather. Can somebody post a photo of their bridge pins ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassetman Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 itll take a minute Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassetman Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 here are four of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassetman Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 A new-ish Telecaster. It's effortless. very nice. as noted earlier acoustics take a bit more force to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffytune Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Do you have a Capo? If so, place it at the fret you have an issue with and see it is really is a problem with the guitar, or if you just need to adjust you playing style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greywater Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 No doubt the bridge pins are not inserted correctly. I used a death-grip capo and as suggested barring sounded fine. I think this proves that the action is too hard. I'm pretty strong and I can't get the guitar to barre correctly. I see at trip to a luthier in the near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffytune Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 No doubt the bridge pins are not inserted correctly. I used a death-grip capo and as suggested barring sounded fine. I think this proves that the action is too hard. I'm pretty strong and I can't get the guitar to barre correctly. I see at trip to a luthier in the near future. I just wanted to eliminate the possibility of a high fret. Yes, a good set up from a competent Lutier sounds like a good idea. If your in a large city, ask who the local Gibson warranty repair station is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Wow. Mine is very nice and lower than my J-45 was / is. Far lower. Those pins might just need a push back in, but I'd still probably have it looked at by a pro. The problem with me is TRUST which is why I spend many hours researching stuff. An acoustic with 12's is NOT going to play like a Tele with 9's. Ever. Best of luck, the J-15 is a sweet guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard McCoy Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 No doubt the bridge pins are not inserted correctly. I used a death-grip capo and as suggested barring sounded fine. I think this proves that the action is too hard. I'm pretty strong and I can't get the guitar to barre correctly. I see at trip to a luthier in the near future. If you'd just measure the action on both sides, that is the high and low E string, at the 12th fret (from top of fret to bottom of string), we could tell for sure if the action is too high on this guitar. There's nothing wrong with the bridge pins up-front since the strings each have a different diameter and therefore stick out differently in new bridge pin holes. Of course, a professional setup is almost always worth getting on any new guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greywater Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 If you'd just measure the action on both sides, that is the high and low E string, at the 12th fret (from top of fret to bottom of string), we could tell for sure if the action is too high on this guitar. There's nothing wrong with the bridge pins up-front since the strings each have a different diameter and therefore stick out differently in new bridge pin holes. Of course, a professional setup is almost always worth getting on any new guitar. I appreciate everbody's help. Approximate measurements are: low E 3/16" high E 1/8". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 The more forums I read the more I realize that there is a paranoia that comes with a new guitar that it has some kind of flaw. As everyone is telling you the guys who build these things do not know or care about your preferences. If you buy from a good store, they will generally tell you to take it home for a few weeks and if you do not like the way it plays bring it back in and they will set it up for you and charge you only for any new parts. My wife just went through this with her new Martin D28 12. Sometimes a guitar will be set up for a certain string gauge which may not be to your liking. I am not saying problems do not exist. Frets will pop up on a guitar that has a dry board. Not a big deal and easy to deal with but aggravating as all get out especially when it is a new guitar which we do expect to be perfect. I only buy used and as a rule find actions too low for my tastes. I just figure this is because many people these days back into an acoustic from an electric and want the acoustic to play the same so it is normal. I keep a supply of shims on hand to raise the saddle to get me through until I get a set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greywater Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 Well said, Zombie. Well said. The bone height on my J15 is considerably higher at the low E end than at the high E end. Is this normal ? THX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard McCoy Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 I appreciate everbody's help. Approximate measurements are: low E 3/16" high E 1/8". The action is about perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greywater Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 The action is about perfect. I was afraid of that ! I was hoping the action was preventing my inner Clapton from emerging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvi Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 the action isnt perfect unless you find it comfortable, find a tech and have him look with you and discuss- forums are for opinions not precise set up specs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard McCoy Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 forums are for opinions not precise set up specs Right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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